The way Justin has his is my favorite way of mounting it. Nice and clean!

 

I've got a cobra 19 mounted in my center console. 4' firestik that a buddy tuned for me. At the top of a hill, I got out about 7 mi. last I tried. And yes antenna tuning is important. They should be able to do it for you at any truckstop.

 

So, you would recommend a firestik?

I got my cb today, and now I have to look at antennas.

 

I think firestik makes a 4ft antenna in a kit that is supposed to be good. I might get that if I can find it..

 

FireStik Antennas may be good but there coax/fire ring connector is not.

A lot of people use the firestik so it must work, consider the Wilson brand of Flexible Fiberglass antennas, they have one that is called “Flex-i-Whip” 3,4, 5’.
Also, depending on the mounting location you might consider an antenna with a coil on the bottom (bottom loaded) and a thin 20” or so s/s whip on top, they stand up better on the trail.

The antenna is the most important part of the CB System so buy the best you can afford, don’t skimp on it.
Also, the coax, the next most important thing… buy Belden RG8X, there is also Times MicroWave Cable but you would have to go to a HAM store to get it. RG8X is a 50 ohm coax but a little thicker than the small Coax that most people use.
Get the Coax with one connector attached for the CB end and use Ring Lugs for the Antenna end; make sure you get an Antenna Stud for Ring Lugs.
Chk the coax for shorting when you take it out of the pkg.

The Ring Lugs are as close to a 50 ohm match as you can et, except for special connectors. the Std Coax Connector for a CB System (PL259) are not 50 ohm rated.

Also, hook the CB up directly to the battery, both the red (POS) and the blk (NEG) wires. The battery will act as a filter, may not remove all of the noise in your vehicle but it does some. the CB IF left on should not drain your battery so hooking it up to the ignition is not really important.

One last thing and I will stop… LoL. Forget about the “TUNED” or “PEAKED” CBs, the CB comes from the factory already setup for the correct frequencies/power out/receiving.
If you are told they will open up the radio so you can hear, remember a lot of noise comes in with the more received signals and most CB put out 4 to 5 watts without stressing the internal components so if someone tries to “OPEN IT UP” or “POWER IT UP” they are playing games with your money.
There are radios out there that are HAM Radios and mod’d to work on the CB frequencies, those will accept mod’g but they cost far more than a std CB and if you want a good higher power radio for what ever reason think on one of them BUT use it responsibly.

OK off the box...

luck,

 

I have a cobra dx19III with a 3' firstik. I would rather have had a 4' now, but it works not bad about 5 mile range with the tip all tuned up. I'm actually using the fireflex with a fire ring and its been pretty good to me so far and has an swr of about 1.7. Mount was custom to fit in the stake pocket.

 

I like that mount

 

Wow this must have taken you awhile! Thanks, this will help a great deal and I appreciate you taking the time to write it all.

 

How you guys run it in the cab? from the bed

 

This thread may help answer your question ranger-forums thread 130885

 

Yea I just run the coax from the antenna through the bed, then through the back window. Not the best setup, but it works for me.

 

I have never looked but someone on this site said there is a rubber plug in the rear of the cab, if so then perfect location… or on my ‘03 there is a feed-thu for wiring under the driver’s seat.

Either location will work, make a small loop in the coax, one loop, tied off and hanging away from the flow of the coax as a drain loop; also make as small a hole in the plug as possible.

 

I am in the process of picking out my CB set up on Amazon and I can't find a coax cable that fits the description you described or by the brand Belden. How many feet will I need to get from the cab to the bed?

My list so far:

MIRROR MOUNT 3 way Aluminum with Stud for CB / Ham Radio Antenna Bracket
Firestik FS-4BK 4 Firestick Ii Tunable Tip Black
ASTATIC GREY rg8x 9' CB Ham Coax Antenna Cable
FireStik K-1A Push-n-Twist quick disconnect
Firestik 3 Inch Spring Shock - Firestik SS-3H

 

I bought an 18 foot cable, more than enough. You might be able to get away with a 9 ft. cable.

 

what brand is it?

 

I have a Galaxy 93T sitting in the closet.I wanna mount it in my truck but its just to dam big to mount in a single cab.I had it mounted to the seat where the cup holders go on my old ranger.

 

I'm running my Cobra Nightwatch where my airbag off switch is. Then running the coaxial under the carpet out the rear door to the antennas which have changed position three times since I got them.

 

cobra 29 LE 50th anniversary limited edition. :)

 

you don't mind it being in the backseat?

 

nope i dont mind. with how easy these trucks are to get into, i like it hidden. plus ive memorized how to use it backwards and behind me lol. its plenty loud.

 

I have a cobra 29 that is peeked and tuned with a 102" stainless steel whip. If there is not much traffic on the channel I can get out about 15 miles. 102" whip is 1/4 wave length. It's the best anttena that is out that there,and it has been around for along time. Radio shack still sells this antenna.

 

Not sure, just a generic cable I picked up at a truckstop.

 

Actually 108” is a quarter wave length… if you take the 102” S/S Whip and add a 6” spring then you’ve got it.

if the coax is too long, cut it to fit… some people believe 3 foot increments is the best, me… I cut it to length and tune the antenna.

 

Just finished mounting mine, it works great!

 

i got a galaxy 66v peaked & tuned with a texas star 250w hd kicker, and a predator 10k antenna with a range on the pa turnpike in the mountains 45 mile on a flat idk cause i live in pa & we dont have flat here :)