I purchased a 2000 Kenworth T2000 a few months ago and told the stealership I wanted a CB Radio installed. When I picked up the truck they gave me a New in the Box Cobra 29NW/WX. The radio already had 2 firestix for antennas in the standard Kenworth mounts on the side of the cab. There is no way to do a Mirror install on the T2000's since they are 1piece molded plastic mirrors. So anyways before I left Denver to drive to So. Cal I hooked up the CB to the Power supply and plugged in the antenna. I could not get the radio to make any noise even a full squelch. By reaching to the back of the radio and messing with the Coax cable I could get it to at least make some squelch but could not even talk to the truck next to me. I am thinking for sure I need to replace the coax? (How many feet should I get? Is there a majic number?) I am running the cb without any amp or anything. Also do I need to run my radio power direct to the battery? I also have some engine feedback that I can hear as I shift through the gears. I would really rather just take this to a radio shop but not sure if there is one within 100miles or me or not. I figure if maybe I was able to get some good answers here maybe I will just tackle this on my own. Anyone have any ideas of what I need to buy and what I need to do to get this to work?
Thanks
LACoFDFireman
Need help with radio install in a Kenworth T2000
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Phaze91460
Welcome to the forum from the sunny south !
As said above, run new wires to the battery ( 12V only please ! ) and use at least 8 gauge. Use a fuse on each connection to pos and neg on one of the batterys. Fuses should be at least 50A. You can sometimes find stereo hook up kits with good wires and fuses at Walmart. Most stereo shops have um ( Circuit City, Best Buy, Hi Fi Buys, Etc. ). As for coax, use an RJ8X coax as long as you need to connect to the antennas.
Personal note: Lose the Firestix, replace with Wilson trucker 2000 or 5000 - better, preditor 10K - best.
Lastly, since you are running 2 antennas, check the splitter ! see if you can see a problem. If no visual problem, run a single coax to one of the antennas, check for transmit, then do the same to the other. If single connection works you may have a bad splitter.
As said above, run new wires to the battery ( 12V only please ! ) and use at least 8 gauge. Use a fuse on each connection to pos and neg on one of the batterys. Fuses should be at least 50A. You can sometimes find stereo hook up kits with good wires and fuses at Walmart. Most stereo shops have um ( Circuit City, Best Buy, Hi Fi Buys, Etc. ). As for coax, use an RJ8X coax as long as you need to connect to the antennas.
Personal note: Lose the Firestix, replace with Wilson trucker 2000 or 5000 - better, preditor 10K - best.
Lastly, since you are running 2 antennas, check the splitter ! see if you can see a problem. If no visual problem, run a single coax to one of the antennas, check for transmit, then do the same to the other. If single connection works you may have a bad splitter.
