| Author | Message | ||
     Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 209 Registered: 08-2003 |
I was looking at some Cobra cb's, and I wanted some opinions on which one I should get? I like the http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=shop/flypage&product_id=11&id=1&ps_session=9 d706613ba2447fa58516a8d5498fc3d3fe1155c, because it fits in the sun roof switch area. I want one that fits up there, but with the "soundtracker system" that improves the reception and transmission. Do they make one that fits up there with that system? My dads CB had trouble with that, so I want one with good reception. Any advice would be cool, Thanks, Matt | ||
| Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) Senior Member Username: Offroaddisco Post Number: 1646 Registered: 04-2002 |
Don't worry too much about soundtracker and such. Spend most of your money on the antenna and a proper antenna installation. It will give you a MUCH greater return on your investment. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 210 Registered: 08-2003 |
Thanks, I'm thinking about mounting the antenna along the side of my rack. I don't want my disco to look like an RC car with a big antenna. Pointing out any problems with this idea would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Matt | ||
| Rupert J (Tehamarx) Member Username: Tehamarx Post Number: 90 Registered: 11-2002 |
All things being equal, I would suggest checking out the size of the digital readout windows. I bought a cobra handheld (as written up in EE). The size of the display window was too small for me b/c of my vision. If I could do it again, I would buy a CB with a larger display (something for us visually impaired!) | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 211 Registered: 08-2003 |
I'm 17, so the old age eye sight thing hasn't happened yet. What model antenna did you use with the hand held model? I have decided to get that one(75 WX ST All-in-handset Mobile CB). Now I just have to find the best price. Thanks, Matt | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 482 Registered: 04-2003 |
Matt, Here is a good site for info on CB related stuff. Not the best site, but not bad either. http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm Also mounting the antenna along the side of the roof rack is not an option....very high SWR which in turn will burn out the finals in the radio... | ||
| Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Senior Member Username: Sillybus Post Number: 402 Registered: 08-2002 |
I bought my stuff from Bill's CB... that was the best prices I could find online for both the 75 WX and the 4ft' firering Firestik I used. | ||
| Will Cupp (W_cupp) Member Username: W_cupp Post Number: 222 Registered: 07-2003 |
I have a Galaxy CB radio, and a 4' fiberglass antenna. I mounted the antanna to the spare tire carrier. The problem I have is getting the SWR's down. Right now they are at 5. A buddy had a 7' fiberglass antanna I tried and the SWR's went down to 3. I guess the taller was better, but it is HUGE. Anyone else have this problem when mounting the antanna to the back door? I'm thinking of going steel and mounting it to the fender, but that wip action could be a problem. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 212 Registered: 08-2003 |
Can you guys fill me in on "SWR's." I've never put in a CB myself, so how would I go about measuring SWR's? Thanks, Matt | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Senior Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 388 Registered: 07-2002 |
Why not mount it on your front bumper? I have a 3' firestik mounted on my 92 RR's ARB and get excellent reception. If you want to mount it on the roof rack, you could use a swivel and spring, and just fold it back down when not in use. I have this setup with a 3' firestik on my 96 RR's roof rack and it also works great. http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/dv90s.htm | ||
| Rupert J (Tehamarx) Member Username: Tehamarx Post Number: 92 Registered: 11-2002 |
firestik and bill's cb | ||
| Will Cupp (W_cupp) Member Username: W_cupp Post Number: 223 Registered: 07-2003 |
http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/reading/swr.htm | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 485 Registered: 04-2003 |
Will the reason you SWR's are so high is the antenna location. The antenna is trying to transmit from the botton to the top of the antenna, not jus the top. So what it is doing is reflecting back on to it's self. This is bad. I don't like my reading to be above 1.5 worse case senerio, and have never had a problem getting it below that with a little work with the antenna location of making sure the coax is routed correctly. Biggest mistakes I have seen are the antenna mounted to low or the coax coiled up and crossing over itself. Hope this helps. | ||
| Will Cupp (W_cupp) Member Username: W_cupp Post Number: 224 Registered: 07-2003 |
I think I will move the antenna. I cannot go on top with it because I only clear my garage door now by about 1/2" with the roof rails. The antenna will bend when I go in. The coax is not crossing over it's self anywhere, so I dont think that is a problem. I think I will just go with the front fender mount. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 213 Registered: 08-2003 |
I've been looking around and here's what I think. I think I'll go with http://www.firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm, the "Firestick ll" antenna, with the 18' "Fire-Flex" coaxial cable. If I mount this to my rack, how should I ground it? Would grounding it to the rack be enough? Or should I run some 10-12 guage wire from the rack to the frame? Thanks, Matt | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 487 Registered: 04-2003 |
An extra ground is never a bad idea. I always double ground any CB or electronic equipment that I install. It takes the guess work out of issues. You know that it is properly ground, so that is one less thing to have to look at if things don't act correctly. | ||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 617 Registered: 02-2003 |
Will, if clearance is an issue, you can always use a quick disconnect up top and just put up the antenna when you need it. - Axel | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 217 Registered: 08-2003 |
Am I the only one that's had/having trouble contacting Bill's CB? I talked to Heidi several nights ago, after leaving a message and her calling me back. Now I can't get a hold of them. They never answer the phone. Matt | ||
| Greg Hirst (Gregh) Senior Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 396 Registered: 10-2002 |
I've had good luck ordering from here: http://www.alfenterprises.com They are closed for the holidays until 12/28. Hmmm....maybe I'll upgrade to the Cobra 76XTR "Blue Neon" version that both the hand unit and antenna "light up" when transmitting. (I bet I'll be the envy of Dweb)  | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 218 Registered: 08-2003 |
I'm going with the Cobra 75 WX ST handset. I think it meets my needs pretty well. Now I just need to find a way to contact Bill's CB to order the damn thing. Greg All you need now is some of those flashy neon tire stem caps. You know, the ones that light up when your wheels start to move. You'd be "big pimpin dawg." I promise to never say that again, Matt | ||
| Rupert J (Tehamarx) Member Username: Tehamarx Post Number: 97 Registered: 11-2002 |
use their e-mail system and be very specific with Bill. his help are "blondes". | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 219 Registered: 08-2003 |
She called us a couple of days ago, and left a message telling us to e-mail our order. We've had trouble in the past having our credit card compromised on the net. Some guy bought a very expensive watch when he got a hold of it.  Matt | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 227 Registered: 08-2003 |
Yeah! She called back today, and I was able to order my Cobra 75 WX ST and Wilson "Little Wil" antenna. She said the "Little Wil" would be better/easier than the Firestick. | ||
| Dean Chrismon (Chrismonda) Member Username: Chrismonda Post Number: 140 Registered: 12-2002 |
K40 is a good system. Go to K40.com they have several choices of antennas and accessories. | ||
| Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) Senior Member Username: Offroaddisco Post Number: 1664 Registered: 04-2002 |
Wilson have some very good antenna's. Much better IMO than Firestick. However, off-road a steel whip might not be ideal. | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 493 Registered: 04-2003 |
Al, I have ran Wilson antenna's for years, (not off road yet) why wouldn't they be a good choice for off road activity? I personnally plan to mount a Wilson Trucker 5000 on my Disco once I get the logistics worked out. | ||
| Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) Senior Member Username: Offroaddisco Post Number: 1666 Registered: 04-2002 |
Joey, the 5000 is a great antenna but depending on the area you wheel in that long whip will be all over the place if you're in tight alpine-like areas. I've seen people use them on trails (mainly Jeeps with rear bumper mounts) so it's not impossible to use but a fiberglass antenna might be better. If you're in the south west it may not be as much of an issue. This is one (of many) reasons I like UHF for the trail even though not as many people use it. | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 498 Registered: 04-2003 |
I would love to have UHF, but with all my other hobbies, to go out and get my license and a radio = too much money right now. | ||
| Will Cupp (W_cupp) Member Username: W_cupp Post Number: 246 Registered: 07-2003 |
I have seen a boy get wacked accross the face with a whip antenna on an off-road trip. It may have been partly his fault for being too close to the moving truck, but a fiberglass antenna would not have bothered him. I had a wilson 1000. I loved the thing, but it got stolen. So now I have a cheap fiberglass. I don't even know the name of it. The problem I have now is it will not receive the FM band. Is this a fiberglass thing? I have the Galaxy DX33 HML. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 230 Registered: 08-2003 |
I rarely see many trees when I go off-road here in Nevada. Most of the spots that I go to are full of sagebrush. I ordered 2 of the Cobra CB's, and 2 of the Wilson antennas. So far I have recieved 4 Wilson antennas, and no CB's. I have the worst luck when it comes to recieving packages.  Matt | ||
| Victor Biro (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hi, I have had a Cobra 75 WXST with my antenna mounted on the spare tire bracket, and have been happy with the radio, but have some concerns regarding the antenna that have not been addressed. I have noticed a few people talking about the VSWR, but no one talking about the ground plane. I have a sneaking suspission that the poor VSWR and performance issues might be related to the fact that the spare tire bracket is not properly grounded to the vehicle chassis. Poor grounding of an antenna can completely negate any investment in a good quality antenna. This is frequently the source of problems when people use clamp-on antennas on luggage racks. If you have your antenna mounted on the spare tire bracket, try running a grounding wire between the antenna mount and a bolt that is on the chassis. The hinge on the door would probably do the trick. That might improve performance and improve the VSWR. Victor | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 583 Registered: 05-2003 |
Victor, I've got that set-up, am having problems, and I'd like to try doing that on mine. I'm guessing that you have done that with yours? What kind of wire should be used as a grounding wire? Thanks, Jamie | ||
| Darryll Mills (Emnat) New Member Username: Emnat Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2003 |
Jamie What antenna do you have? I am getting the cobra 75 which I think you have. Darryll | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 589 Registered: 05-2003 |
I have a 2' and also a 4' tunable tip firestick. The best thing about both of them is that they are both bright neon pink. When I ordered them, I was going to get the patriotic red, white and blue firesticks - but, when he told me he had neon pink in stock, they won out! I also have a 2' white of the same for when I want to look responsible, but I never use it. Jamie |
