Fitting CB

**Otter** · 25th Jun 2003, 16:06

I am thinking of fitting an inepensive rig for use when offroad. Has anybody any advice on what sets to look for and any fitting advice.

**Screwloose** · 25th Jun 2003, 16:19

Hi Otter!

If you can get hold of them, the June and July 2002 LRO (sorry!) had a complete two-part guide on choosing, buying and installing a CB.

I don't know about inexpensive, but I paid £150 all in for my set up which is using the top-notch Midland Excel 80 channel rig, which seemed to have all the answers. In terms of fitting, just take you time and make sure you get a good earth for the aerial.

I bought my stuff from the firm that LRO (sorry again) used in their article and they are very, very good. Very helpful and don't assume you are a CB expert. They also off-road, so know what you are using your rig for and understand the problems with earthing on an aluminimum Landy! If you call them and ask for a catalogue it has lots of fitting advice within and is useful reference.

Contact Communication Eleven on 01737-245840

**si_guru** · 25th Jun 2003, 16:53

Try www.ebay.co.uk too!

There are loads of cheap CBs on there. Although I'd go for one near to your home so you can go and see it working before you part with your hard earned cash!

**OldFart** · 25th Jun 2003, 16:53

Originally posted by Otter
I am thinking of fitting an inepensive rig for use when offroad. Has anybody any advice on what sets to look for and any fitting advice.

Is this so's i can tell how to avoid the mud holes

Good idea BTW

**Mean Green** · 25th Jun 2003, 16:58

I got my old rig for £20. The aerial cost me about £15 at Billing, and the stainless gutter mount was about £10, but i can remember where I got it - might have been Maplins.

They are dead easy to fit, if it is only for offroad use you could fit a plug on it and use the ciggy socket.

**Otter** · 25th Jun 2003, 17:15

O/F,

My thinking exactly!!

**Spacemutt** · 25th Jun 2003, 19:17

I got a cheap Danita rig for mine. New they cost about £60. It's small, cheap and chearfull and does the job......when it works.....for some reason I can hear people but they can't hear me.

I think I need to re-wire the aerial.

**gaz** · 25th Jun 2003, 19:48

Wire it direct to the battery with a 3amp inline fuse,this cuts down on interference and also saves you sitting with the ignition on when the engine is off in order to operate it.

**gaz** · 25th Jun 2003, 19:51

Stephen, if its not a bad connection at the ariel or coax then it might be the output chip thats gone.

**Spacemutt** · 25th Jun 2003, 20:31

I think (hope) it might be a coax as it's got a daft connection on the gutter mount I've got that means you need to bolt the wire onto the base. That combined with the fact I was in a hurry and used TV coax and not the proper CB stuff. I'll strip it all off and start again and try to fit a different connection.

It worked when it was in the SIII.

**allan picken** · 25th Jun 2003, 21:02

I got my CB stuff from Communication Eleven.They are very helpful and will advise on the equipment you need.You can get them on www.4x4cb.com

**andyb** · 25th Jun 2003, 21:10

I went to a second hand short wave radio shop for mine. They also sold me a new ariel and the co-ax as well.

If you Google something like "CB fitting", then you'll turn up loads of info about where to site the ariel for the best ground plane which is what affects range as much as the terrain does. (Centre of the roof is optimum but no always practical).

On the subject of range, expect to get about 3 to 4 miles...I've had more in an urban areas but YMMV.

HTH