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Is this cb combo worth it?

7K views 42 replies 12 participants last post by  Gunz n tractorz 
#1 ·
#2 ·
:eek:Off the top, it doesn't look that good to me

Pretty small radio, with limited functions and having a 7 watt output is either Bogus or ILLEGAL (limit 4-watts)

A good firestix antenna, is about $25 bucks and the antenna cables are Radio Shack $15 bucks--

:rofl::rofl: JIMBO
 
#3 ·
I put my own kit together for less than that. If I recall correctly I paid $130 at Fry's Electronics. I saw stuff just as cheap at Wal-mart too.
1 - Cobra Radio
1 - Ant Mnt
1 - Firestick Antenna
20' Coax
1 - SWR Calibrator
 
#8 ·
You can get away with a 3 ft antenna...just mount it higher. Or just lose a lil range on the radio. I have a 4' Firestik in the shed and it's almost too tall for a daily driver...just looks goofy. But it works damn good. lol

They need 3 1/2' foot antennas...

That setup listed above isn't too bad... decent antenna, pretty good/popular radio...pick up those, some cable, an SWR meter (if your cb doesn't have one built-in), and a jumper antenna cable to go between the meter and the radio and you'll be good to go. Oh and a mount...also don't forget to grind down the paint under the mount so you have good metal to metal contact (which will act as your ground). I know it sucks grinding off paint...but if you don't, your radio won't work properly. You could also prolly find a mount specific for your Jeep that bolts in somewhere and uses the metal from the bolt as a ground (so you won't have to grind any paint off).
 
#11 ·
Not going with the ready made combo

I hope you can help me out here. I am trying to put together a decent cb system and would like to know if what I have come up with will work together or if you can, tell me what would work better. I am looking for quality at a low price. I would like the whole system to be under $100.

Here is what I have found:

Radio: Cobra 19DX IV CB Radio Farm and Fleet $42.99

Cobra 19DX IV CB Radio (40) at Blain's Farm & Fleet

Antenna: FireStik Light-Weight Mechanical Tunable-Tip FireFly Series 40 Channel Plus CB Antenna 4’ long – black Truckers-store.com $15.95
FireStik Light-Weight Mechanical Tunable-Tip FireFly Series 40 Channel Plus CB Antenna - fl3-4

Antenna mount: I will make one similar to this one out of stainless.
Quadratec: Image Zoom

Antenna cable: Here is where I am confused. What ends do I need? Here’s a link to my options:
FireStik FireFlex Coax will make a quality connection

What kind of connectors do I need for the antenna. Would one of these work? I was thinking that having a spring on it would be better. Would I need medium or heavy duty?

FireStik Stainless Steel Combo Spring & Stud Mount - Four to Choose From - ss34m-h

Am I forgetting anything?

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to do this right as I will have this set up for a long time.

Thanks for any/all help you can give.

Dan
 
#24 ·
I hope you can help me out here. I am trying to put together a decent cb system and would like to know if what I have come up with will work together or if you can, tell me what would work better. I am looking for quality at a low price. I would like the whole system to be under $100.

Here is what I have found:

Radio: Cobra 19DX IV CB Radio Farm and Fleet $42.99

Cobra 19DX IV CB Radio (40) at Blain's Farm & Fleet

Antenna: FireStik Light-Weight Mechanical Tunable-Tip FireFly Series 40 Channel Plus CB Antenna 4’ long – black Truckers-store.com $15.95
FireStik Light-Weight Mechanical Tunable-Tip FireFly Series 40 Channel Plus CB Antenna - fl3-4

Antenna mount: I will make one similar to this one out of stainless.
Quadratec: Image Zoom

Antenna cable: Here is where I am confused. What ends do I need? Here’s a link to my options:
FireStik FireFlex Coax will make a quality connection

What kind of connectors do I need for the antenna. Would one of these work? I was thinking that having a spring on it would be better. Would I need medium or heavy duty?

FireStik Stainless Steel Combo Spring & Stud Mount - Four to Choose From - ss34m-h

Am I forgetting anything?

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to do this right as I will have this set up for a long time.

Thanks for any/all help you can give.

Dan
I don't like the little cobras. The quality just isn't the same as in their larger radios.

If you want to use a little radio I'd go for the Midland or Uniden.
Midland 1001Z Miniature Mobile CB Radio - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com

Uniden Pro510XL CB Radio - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com


Firestick antenna.
Firestik FL4B 4' Firefly Flexable Antenna - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com

Stud mount.
Firestik - K4A - Stud Mount PL259 Screw-On Connection - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com

Don't mess with a spring, you don't need it with a small antenna.

Coax.
Firestik K8A Single 18 Foot Coax With PL259 Connectors - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com
 
#12 ·
I tried to use that spring mount with a 4' firestik and it wasn't up to the task.

What I did was ordered the radio, the antenna and the mount (Uniden 520, Firestik 4' and a teraflex rear tail light mount) and then went to radio shack and bought the coax (yes, just coax ends is what you need) a SWR meter and that mounting spring (and then the heavier one).

Except for a bit of wiring connections to wire the radio and some kind of mount (the uniden came with it) it's all you need.
 
#16 ·
Is this the package that you run? If yes, which antenna did you get? My Jeep sleeps in my garage at night, so I don't want to ruin my antenna if/when it hits the top of the doorway. Are these antennas durable enough to take daily "hits" like this?

Thanks for the info. This is the kind of stuff I am looking for.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
Here's a couple pics. I opted for the hood mount antenna so I could see it easier from the cab. The CB does not interfere with my leg at all either where I mounted it. BTW - the lighter plug in is for my flashlight charger. I wired the CB direct so it shuts off with the engine. that way I don't have to try to remember to turn it off.


 
#19 ·
^^^ don't recall which wilson is in the link you just posted. But if it is the Wilson FLEX....they can take a ton of abuse and are very flexable. I've beat the heck out of mine through the years. Missouri woods like to snap CB antennas off in a hurry...never Have I been able to snap it yet. Also with pulling into the garage daly it hits going in and out....never an issue.

I highly recommend the wilson FLEX model of the wilson antennas.:punk:
 
#21 ·
oldgus, with your antenna so close to the motor, do you get any interferance from the motor?
I have a JK so will this mount work? I might just get the Teraflex spare tire mount. I don't know yet.
 
#22 ·
No interference. I'm not sure how the hood mount would work with a JK. Most go for the other mount but I'm a little different anyway. :D

Oh - and it is the Flex. this right from the site: Antenna: On the trail, you need a durable yet flexible antenna that can survive getting snagged, bent, bowed and abused. Subsequently, we picked an antenna that can bend 180 degrees without breaking - the Wilson FLEX. These 3' and 4' antennas provide superior protection against snapping and hold up well to the rigors of off-road use.
 
#23 ·
Thanks for all the info. I think my mind is made up. I will be ordering the set up suggested by oldgus with the spare tire mounted antenna.

I will post up when I get it all installed.

Thanks again, Dan
 
#25 ·
i like connex 10 meter radios very high power i have 2 of them with monkey made ant. 1 of them is in my tractor trailer 200 plus watts it has lots of mods but a bit pricey cost me 600 bucks the other 1 has 100 watts with same ant and that cost 500 bucks i can reach out along ways and very loud
 
#26 ·
It's finally in and operational

I ordered the set up suggested by Oldgus. I got the 4' antenna with the Terraflex tailgate mount.

Installation went pretty well. Ran the antenna wire through the tailgate then up the passenger side under the carpet, then in front of the front passenger seat (also under the carpet) up the center console around to the driver's side. Mounted the cb to the side of the console next to the 4x4 shifter. I ran a wire through the firewall to get power from the battery. I had a hard time getting the swr meter to read less than 3. Did some research, scraped paint off of the Terraflex mount (to get a good ground) and ended up grounding the extra wire from the antenna and now I get between 1 and 1.5 through all channels.

This is a great set up and cost much less than most set ups I have looked at. It even came with an swr meter and short cable to hook it up.

Thanks Oldgus.

Dan
 
#29 ·
I ordered the set up suggested by Oldgus. I got the 4' antenna with the Terraflex tailgate mount.

Installation went pretty well. Ran the antenna wire through the tailgate then up the passenger side under the carpet, then in front of the front passenger seat (also under the carpet) up the center console around to the driver's side. Mounted the cb to the side of the console next to the 4x4 shifter. I ran a wire through the firewall to get power from the battery. I had a hard time getting the swr meter to read less than 3. Did some research, scraped paint off of the Terraflex mount (to get a good ground) and ended up grounding the extra wire from the antenna and now I get between 1 and 1.5 through all channels.

This is a great set up and cost much less than most set ups I have looked at. It even came with an swr meter and short cable to hook it up.

Thanks Oldgus.

Dan
The only ch you need to check is 1 and 40 If its a 40 ch radio
 
#40 ·
:cool: I don't have a quick disconnect, I just unscrew my antenna from the coil base, Of course, I don't use it when I have to stay in town, but



It's gone a year, probably 30 times and no degradation of threads or reception !!

:rofl::rofl: JIMBO
 
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