3 Attachment(s)
My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Finally got everything together and finished up my install. All told it turned out pretty nice looking. I used a FireStik II 3 foot antenna mounted in a hole at the center of the trunk. I routed the cable from the trunk behind the quarter panel, under the door sill, and then across the dash underneath the glove box. For power I used a fuse tap off of the "AUX" fuse (20A, but I used a 3A for the radio's circuit) and grounded it to the firewall right next to the fuse compartment on the passenger side. Haven't checked my SWR yet, but when I get a hold of a meter I will definitely do so.
As far as performance I'm pretty happy thus far. I've had no problems with people hearing me, although during rush hour in the city I don't even bother trying. My first impression is that this thing will only be useful either late at night or on less-traveled highways. On my daily commute I can never hear anything but static and the occasional person that can punch through. Several bears went unreported (or at least I couldn't make it out). I did get a chance to use it to and from MSU last weekend (3.5 hour drive) and was VERY impressed with how easily I could ask for bear reports and talk to people. Several warnings were 15-20 miles in advance.
Next Project: Replacing my broken factory horn with the electronic air horn from a police siren
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Yeah, I've found the CB to be useless in Chicago, but it's absolute gold driving to and from Champaign on I-57.
Its looks like and RC car now :D. I still need a better way to solidly mount an antenna to my car.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
I think it will look slightly better once I get around to spray-painting the tip for the antenna black. The red kinda screams "look how geeky I am" or "look how redneck I am" depending on where you happen to be driving.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Haven't checked my SWR yet, but when I get a hold of a meter I will definitely do so.
As far as performance I'm pretty happy thus far.
DO NOT TRANSMIT with this thing until you get the SWRs checked! This is not some optional step that you skip until you get around to it. You have been warned!
Remember to FREQUENTLY check and tighten that antenna mount. It is not a good situation, and it is going to wiggle loose very quickly if you don't keep an eye on it.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Nice install, you will love it. I would get on Ebay and buy a SWR meter so you can check it anytime you want. It is not that hard to do.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fire65
Nice install, you will love it. I would get on Ebay and buy a SWR meter so you can check it anytime you want. It is not that hard to do.
x2 ebay ftw
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Finally got everything together and finished up my install. All told it turned out pretty nice looking. I used a FireStik II 3 foot antenna mounted in a hole at the center of the trunk. I routed the cable from the trunk behind the quarter panel, under the door sill, and then across the dash underneath the glove box. For power I used a fuse tap off of the "AUX" fuse (20A, but I used a 3A for the radio's circuit) and grounded it to the firewall right next to the fuse compartment on the passenger side. Haven't checked my SWR yet, but when I get a hold of a meter I will definitely do so.
As far as performance I'm pretty happy thus far. I've had no problems with people hearing me, although during rush hour in the city I don't even bother trying. My first impression is that this thing will only be useful either late at night or on less-traveled highways. On my daily commute I can never hear anything but static and the occasional person that can punch through. Several bears went unreported (or at least I couldn't make it out). I did get a chance to use it to and from MSU last weekend (3.5 hour drive) and was VERY impressed with how easily I could ask for bear reports and talk to people. Several warnings were 15-20 miles in advance.
Next Project: Replacing my broken factory horn with the electronic air horn from a police siren
Looks nice, your antenna is definitely way more solid than a magnetic mount. Would you mind filling me in as to how I could do the same too? I've no experience in drilling holes through the car body.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fire65
Nice install, you will love it. I would get on Ebay and buy a SWR meter so you can check it anytime you want. It is not that hard to do.
Or Sparky's down in Joliet, or Fry's in Oak Brook, in addition to the radio shacks that still carry the stuff (some are still good stock wise regardless of slipping service).
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stealth Stalker
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Haven't checked my SWR yet, but when I get a hold of a meter I will definitely do so.
As far as performance I'm pretty happy thus far.
DO NOT TRANSMIT with this thing until you get the SWRs checked! This is not some optional step that you skip until you get around to it. You have been warned!
Remember to FREQUENTLY check and tighten that antenna mount. It is not a good situation, and it is going to wiggle loose very quickly if you don't keep an eye on it.
I have been keeping an eye on the mount like you suggested earlier in the other thread. It's not terrible from what I've seen, but I've gotten the point that it will need to be tightened frequently.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chriskohtc
Looks nice, your antenna is definitely way more solid than a magnetic mount. Would you mind filling me in as to how I could do the same too? I've no experience in drilling holes through the car body.
It was pretty straightforward. Used a center punch where I wanted to drill, then just gradually used bigger and bigger bits until I reached the size required for my antenna.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
I would not key that mic one more time until you set the SWR! Yes it's that important!
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stealth Stalker
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Haven't checked my SWR yet, but when I get a hold of a meter I will definitely do so.
As far as performance I'm pretty happy thus far.
DO NOT TRANSMIT with this thing until you get the SWRs checked! This is not some optional step that you skip until you get around to it. You have been warned!
Remember to FREQUENTLY check and tighten that antenna mount. It is not a good situation, and it is going to wiggle loose very quickly if you don't keep an eye on it.
I have the same antenna/mount and mine is just as tight today as the day I installed it. You'd be better off with a slimmer antenna but I wouldn't worry about it much.
You really do need to get the SWR set before keying your mic!
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
My main worry is that the sheet metal from the trunk will weaken over time and eventually dent. There wasn't room for a really large washer, but the area around the mount is pretty well reinforced underneath. It bends a lot, but only in a small area.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Next Project: Replacing my broken factory horn with the electronic air horn from a police siren
I put an airhorn in my little Honda Fit. It blew the horn relay. I've been hornless for a month. That first week though, when it was working, I had a GREAT time making assclown drivers VERY aware of my feelings. :D
rc
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
You have more Ba*** than I do. I can't even bring myself to sticking a mag mount on my car, let alone drilling to hard mount an antenna. I even went as far as to buy the antenna, and it sits in the house. Good looking setup regardless, good job!!
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
robcollins5
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Next Project: Replacing my broken factory horn with the electronic air horn from a police siren
I put an airhorn in my little Honda Fit. It blew the horn relay. I've been hornless for a month. That first week though, when it was working, I had a GREAT time making assclown drivers VERY aware of my feelings. :D
rc
This one apparently draws 9 amps if I only hook up one 100 watt speaker. The fuse for my horn relay is 15 amps so hopefully I'll be fine. A couple days ago I set the siren on my hood and hotwired it to the horn circuit for a little proof of concept testing. Hit the panic button on the remote and this thing is LOUD. I can't wait until I get it installed permanently!
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
If his SWR was that out of wack guys keying the mic just once would have killed his internals
I went i year before I finally checked the SWR when I first got my CB with no problems. Got to love quality antennas.(1.1 with wilson on the roof and 1.5 with it on the trunk lid)
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Alright, so I went and got an SWR meter. Before touching anything I was 3 on channel 19, 1.5 on ch40, and about 5 on ch1. After tuning it (which turned out to be a total ***** since that tip is really hard to get off and you have to put it back on before checking the SWR every time) I was able to get about 1.1 on ch19, and 1.4 on ch1 and ch40. Not bad!
The meter ran $13 at fry's electronics and I bought the 2' jumper cable at radio shack for like $6.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Alright, so I went and got an SWR meter. Before touching anything I was 3 on channel 19, 1.5 on ch40, and about 5 on ch1. After tuning it (which turned out to be a total ***** since that tip is really hard to get off and you have to put it back on before checking the SWR every time) I was able to get about 1.1 on ch19, and 1.4 on ch1 and ch40. Not bad!
The meter ran $13 at fry's electronics and I bought the 2' jumper cable at radio shack for like $6.
I'd say you're good to go!!! :)
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BreakfastPirate
Alright, so I went and got an SWR meter. Before touching anything I was 3 on channel 19, 1.5 on ch40, and about 5 on ch1. After tuning it (which turned out to be a total ***** since that tip is really hard to get off and you have to put it back on before checking the SWR every time) I was able to get about 1.1 on ch19, and 1.4 on ch1 and ch40. Not bad!
The meter ran $13 at fry's electronics and I bought the 2' jumper cable at radio shack for like $6.
That's odd, it's usually higher on the higher channels vs lower
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
That's how I remember it being, but I didn't exactly write it down. I do remember being surprised when I first checked it though that I had to lengthen the antenna instead of shorten it.
Re: My CB Install: 510XL in an 02 Monte Carlo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lucky225
That's odd, it's usually higher on the higher channels vs lower
Because most whips are tuned by cutting and trimming so the deliberately leave excess for more room for easier adjustments.
