I got a cobra 29 classic for x mas . . I've tried the search engine but there are just so many posts i am not getting anywhere .

I need to get an antenna and figure out where to mount it . how about the wire to the antenna in each mounting location how do you route it into the cab?

I have a high rise camper shell if that helps . I saw alons brackets that looks ok wonder if camper shell will block signal, especialy since i want to talk to people infront of me to check for highway patrol. What kind of antenna should i get ? it just needs to be tough cuz its going to hit lots of over hanging brush offroad. I do like the look of long antennas.

should i wire it ot the battery? what about the power i have running from the battery to the sub ? I have like thick cable coming to a rockford fosgate fuse box in the back of the cab . could i just shove the wire in the terminal with the cable on the inlet side of the fuse box or would that give me interference?

I'm on a budget so i'm looking to spend around 100 dollars.

anything else i need to know or should be aware of or maybe some other stuff i should buy to go with it ?

 

You absolutely positively cannot go wrong with a Firestick classic 4 foot fiberglass whip. As far as mounting, I would try a spring mount at the top of the camper shell for best reception, but you'd bang it on every garage and drive-thru in North America.

I have a Firestick 4 footer mounted to my rear bumper. I used to have it mounted to my bed-side, and the difference in reception is worth the higher mounting location....

 

I keep reading that the firestick 4 footer is good . maybe if i mount on the side of the bed or with alons bracket a 6 foot one would be better so about 4 feet is above the camper shell.

so the 4 foot fiberglass firestick can mount right to the fiberglass ? i thought fiberglass mount isn't as good ? do you have to drill into the fiberglass ?how flexible is it ? my garage is only about 6 inches taller than the camper shell. I'd like it right at the front of the camper shell and it would make routing the wire easier but it will hit alot more stuff . If it was on the back the antenna could just hang out of the car port ....


is the antenna easily removable ? I will probably only use the cb on road trips which are not too often.

 

hahah ok well first off i know for a fact if you get a 4' one and mount it on the bed rail it WILL hit your grauge and im thinkin you shold go to your local cb shop or raido shack and find a old timmer or a person that know what their sayin to help you find what bests fits you..

 

heres 2 really good ones

web pages
http://www.mpaudio1.com
http://www.mpaudio1.com/cbmobileantennas3.html

 

102" whip, 18' of coax, get $40 out the mac machine to pay for that and the six pack to install. Call it a day.

 

thats was my first cb setup

 

I was looking at some more antennas ... how does the superflex compare to the firestick . . ..the antennas are so cheap it won't be the end of the world if it got damaged.

I think I have it narrowed down to the spring roof mount ontop of the cab or alons bed mount . with firestick or superflex.

 

+1

 

If you're wheelin' reguarly, I'd suggest the Wilson 3' Flex fiberglass whip. I've been using that with the Anon (spelling?) tailgate mount and it's worked great. It has plenty of give and has his some pretty large branches without failure.

 

ok i've done a bunch of reading and looking around . i got out the tape measure too....

I'm going to go with a wilson flex ...

If i do the tailgate mount i will get a 4 foot

If i do center of the roof i'll get a 3 foot with the ball and spring . the ball swivels and i could get a antenna clip and lay it down when i don't use it .

the top of each one would be about hte same height which is 9 feet from the ground.

I'm mounting my cb between the visors and it seems like the roof mount might be super easy to chase the cable to the cb between the headliner and roof ... is it easy to do that ? then i only need a 3 foot cable which i read its better to have a shorter cable. the only downside i see is possible wind noise with windows down and i'd have to drill into the roof,if i change my mind i'm totaly screwed and have a bunch of holes in the roof.

The tailgate mount seems fine except how can i get the cable all the way up between the visors with it looking clean? will 18 feet of cable be enough ?is so much cable going to hurt the performance ?

 

you can wire the cb radio to plug into the cig. lighter, just remember to unplug it when ya get out.

 

I highly recommend hard-wiring it in to a power source that has power on with the key/ignition on. Your CB will draw enough amperage to require it's own circuit and fuse.

You could easily run your antenna wire up between the roof and head-liner to the rear brake light. Since you have a camper shell this light is worthless. Just notch the outer edge of the light housing or replace it with something else. Seal the antenna wire to the housing with silicone sealant, then reattach the light. It'll be a great way to run wire to the roof without drilling any holes.

 

thats a good idea .... Would this also be the best way to get the wire up there from the tailgate mount ?

 

for the tailgate mount i ran the wire under the floor mat in the cab, down through a rubber grommet behind the jump seat (2 door) then, under the bed, over the fender well and out to the tail light

when i had the cb and camper shell i had the 4 foot antenna and it had just fine reception, didnt notice any difference with the shell on or not

 

That's my route too. I made some rubber grommets to protect the wire around sharp stuff with al old mouse pad and some zip-ties.

Probably because it's made mostly of fiberglass with an aluminum frame. (I assume)