Steve,
I also have an old CB that wont fit in the center console, and was thinking of that place to install, just thinking of power and RF cable placement. I was not thinking of using the Bandi mount, put getting a mount that attaches the rack. This provides higher mount options and antennal angle adjustments (as needed). Good post thanks for the pics.
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It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. Arthur C. Clarke
Steve, a couple of questions. (I just did a PM but I have more questions) Do you have to take off the interior side mouldings to fish the coax? The power does not have to go to the battery?
Gary - -just sent you a reply to your PM.
No, I didn't have to remove the interior panels to fish the coax through, but I did pop a few corners of the plastic off their respective clips . . . just enough to squeeze my hand behind the panels to aid with the fishing. (A straighened-out old wire coat hanger has served me well for years as my "fishing rod.")
You could connect you CB directly to the battery, provided that there's an in-line fuse between the two. However, many find it easier to either tap into an existing fuse terminal with an Add-A-Circuit, or mount an auxillary fuse block to handle the aftermarket add-ons. That fuse block, in turn, can be connected to the battery (preferably via an in-line 50-75 amp automotive circuit breaker).
Or you could install a relay between the battery and the fuse block, so that it will be activated (and deactivated) with the FJ's ignition turned on or off.
I was not thinking of using the Bandi mount, but getting a mount that attaches the rack. This provides higher mount options and antennal angle adjustments (as needed). Good post thanks for the pics.
You're welcome for the pics, CommGuru. Please let us see your rack-mounted antenna when you get it installed. Thanks.
I was orginally going to install my CB in the same place, but after mounting i realized that it prevented the rear seats from folding and laying flat! Doh!
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2008 Titanium FJ with OF Package
*Bud Built Skid Plates
*Trail Gear Rock Rails
*Toytec 3" Custom lift
*Scuba Rear Diff breather mod
*Uniden PC78XL w/firestick 3ft
*285/75/16 Hankook Dynapro MTs
*ARB Roof Rack
*Soon: ARB Front Bumper
Even after a year, I'm still pleased with my CB's location. However, the microphone was slightly difficult to use coming off of the rear-mounted CB and awkward to return it to its holder on the side of the radio itself.
So, I bought a 4-pin CB microphone plug and panel-mount jack from Radio Shack.
And, along with the appropriate 4-conductor cable, I created a microphone extension cable that connects to the CB's microphone jack and is panel-mounted to the right of the transmission to accept the microphone. (The cable is routed through the inside of the shift console.)
Now my CB mike can hang within easy reach and slipping it back into the holder is a breeze.
And, while I was at it, I finally got around to consolidating all of my after-market electrical accessories into a single fuse block.
I'm going to have to wire my cb direct, I did an add-a-circuit and am getting feedback when I hit the brakes or roll down the windows. Anyone else getting this noise?
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08' Sandstorm 6mt FJ blacked out with 3" OME lift, BFG m/t KM2's, All Pro front bumper and skid, smittybilt winch, homemade sliders, homemade skids, trail damaged rear bumper.
07' Kawasaki Ninja zx-6r
73' VW Thing
I'm going to have to wire my cb direct, I did an add-a-circuit and am getting feedback when I hit the brakes or roll down the windows. Anyone else getting this noise?
No, even before I went the direct fuse block route, I never got any interference with the Add-A-Circuit.
At one time, I was working on something similar for my other car, but the radioshack here only had the female, not the male. I'll have to re-visit this now and see if they've got them...
Nice install (particularly the remote mic connector). I have the PC78XLT, which is basically the same radio, but with a built-in SWR meter (great radio).
I located mine on the left side of the console, foward of the seat. The mic holder is toward the driver, so it is comfortably within reach. Plus the controls are easily accessible, too.
Only downside is that my right leg rests against the bottom of the radio, but it's not uncomfortable at all (after taking a few days to get used to having something there).
There's just not a lot of places to mount a full-sized radio, but I really like your location. Only I fold the seat down too often...
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Dennis' Titanium: '08 Titanium 4X4; AT; LD; A-Trac; Uniden PC78XLT & K40 hatch-mounted whip; Toyota extra horn mod; no mud flaps; LT285/70/R17 Hankook Dynapro MT tars; 3" Lift (OME 884 front coils & N140S shocks, ToyTech Medium rear coils, OME N71E rear shocks); All-Phase rear diff skid; SCUBA breather mod; Steel sway bar collars; All-Pro rear shock skids and lower link skids; Digger upper and lower rear links; Rasta4x4 skids; Toytec 1" diff drop kit (as soon as I get around to spacing the skids); Metal Tech step sliders; Mini-Me OEM roof rack