Not sure about install.... Help please

[White_Mamba]

Hey everyone, Im new to this forum. I've been thinking about putting a cb in my 02 silverado for a while now but not too sure how to do it. Ive read through most of the 101 information on everything and where people needed other help so think I have a good idea on how to do everything. I'll try to explain on what i want to do and if someone could check behind me to make sure everything is right.

Ok, I havent gotten a cb, antenna, coax, and etc. But I plan on going next week sometime to my local radioshack to get everything because i wanted some guidence and make sure everything is right before i go spending money.

These are my plans...

I will run a the positive wire straight to the battery; Negative wire i was planning on attaching to my chassis with a metal screw.
I will run the coax to the back of the cb to the antenna either up under the cab to the bed or down the chassis to the bed (Not to sure which would be better or worse as far as interference)
Planning on have a 102" whip with ball mount and spring attached to my tool box, Now this is where im getting confused. Ive read that some antennas need to be grounded and some don't. Will the 102" whip need to be grounded (And if so how do i go about this???)

I think this is everything... If you need anymore information let me know and i will help you the best i can, Thanks

[231]

First and foremost, welcome to the forum. Secondly, forget about Radioshack for guidance...that is unless you are in the market for a new cell phone.

Ok, I havent gotten a cb, antenna, coax, and etc. But I plan on going next week sometime to my local radioshack to get everything because i wanted some guidence and make sure everything is right before i go spending money.

The only thing to get there is a 102" stainless whip, and I'd lay odds they won't have it in stock. So you might as well check out our sponsors listed on the bottom of every page. A few of them carry the SS whip, good quality coax, and of course, decent radios...not the Realistic brand.

I will run a the positive wire straight to the battery; Negative wire i was planning on attaching to my chassis with a metal screw.

You might be better off just pulling a pair and using the battery from the beginning for both. Run a second fuse at the battery just in case.

I will run the coax to the back of the cb to the antenna either up under the cab to the bed or down the chassis to the bed (Not to sure which would be better or worse as far as interference)
Planning on have a 102" whip with ball mount and spring attached to my tool box,

Okay...sounds reasonable. Although I'd probably consider investing in better quality ball and spring. Hustler makes some nice ones, as do a few others. The difference in cost is very little, too.

Now this is where im getting confused. Ive read that some antennas need to be grounded and some don't. Will the 102" whip need to be grounded (And if so how do i go about this???)

I think this is everything... If you need anymore information let me know and i will help you the best i can, Thanks

When folks are talking about grounding the antenna, they are actually talking about the grounding the mount, not the antenna itself. Tool box mounting typically requires secondary ground straps on the tool box, then run to the chassis and/or body to insure proper connection of the "counterpoise" (aka "ground"). The whip is only half of the antenna, the vehicle is the other half. If you don't have a good solid connection (shiney metal is your friend with these connections) then you effectively don't have the other half of the antenna needed for proper function. So when you hear people referring to "grounding the antenna" it's really the mount for proper counterpoise connection(s).

Other than that it sounds like you have a reasonably good plan to good performance. Just remember, about the only decent at Radio Shack anymore is their selection of cell phones and the 102" SS whip. Their coax is only two types; Bad and worse. Don't put yourself through that. If you MUST buy local, go find a truck stop. At least you'll have some selection.

Hope that helps some.

[White_Mamba]

This helps out alot. Thanks for the info, I'll try and get everything this week to get installed. When I do i'll try to put up some pics of the install

[White_Mamba]

One more thing.... Ive been looking some more about the antenna and i think this would be easiest for me.

My toolbox is mounted to my bed by two hooks on each side. I plan on putting an aluminum flange on the front of the toolbox so i can mount my ball mount (Link to the flange, [Please login or register to view this link] ) Then running the spring and 102" whip from that. Would that be enough to keep my SWR's down or would still need to run some ground straps?

[231]

One more thing.... Ive been looking some more about the antenna and i think this would be easiest for me.

My toolbox is mounted to my bed by two hooks on each side. I plan on putting an aluminum flange on the front of the toolbox so i can mount my ball mount (Link to the flange, [Please login or register to view this link] ) Then running the spring and 102" whip from that. Would that be enough to keep my SWR's down or would still need to run some ground straps?

I honestly don't know? Every set up is different, but generally speaking most need the added ground straps. So I would include them in your plans if nothing else. Once you get the antenna installed the way you want it, check the standing wave and see if it's good. There won't be any tuning of the antenna, so if it's over say 1.8:1 or higher, might as well start slapping some ground straps on the box. Check it after each one you install each one (I'd probably plan on at least a few), and make sure when you check your standing wave you aren't sitting under low power lines or any other obstructions close by...especially if they have any metal that can throw things off.

Also, sometimes how close to the cab the antenna is mounted seems to matter too. The closer it is to the cab, the worse it tends to be. I expect it's just a little side reflection, but if I recall most see the best results about 1ft back if possible (or more). There are allot of folks on the forum who've mounted their antennas on their tool box, so look around the forum and take a look at some of the threads.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

[White_Mamba]

Will do

[White_Mamba]

Ok i got everything installed and wired up. But one problem.... I cant hear anyone or anything, Not even static. I have a cobra 29 ltd classic. I know the antenna is hooked up right. I wired the positive straight to the batter but the negative i grounded to the chassis. The antenna light on the radio only comes on when i try to talk on the mic.

Any ideas on what i could be??? Do i need to straight run the negative to the battery too?

[meloyelo]

Ok i got everything installed and wired up. But one problem.... I cant hear anyone or anything, Not even static. I have a cobra 29 ltd classic. I know the antenna is hooked up right. I wired the positive straight to the batter but the negative i grounded to the chassis. The antenna light on the radio only comes on when i try to talk on the mic.

Any ideas on what i could be??? Do i need to straight run the negative to the battery too?

Might be to obvious, but where is your squelch set at? Make sure it is turned all the way counter clock wise as a starting point.

Meloyelo

[231]

If the antenna light is on when you try to talk, that means the radio doesn't like the standing wave (impedance) it's seeing (SWR is too high). So if you have things hooked up correctly, the antenna may just need tuning. Any images you can post?

[White_Mamba]

Yea ive been kinda busy lately. I started college last week and ive been tied up with that. I will try to take a few sometime tommorow

[White_Mamba]

Forgot to add this earlier, but i adjusted some of the nobs on the radio and i can talk and hear people but my range is limited to a mile at the most. Still getting the antenna warning light when i talk

[rbodenbender]

you need use an external SWR meter to set your antenna. if you do not want to buy one, and if you are close to a truck stop that has a CB shop, most of those techs charge abotu 10 to 15 bucks to set your SWRs. and the cost of a halfway decent meter is about 35 to 40 bucks, so now you can decide what route you want to take.

also, listen in on all channels at different times. see if there are any locals talking on the radio, most locals are more than happy to lend a meter for a few minutes, as it does not take that long to set an antenna. maybe 30 minutes and a couple of beers LOL