soon to install cb in 3rd gen

[MillerTimeX17]

ok so i have a cobra cb from my old f150 and im goin to install it in my 3rd gen EX. i want to go with a cleaner install and get a through-the-glass antenna. Does anyone has any experience with these antennas?

this is the one in particular that i was interested in:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ON-GLASS-REMOVAB...3%3A1|294%3A50

if not i was also looking at some magnet mount antennas but would prefer not to go that route

[MillerTimeX17]

edit: one other question- will having window tint affect the performance of the through-glass-antenna??

[BrianDye]

I dont think tint would affect it, but for a CB that looks really small!

I only know the basics about them, and usually theyre like 10+ feet tall lmao, but that would be a nice alternative...

[rizzjc]

I don't know about that particular antenna, but yes, the tint will affect the performance. Having said that, I've used a glass-mount for my ham radio for several year, before wiring up an antenna. I think the issue with the CB is that you start with a max of only 4 watts, so any degradation in your signal is going to hurt. Maybe you could try placing it on the rear hatch glass, toward the top, since it's so short. You'd just have to see if you could place it so that glass could still be opened easily.

[MillerTimeX17]

well the reason that i choose that particular antenna was because the antenna itself is removable from the base. but now it looks like my only problem is that i have tint on all my windows except for the windshield, of course.

[rizzjc]

It'll work, you'll just lose some power and probably won't have great SWR. If your CB doesn't complain about high SWR, and doesn't get too hot, and it performs well enough, then you should be good.

[MillerTimeX17]

cool well i think im gonna give it a try. thanks rizzjc!

[CobraMountaineer]

Using a through the glass antenna on any freq below 50 MHz are not worth the time. The performance is not there, and tuning it will be insane. Tint won't matter unless it is a mirror tint. regular tint is ok.

[nmpfeiff]

Good luck finding a spot to mount the radio. I can't figure anything out on mine. I really hate to drill holes or tear the center consul out.

[MillerTimeX17]

well i already have it mounted in the center console. it fit perfect under the lid where i guess you are supposed to store Cd's or kleenex. i also have an external speaker in the cubby hole at the front of the console so i can keep the lid down while i drive.

[nmpfeiff]

Good idea I may look into that. I don't have an external speaker but I may get one. I will look into that tomorrow. I change channels a lot and adjust the squelch and volume constantly so I don't know. Anyway thanks for the tip.

[MillerTimeX17]

Yeah, i think i read in another topic that you have the Cobra 29. Mine is a Cobra 19 so it is considerably smaller than yours. yours may be able to fit inside the console, upright on either side of it. With an additional external speaker, you will be able to keep it out of the way but still very accessible. i will post some pics of how i placed my external speaker but more than likely i will fiberglass a new place for it next to my xm radio and ipod. i also hardwired it so i didnt have a clunky cigarette lighter in the way.

[nmpfeiff]

OK cool some pics would be great. I do have a 29 which is a lot bigger than the 19 and I have mine wired to the cigarette liter which is really aggravating. I have a radar detector to and there are wires everywhere. How did you hard wire it? I looked for a place to run it to the battery but could not find one.

[MillerTimeX17]

yeah im not sure how safe, or good, of a setup that i have going but i have the CB, radar, gps, and xm radio all hardwired. they are all running off seperate add-a-fuses in the fuse box. i also have an amp and power inverter running directly from the battery. now of course i dont ever have these all running at once but so far i have not had any problems. but i have been able to run the radio, amp, , inverter, and xm with the engine off for close to 2 hours and have the engine crank up just fine

[BrianDye]

You could run a small gauge (12 or so) wire from the battery to the interior, to a fusepanel for small stuff like that, then you just ground it to some metal somewhere...


Or you could just run through the firewall with the power wire(s) and go straight to the battery, make sure you fuse it though lol

[MillerTimeX17]

yeah thats actually on my to-do list. i plan on installing on of the blue sea systems fuse blocks.

this is the one in particular: http://bluesea.com/products/5025

i was thinking about fabbing a mount for it under the rear, driver seat so that it can be easily accessible. since everything is already wired up i would just need to run the main power wire to the block and ground it.

[nmpfeiff]

Yeah if I do put it in the center consul I can just use the cigarette liter in the back that I don't ever see. Did you screw your radio in the center or just lay it in there?

[MillerTimeX17]

it fits perfectly snug in there!

[nmpfeiff]

Cool I will look tomorrow and report back. My CB is is my house bc I had to get all the glue off the bracket from the velcro I tried on the side consul.

[nmpfeiff]

Yeah just what I figured my CB wont fit. It is to tall so the lid want close. I think I will just drill the holes in the side of the consul to mount my bracket.