Ok I have been wanting to buy a CB radio for a while now but I don't like that HUGE anttena do you all think I could adapt the stock one so that it would work with a CB radio? Also does anyone have a way to switch the antena to go up and down via a button or a switch cuz I don't want to have the antenna up all the time.


Santiago

 

Wrong freq

There are some adapters that can convert a am/fm antenna (which is tuned for 68-107 Mhz) to 25-25 Mhz signal that CB uses, but you will be rather limited on range and power.

 

hmmm thanks Mark




Santiago

 

Mark where could I get this adapter? what does it do? could I make my own?


BTW what is the range on CB's?

 

Some of the older T-Birds had power AM/FM-CB antennas but because of the short hight they had very limited range of about a mile. Normal CB antenna is good for over 10 miles of flat ground.

 

How limited was it? 2 miles 5 miles what? what is the range. I am sure I could find some T-bird and rip out the antenna and rettro fit it somehow.


Santiago

 

most CB or Ham radio shops should have it... maybe even radio shack

 

What is it called?

What is the range on a CB with a CB antena?

 

102" whip is good for over 10 miles but short antennas are only good for about a mile or 2 at the most

 

Damn that is HUGE 102" I strung out my tape measure and that is one hell of an antena for an FC to be crusing around with. How long are our antenas? what if I get something like 60" or 50" how would I find out the range on that?


Santiago

 

The antenna requires switched ground to go up. If you want this to work with an aftermarket head unit you need to use a relay because the head unit antenna wire gives switched power. Wire it like this:

 

The car antenna matching transformers work, but not not very well.
I found a nice looking base loaded CB whip at Radio Shack. It's about a 4ft whip with a 5/8" x 5" base coil.
I mounted it in place of the (broken) automatic antenna. I taps the garage door but clears the ceiling. SWR at 150watts is 1.2-1.5.

The windshield in-glass antenna will handle the stereo.



Some say I look like a 1:1 RC car

 

I mean just a switch, like ON or OFF / UP or DOWN I don't even have a radio. where do you all buy relays? I have never seen them. How much do they go for?


Santiago

 

Damn 1:1 RC

I kinda want to get something that retracts but I guess not. Do you know of any CB antenas that retract with a motor?

I know that Radio Shack has a CB for 39.99 but I think I will need an antena for it.

 

I've seen a CB antenna at Radio Shack that looks like one of those old, spiral cell phone antennae that afixes to the exterior of a window with foam tape. An employee there said that, while he hadn't seen one actually mounted, it should work really well. Also, what did you have in mind for a speaker for the CB? Unless you planned to just use the hand-set (which would suck), you'll need to fabricate some sort of speaker system so you can hear incoming communication over road noise and such.

 

If a retractable transmitter antenna exists, it's likely to be troublesome.
Also accidentally keying with the antenna down would overload your finals..

 

Yeah, well acttually my father has a CB with a speaker setup already but all I need to know is how to hook up the stock antena or one that is a resonable length or a fugging long retractable one on a switch.

 

As I said, it just needs to be grounded to make it go up. Find the antenna wire on the stereo harness (light blue wire with a yellow stripe on a 3-pin plug) and ground it via a switch. On = up, off = down. They're available at any auto parts or electronics store for a few dollars. Ask for a standard automotive relay. It's pins will match the diagram.

Why you'd want a CB over a stereo is completely beyond me...

 

CB in a rx-7...........hmmm

 

Communication is better than listening. I have my reasons for wanting this. And the STOCK antena is very much a STEALTH option if I could somehow boost its range.

 

Cool so a place like radio shack has a relay right?


Santiago

 

Yes.