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CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:29 pm
by mmjosh
hi there i wondered if any of you could tell me how do i wire a cb radio up the wires that i have is a red with a inline fuse in it and a black wire on its own
thank you
Josh[frame]

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Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:49 pm
by MarkyB
Breaker breaker do you copy?
As long as the car is negative earth black wire to earth and fused wire to a 12 volt supply.
Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:53 pm
by mmjosh
yes the car is negative earth,so i could put the black on the body and then the red onto the starter solenoid
Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:02 pm
by PSL184
DO NOT try to transmit on the radio unless you have the aerial properly SWR'd. You will fry the output transistor and then it will have to go off to a rig doctor for a new one. There is much more to a CB radio than just a positive and negative connection.....

Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:03 pm
by mmjosh
tell e mor rich

Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:11 pm
by PSL184
You need to "tune" the aerial to get the lowest possible SWR (standing wave ratio). The lower the SWR, the better.... CB aerials are usually adjusted by altering their length but you cannot "guess" at it - you have to use a meter. Also, different radio's use different microphone wiring, so you need to make sure the mic is wired correctly for your radio. The one pictured has a "cybernet" chassis so do a search on google for info. I'll copy a couple of links for you below.....
http://www.cbtricks.com/
http://m0ysu.com/
http://www.transmission1.co.uk/
I've forgotton more than I can remember about these things.......

Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:20 pm
by mmjosh
i have got the mic with it an the seperate speaker and also my dad is going to get me a mini cb areil with the coil spring like this on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINI-SPRINGER-CB- ... 439745b83f
Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:35 pm
by PSL184
Yep, they aren't too bad. The straight piece above the coil is the adjustable bit. You will also need either a mag mount or a gutter mount to attach it to the car..... Don't expect miracles though - on top of a big hill you will only get out a couple of miles at best if running standard rig power (4 watts). However, you could be very naughty and run a big 100 watt burner but then you'll kill the cars electrical system and melt the aerial

Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:06 pm
by RobMoore
I guess CB has changed since I was using them.
I had a DV 27 in the loft and was chatting to people all over the world without a burner.
I wish I had kept my old rigs now (Cobra 148 GTL and superstar 2000)
I think I do have my old legal rig someplace wiht 2 extra bands added. maybe I'll get it out again one day
That antenna will not give much range, If your going for magmount get something like a firestick or DV 27 gutter mounts are ok but both mag and gutter damage the car (mag will take off your paint and gutter mount will likely bend the guttering.
Optimal location is dead centre of the car to give a better omni directional radius, located at the rear will give you a better range forwards etc
Re: CB radio
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:27 pm
by PSL184
If you were on sideband on those rigs Rob you would get out well with the right atmospherics. Josh just has a legal 4w FM rig which as we all know are only "acceptable" at the best of times.... especially mobile.....
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 12:15 am
by RobMoore
PSL184 wrote:If you were on sideband on those rigs Rob you would get out well with the right atmospherics. Josh just has a legal 4w FM rig which as we all know are only "acceptable" at the best of times.... especially mobile.....
Yes a lot of time spent on side band but still managed to speak to a guy in the states flying a cesna lol
More recently on my taxi driving days we used the FM rigs and the few of us who knew how to get the most out of them managed some long ranges above 50 miles.
So with a good antenna tuned to the max it is still easy enough to get decent range.
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:39 am
by PSL184
Indeed, a good antenna is the key to sucess....
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:35 pm
by bmcecosse
I'm amazed anyone still uses these things.........Haven't used my CBs in about 25 years - mind you, haven't used my Amateur Radio sets in 20 years either! And NO - do not connect the red wire to the starter solenoid - connect it to a fused output! Even though it has an -inline fuse of it's own - the cable to that fuse should be protected, especially with your rather slim electrical abilities!!!!!!
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:26 pm
by mmjosh
so can i connect the red wire to the fuse box
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:52 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes! Be sure to connect it on the side that goes dead when you pull the fuse out. And you can decide if you want it on all the time - or just when the ignition is on.
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:59 pm
by PSL184
CB's are best conected directly across the battery with suitable in line fuse. You need as much of that 4 watts you can get

Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:09 pm
by RobMoore
PSL184 wrote:CB's are best conected directly across the battery with suitable in line fuse. You need as much of that 4 watts you can get

Absolutely the best way indeed.
Run the cables from the battery into the cabin then add a female connector or lighter socket, use a male connector or lighter plug and wire from the CB, this way you can simply remove and refit with ease
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:19 pm
by mmjosh
Absolutely the best way indeed.
Run the cables from the battery into the cabin then add a female connector or lighter socket, use a male connector or lighter plug and wire from the CB, this way you can simply remove and refit with ease
Hi what do you mean
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:17 pm
by RobMoore
mmjosh wrote:
Absolutely the best way indeed.
Run the cables from the battery into the cabin then add a female connector or lighter socket, use a male connector or lighter plug and wire from the CB, this way you can simply remove and refit with ease
Hi what do you mean
I mean just what I said.
Run the cable direct from the battery to the inside of the cabin area
Re: CB radio
Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:23 pm
by mmjosh
oh yes sorry i never read all of it my mistake