Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

CB Installed

Breaker 1-9, anybody got a copy? Any discussion or mods relating to electrons and wires go here.

by SteveTB03 » Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:55 am

Ok so I finally got a CB yesterday install was straight forward (except for the power wires)

I made a bracket out of some steel plate and mounted it above the drivers side taillight where the rear hatch closes then ran 20' of RG58 cable to the front where I mounted it under the dash.

To power up this bad boy I just tappped the power and ground wires of the CB into the power and ground wires for my roof light switches which are right next to the CB.

EQUIPMENT:

COBRA 18 WX ST 2
20' of RG58 Coax
3' Fire Stik 3/8" screw in

As of now I don't know what happened to my camera (moved to Seattle) so I cannot post any pics of the install and what it looks like for now.

I can't get anything on any of the 40 channels I have including the emergency channels 9/19??? Maybe no one ever uses CB anymore. But I do get the weather station on it.
Go Big & Go Broke
User avatar
SteveTB03
Addict
 
Posts: 600
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:11 pm
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Name: Steve Darras
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by Hatchet669 » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:42 pm

cool... lets see the pics come on man... made an antenna holder for my trailer hitch for temp... gotta love have free welders and steel at work lol...
User avatar
Hatchet669
Trail-Blazer
 
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:23 pm
Location: IL, Worth
Name: Joe
Vehicle Year: 2003
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by fishsticks » Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:30 pm

Channel 17 should get you some chatter.

I was up that way yesterday and the truckers up there are very good about "bear spotting." :)
11 Silverado LTZ - 6.2L/6l80, 2/3 drop, self tuned
85 Hilux - 3RZ, dual cases, caged, 40s, chromo everything
02 TrailBlazer LTZ - 35s, lockers, balls - Gone but not forgotten - Build
User avatar
fishsticks
Moderator
 
Posts: 4356
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:30 pm
Location: WA, Vancouver
Name: Donny
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Extreme Offroader

by johnburgelin » Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:03 pm

ive got just a little magnetic antenna and i've got no problem hearing ppl, hmmm.
User avatar
johnburgelin
Off-Roader
 
Posts: 171
Joined: Sun May 23, 2010 9:29 am
Name: John
Vehicle Year: 2003
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by SteveTB03 » Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:26 pm

I mean I don't know if I've heard anybody or not I mean I just tried it for maybe an hour, and I'm still learning as to how I work it and what squelch is and its difficult to figure the CB out

but ill check out 17 for sure
Go Big & Go Broke
User avatar
SteveTB03
Addict
 
Posts: 600
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:11 pm
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Name: Steve Darras
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by fishsticks » Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:56 pm

Turn RF Gain all the way up.

Turn Squelch all the way down.

You should hear something on 17.


RF Gain lets you pick up weaker signals.

Squelch is the threshold control of what breaks "silence" on your speaker. Too low and you'll hear background static all the time. Too high and you won't hear when anyone is talking.

You adjust both for your situation.
11 Silverado LTZ - 6.2L/6l80, 2/3 drop, self tuned
85 Hilux - 3RZ, dual cases, caged, 40s, chromo everything
02 TrailBlazer LTZ - 35s, lockers, balls - Gone but not forgotten - Build
User avatar
fishsticks
Moderator
 
Posts: 4356
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:30 pm
Location: WA, Vancouver
Name: Donny
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Extreme Offroader

by SteveTB03 » Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:35 am

How do I do rf gain?

All I have is a volume knob, a squelch knob and a channel knob and a scan button, a 9/19 button, a weather channel button and a button that gets rid of outside noise.
Go Big & Go Broke
User avatar
SteveTB03
Addict
 
Posts: 600
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:11 pm
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Name: Steve Darras
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by KE7WOX » Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:12 am

The Cobra 18 and 19 I/II/IIIdo not have an RF gain knob, just volume and squelch. IIRC my 19 DX IV does have RF gain. I've not seen RF gain in many of the smaller / cheaper units, it's mostly in the higher end shiny units.
This is an aggressive post. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate a post of this quality and depth.

Build Thread
User avatar
KE7WOX
Veteran
 
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:10 pm
Location: OH, Dublin (Columbus)
Name: Felipe G
Vehicle Year: 2004
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by Hatchet669 » Thu Jul 08, 2010 4:56 pm

is your ground good... mine was kinda quiet after i changed the antenna location... wasnt a good ground or just not a good enough connection on the wire to the antenna...
User avatar
Hatchet669
Trail-Blazer
 
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:23 pm
Location: IL, Worth
Name: Joe
Vehicle Year: 2003
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by SteveTB03 » Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:49 pm

Ground should be good its connected to the body and I think that the antennae has a good connection... ill have to check it all out again.
Go Big & Go Broke
User avatar
SteveTB03
Addict
 
Posts: 600
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:11 pm
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Name: Steve Darras
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by Trail X » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:13 pm

Did you use a fire-ring? If so, make sure those plastic washers are in exactly the right place... someone else on here ran into the problem and effectively bypassed his antenna.
8-) Build Thread | ExPo Build | YouTube Videos
Not all who wander are lost. -Tolkien
User avatar
Trail X
Founder
 
Posts: 9935
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:22 pm
Location: VA, Roanoke
Name: James Downing
Vehicle Year: 2005
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Expedition Guide

by SteveTB03 » Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:39 pm

I knew I should have put that plastic washer on :wallbash: I figured it wasn't needed but now I see thanks JD ill go put it on now

EDIT: ok so I put that plastic washer on and it fixed the problem now I can hear people so thanks.
Go Big & Go Broke
User avatar
SteveTB03
Addict
 
Posts: 600
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:11 pm
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Name: Steve Darras
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by djthumper » Fri Jul 09, 2010 1:12 am

And you thought you had spare parts... :raspberry:
User avatar
djthumper
Moderator
 
Posts: 2702
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:04 pm
Location: NV, Las Vegas
Name: Larry
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Offroad Rated

by SteveTB03 » Mon Jul 26, 2010 7:20 am

Alright guys so here's some pics of the install!!

Image

Image
Go Big & Go Broke
User avatar
SteveTB03
Addict
 
Posts: 600
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:11 pm
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Name: Steve Darras
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by Hatchet669 » Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:17 pm

same one i got...
User avatar
Hatchet669
Trail-Blazer
 
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:23 pm
Location: IL, Worth
Name: Joe
Vehicle Year: 2003
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by SteveTB03 » Mon Jul 26, 2010 7:23 pm

Hatchet669 wrote:same one i got...


Really!! How do you like it??
Go Big & Go Broke
User avatar
SteveTB03
Addict
 
Posts: 600
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:11 pm
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Name: Steve Darras
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by Hatchet669 » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:04 pm

SteveTB03 wrote:
Hatchet669 wrote:same one i got...


Really!! How do you like it??

couldnt live with out the weather channels... i use it every time i'm on the road... no matter where i'm at i can get a weather report... when i had my cheapy antenna on my roof got great reception... i have it on a home made trailer hitch and not getting good reception.. but i know its not high enough... gunna be going to a fire stick eventually...
User avatar
Hatchet669
Trail-Blazer
 
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:23 pm
Location: IL, Worth
Name: Joe
Vehicle Year: 2003
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready


Return to Electrical / Radios

cron