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[Mike2909]

I am fitting a CB Radio into the Wrangler and have a couple of questions.

What is the best place for the CB and aerial?
Do I need to use an SWR meter when I am fitting the aerial?

[Nosebolt]

CB - anywhere you can easily reach it

Aerial - as near to the centre of the vehicle as possible, but don't panic as the directional variance won't affect normal off road use, also consider things like bushes catching etc.

SWR - yes

[bigjeepzj]

 

[Cockney Boy]

Just next to the off side rear light cluster. You can get brackets that will screw behind the light

[bgbazz]

Defo have to SWR the antenna...any time you change the mounting position is a good idea as well.

[Mike2909]

Just next to the off side rear light cluster. You can get brackets that will screw behind the light

Do you know where I can find that type of bracket?

[wildwood]

I have a bracket that attaches to your spare tyre bump stop on the right side of the Jeep.
It clamps on the tyre stop and has a hole in it for the aerial. never used it .......yours for a Jaffa or two if you want it give us a shout.

[bgbazz]

I have mine attached to the side mirror assy, but because it has a magnetic base, I can put it anywhere I like.

[bigjeepzj]

Just next to the off side rear light cluster. You can get brackets that will screw behind the light

Do you know where I can find that type of bracket?

Ebay is your friend
there's a few type on there

[bgbazz]

CBs and antenna mounts is something I have been messing around with with for many years and I've had many different rigs of all sizes and varieties fitted on dozens of my vehicles. The correct antenna, fitted in the correct position is the key to reliable performance in any case scenario! You can choose a gutter mount, bracket mount, suction mount or a magnetic mount which give you a heap of choices..it still gets down to where you put it!  One of the most popular mounting positions for close work is on the front bull/scrub bar, simply because you can see it and avoid situations where it might be knocked off. Anywhere up high, gutter or roof centre (the best) is very good, but you may drive for a while before you realise it's gone. You really need to think about what sort of performance you require from the radio, particularly when transmitting...even the most high spec, powerful CB will perform like a piece of crap if the antenna isn't set up and SWR'd properly.

I currently have a  President Jackson II ASC fitted in the dash of the Nissan and it's hooked to a small antenna sitting beside my side mirror for local work...the radio is a fully UK/EU legal rig and on most days I can and do, listen to people chattering in the UK, USA, Australia and everywhere in between...I usually can't talk to them until I jump out and reposition the antenna up on the centre of the roof. The radio itself works in AM, FM, LSB and USB and is probably a bit of an overkill for most folk, but I love it! Peter Henry has one of them, fitted in his 75.

Getting back to original subject...a lot depends on what you intend using the radio for. Laning with a group, when you are only 100 yards apart, you can stick it where you like...if you are going a bit further afield, by yourself, start giving it all some thought!


Hope this helps.................................................and it makes no difference where you mount the radio....just make sure you can reach it when it matters!!!

[just-boot-it!]

Would have been fitting mine you supplied baz but our responder members going to assist the floods in somerset took priority today.

[bgbazz]

Understood Jay...I think I may have heard them today. I need a callsign or two to be sure. Had a group operating in South Wales somewhere this morning..absolutely booming in!

[Mike2909]

There is not much room to fit anything extra lol

[Obarno]

I have mine mounted through the bonnet. It's far enough back not to be dangerous but also allows you to open the bonnet. It gives good reception and transmission and works well on both UK and EU channels.

[YT]

 I'm running an Intek 720+ with a full length Stinger mounted through the roof (just above my head) and also have a K40, again through the roof, but dead center. Both give really good reception. The K40 does give a bit more range. Both were set up by the bro in law. (Ex sigs)
I was parked up outside Kent & Canterbury Hospt, and was chatting to a bloke in Co Donegall. I suspect he was on amature radio, he was filling the scale on my set and crystal clear, said I was reaching him at similar levels.

[bgbazz]

The secret is the antenna....if you and I were both to set up a quarter wave antenna on  15 foot mast on a bit of high ground, away from houses or big obstacles, we could very easily and clearly talk to each other. I had a similar setup back in Oz and spoke on a regular basis to people in Europe.

[YT]

The stinger could well be going, to allow fitting of an external PMR antenna. It will give a bit more range on the 5w handheld PMR, but more importantly, will work with a vehicle set, as our local response group now have the license to run 25w vehicle sets, so much better range.

[bgbazz]

With that sort of grunt, I'll have no problem hearing you..mine works up around 40W when I need to, but I won't be bothering you guys when you're busy! Channel 35, Upper sideband , is a good place to lurk.