Cool good to know.

 

You don't ever want to cut or splice an antenna coax regardless of what the correct length is. They cost like $5. About the same as a couple Starbucks' coffees.

But anyway, 18' will probably work. Don't forget to tune the antenna on the vehicle after everything is installed.

 

Isn't that the price of *one* Starbucks coffee?

Thanks for the advice, I'm gonna go ahead and get the 18'. Got a buddy coming over after the install to help me tune it (he's a big CB nut)

 

Re Why CB:

You can yell at all your friends at once, "Hey watch this" just before you do something stupid.

 

Ask your CB buddy about the 18' cable, increments of 9'. You may get an earful.
Some experts have claimed BS on that whole concept...

 

I have a couple. If you need more specific pics let me know.

 

cool, good to know
i've only got mine run to below the drivers seat...didn't look like there'd be enough there to actually run all the way to the front thanx for the clarification DD

 

No problem

 

I have always avoided mounting antennas where they run vertical next to that much metal. It blocks the signal both send and receive and usually presents a problem when it comes time to tune the antenna. Being that close to the length of it presents a higher than normal VSWR because of the reflection from the metal is coupled with the antenna.

A CB antenna or any antenna for that matter needs a ground plane to work off to work properly. In a car that would be the roof/trunk or hood either of those work ok. You want to achieve a 1.1-1 VSWR ratio with the antenna and radio to get all the power out out of the radio and with a CB that is 5w max so you can't to lose any of your power and expect to talk or receive anyone very far away. The further you are away from the 1-1 match the more you lose.

This is just an FYI ONLY

That said I use a rear bumper mounted 102" whip (the roof is my ground plane and the antenna sits about 12 -15" from the hatch jusy out from the spare.

For a radio I use this little Cobra radio under a $100 and everything is in the mic except for a small remote box where the coax connects and the mic cord plus 12v about 1x2x2". Its mounted under the passenger seat on a aluminum plate where I can loosen one seat mount bolt and remove it both radios remote units and the gooseneck mount for the control head for the amateur radio equipment.





The nice part about the plate mounting is that a single 12v power lead is there 40A and when you pull it out everything is easy to work on like coax and mounting of radios. As a plus everything is out of the way. The control head on the gooseneck mount isn't adjusted properly in the photo it sits closer to the seat and console both.

 

I have the same antenna and mounted the radio in the same spot and just bought 18ft. But I had some slack.

 

Thanks for the informative post. I'm still learning about the grounding and such. So are there two wires that run to the antenna, basically a lead back to the radio, and then the ground?

I'll probably stick to the passenger side tail light mount for now, just starting out. I'll probably tinker with it once I get more into it and maybe get some different antennas.

Nice. Where do you have your antenna mounted? Did you run the coax above or below?

 

I have the antenna mounted at the top of the drivers tail light (extends probably 1 and a half feet above my roof rack with a spring.) And i ran the cable down the a pillar and through the floor trim(under the doors)