| Author | Message | ||
     Brian Lewis (Thejekyll) New Member Username: Thejekyll Post Number: 34 Registered: 07-2002 |
Hello, I mounted a Firestik antenna to my spare tire carrier per the directions on EE. What do you do about the end of the coaxial cables being so large do you cut them then re-solder the end back on after you run the cable through the smaller holes? Also what is the best way to hide the cable going to the overhead area above the driver.is it better to run it above the doors or below them. Thanks for the help, Brian | ||
| Mike Bauer (Mikeb) Member Username: Mikeb Post Number: 135 Registered: 02-2003 |
Yes. You cut off the end of the CB antenna cable and then re-solder it back on after you have routed the cable through the rear door. I prefer to run my CB cable along the floor (because it is easier), but along the ceiling works well too. The cable is shielded, so I cannot imagine any problems running it through the ceiling. Thanks, Mike B. | ||
| Brian Lewis (Thejekyll) New Member Username: Thejekyll Post Number: 35 Registered: 07-2002 |
Hi Mike, Thanks for the help. I dont know what the cable looks like beneath the sheilding is it just like a cable tv cable? or are there different wires that need to be soldered individually? Thanks, Brian | ||
| Mike Bauer (Mikeb) Member Username: Mikeb Post Number: 136 Registered: 02-2003 |
Brian: Yes. It is very similar to your cable for your TV. Thanks, Mike B. | ||
| Brian Lewis (Thejekyll) New Member Username: Thejekyll Post Number: 36 Registered: 07-2002 |
Mike, Thanks alot, Brian | ||
| Kahbahzahkee (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 622 Registered: 02-2002 |
Mike- In my experience I've found that it's 10X easier to route the coax cable along the floor than it is to monkey around with the headliner. | ||
| Mike Bauer (Mikeb) Member Username: Mikeb Post Number: 140 Registered: 02-2003 |
Koby: I agree that the floor is easier. Some people mount their CBs overhead, so the ceiling might be preferrable in that situation. Thanks, Mike B. | ||
| Kahbahzahkee (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 623 Registered: 02-2002 |
Mike- Point taken. However, when you own the Cobra 75WXST, the need for ceiling mounted CBs is completely obviated.  | ||
| john east (Jeast) New Member Username: Jeast Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2003 |
I have an swr of 1.75, not too bad. I did a horrible solder job on the cable end. Would that have a significant effect on swr? | ||
| Kahbahzahkee (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 627 Registered: 02-2002 |
Absolutely. There are certainly other factors that affect SWR, but the quality of the connection at the ends of the cable can be a large one. | ||
| Curtis N (Curtis) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Curtis Post Number: 895 Registered: 05-2002 |
I would likely never cut and solder the cable to begin with. Just hide the extra in your ceiling or floor. The key is to buy the proper length or to have a crimper/stripper and know how to replace the connectors. Then again, I despise CB's so I just use a mag mount roof antenna with the CB velcroed to the dash for group runs. I do keep a Mobile HAM on board at all times though. I have found that typical coax gets pinched and abrades too easily when run through the any door. I use a coax with an end called an RJ8Mini (or something like that). Anyways, it is much smaller at the antenna end for a couple of feet and passes through doors without the pinching. I see no reason that you could not use this with CB as well. It is fairly pricey so I doubt you will be cutting it | ||
| Kahbahzahkee (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 629 Registered: 02-2002 |
I'd prefer not to cut any cable as well, but hiding the coax in the concertina boot of the rear cargo door per the tech writeup at EE requires cutting of the cable so that you do not have to resort to routing the cable under the door. I tried getting away with a crimp-on connector after cutting, but my SWR was horrible. I then tried a screw clamp connector and still couldn't get below 3.0. It wasn't until I got off my ass and used a solder-on connector that my SWR dropped to 1.0. All other variables were kept constant so as to maintain as much control as possible. I have to attribute the soldered connector as the main cause for the drop in SWR. Again, I agree that it's not a perfect fix and I'd prefer to keep the coax intact, but you can minimize the chances of poor SWR readings if you use a soldered connector. | ||
| Jason Lord (Ronan) Member Username: Ronan Post Number: 137 Registered: 10-2002 |
I managed to get around the problem of cutting the wire by buying one of the new ring type coax cable mounts from Firestik (Model MU-8R18). It has a disconnect that allows you to feed the cable through the hole for the wiper line. The mount then attaches to the spare tire holder as shown on the EE website. If anyone is interested I can set up some pics on the site. I then popped off the rear cargo liner and fed the cable through the boot for the traile wires, out the plastic grill and under the carpet. The install looks clean and there are no wires in the way. I wired my Cobra WXST into the fuse panel under the driver seat and mounted the handset to the side of the •••••• tunnel. Works very well. Hope this helps. Jay ROXS 47 | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 630 Registered: 02-2002 |
Jason- I like that ring connector. It's the same antenna connector I use and it really takes the question marks out of wiring the antenna. I dig that coax-connector as well. It indeed looks as if it would fit through the concertina boot. Thanks for pointing that out. | ||
| Jason Lord (Ronan) Member Username: Ronan Post Number: 138 Registered: 10-2002 |
Craig - It works great. It fits through the boot without any trouble at all. Once you tunnel it under the carpet and up to the box, you just attach the male end and you are set up. Very nice. Jay ROXS 47 | ||
| Lee R. Byrd (Mobile) Member Username: Mobile Post Number: 42 Registered: 07-2003 |
I ran my cable from the rear tire carrier into the cabin area, put it above the headliner, and ran it to the front driver's side door (cb location). It looks great, you can not see a wire anywhere. I tried to run the cable under the carpet but it was a bigger PITA than using the headliner. The only thing needed to lower the headliner is to take off the grab handles and remove a few trim clips in the cargo area. | ||
| Donald McFarlane (Dsmcf) New Member Username: Dsmcf Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2003 |
wherever you choose to route the cable I would recommend against doing it via the load floor -- it will be repeatedly getting mechanically stressed by the static and dynamic loading above it. This may be fine for a DC power cable, but not a coax cable where you want to retain good impedance matching performance at RF. |
