CB questions from a total novice

Crickey, lots has been said already!

There are 2 elements that need to be considered when mounting and setting up a CB ariel.

Firstly it needs a good groundplane - think of it like an earth - which needs to be at least a foot square and ideally of steel construction. Aluminium is not a good groundplane so some Landrover owners have issues.

Secondly it needs the ariel SWR tuned.

Rather than me try to explain what both of these mean I think Martin has done an article on it or look here:

www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb_radio_guide_groundplane.html

and

www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb_radio_guide_swr.html

It has been mentioned that on the spare wheel carrier is not a good place to mount the ariel. It's not the best place to mount it but if you just want to use the CB to chat to your mates who you are out laning with on the lanes, the motorway and roads between the lanes and on an off road site - such as TONG, it is adequate.

I had mine mounted there for over a year on my Jimny as I didn't want to cut a hole in the body and it was fine. That was on a cobbled together bracket from the local hardware store.

For a more professional mount look at this:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-Jimny-Antenna-Aeri...&hash=item2c5801747d

I would advise against making a hole in your body because if you get the ariel caught in a tree (which I have) you could rip a nice bigger hole through your body!

Mine is mounted to my roll cage so the cage and effectively the chassis are my groundplane.

For the cheapest and simplest set up for those without having the luxury of a cage and want to keep their Jimny's hole free I would suggest the above spare wheel mount er... mount for the ariel and then get a sarter pack from Thunderpole like this:

www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb_radio_pack-starter.htm

I have no experience with this brand - MAXON as I have always had TEAM CB's from Thunderpole but they have all the features you need. You get the right ariel for offroading - the mini orbitor and you can choose the right mount for you. It also comes with plenty of ariel lead.

I find Thunderpole's delivery very quick and their customer service is great.

I would buy a cheap SWR meter from them at the same time though and although they say their ariels are pre-SWR tuned they are only roughly tuned.

If you want to update your CB in the future you can just plug it into the ariel and lead you've already fitted. Lots of people swear by Midland for example.

I temporarily mounted mine under the centre dash console bit by hanging it on cable ties pulled taught (I like cable ties) and it is till there 2 years later!

I had enough ariel lead to take it under the carpet in the centre of the car, under the seats, through the boot and out of the rear door, cutting a notch out of the door frame under the rubber seal. An extention patch lead is only a couple of quid if your not sure - just buy it all in one go to save postage.

I have had 2 Thunderpole set ups now, one on the SJ and one on the Jimny and I'm well chuffed.

That's about all the advice I can offer really!

Kirkynut

Mick C wrote: Wow! thanks K-nut and all the others that contributed!

I'm guessing that swapping a CB unit between vehicles (both equipped with antennas and wiring etc) is probably going to be a bit of a pain.

Are handhelds too much of a compromise?

Swopping a CB over to another vehicle that has all the wiring does not need to be a faff but why do it when you can buy a starter pack with everything in so cheaply - just buy 2!

Kirkynut