CB Mike Hanger

[james_hart6]

I've installed a Cobra 75 CB on my MM (K40 trunk lip antenna). The 75 model has all of the controls on the mike, with an external power unit. The power unit installed nicely and neatly in the glovebox, using the existing screw hole. The mike wire runs back over to the driver's side, behind the dash.

The quandry - where to put the mike hanger???

Has anyone mounted a CB yet, and if so, where did you place the mike hanger? I'm a little reluctant to drill into the dash facia...

Thanks!

Jim

[Geo]

Have you any thoughts on hooking up a CB with 2 antennas (shorties, say 3 ft each) as opposed to one 6ft. I had this idea for about 10 years now. The reason for this is that the 2 antennas would give a Marauder that cop car look, which you could unscrew and take off at any time. I know 28MHz requires the height of the antenna to be a certain length in order to utilize the wavelength efficiently, however what about tuning these two antennas (perhaps in parallel) and cheat the system in thinking that it is 6ft tall (I think my old firestick from Radio Shack was 6ft), perhaps 4ft antennas would work better.

Any thoughts? Because I would want a CB in a Maraduer without a doubt.

GEO

[WJSOLOMON]

Originally posted by Geo:"Have you any thoughts on hooking up a CB with 2 antennas (shorties, say 3 ft each) as opposed to one 6ft. I had this idea for about 10 years now. The reason for this is that the 2 antennas would give a Marauder that cop car look, which you could unscrew and take off at any time. I know 28MHz requires the height of the antenna to be a certain length in order to utilize the wavelength efficiently, however what about tuning these two antennas (perhaps in parallel) and cheat the system in thinking that it is 6ft tall (I think my old firestick from Radio Shack was 6ft), perhaps 4ft antennas would work better. Any thoughts? Because I would want a CB in a Maraduer without a doubt. GE"

I've installed Twin Celluar Antennas on the Rear Glass, and along with the #45 Window Tint, Twin Black Spot Lights, Debadged, and s Smoked Rear License Bubble Lens, it cuts through Traffic like a Hot Knife through Margerine!

It has the potential for being quite a "Stealth Car"!

[warren]

Geo. You are better off with the way SoloI has it for looks. That's what I will do. CB Ant's. MUST be 7'+ or more apart to work in a dual mode - you can hook up just one of the two and do better. They can be attached to the trunk lip and stick up 2.5' but you only can hook up one to make it work right.

Check out www.scannersunlimited.com or call
Glenn Cohen at 1-650-573-1624. They sell stuff all over the US. He knows his stuff.

Enjoy --- Warren B.

[james_hart6]

Geo,

>>Have you any thoughts on hooking up a CB with 2 antennas (shorties, say 3 ft each) as opposed to one 6ft. I had this idea for about 10 years now. The reason for this is that the 2 antennas would give a Marauder that cop car look<<

No - hadn't thought of that. I had enough trouble getting ONE cable through the back <g>. I think the K40 will give me the range I want (once I have it trimmed) and it's quick disconnect so I don't pound the dickens out of the garage door when pulling in or out. But I still haven't solved the problem of the mike hanger...

Twin antennas would definitely give the car a more rakish look, but I'm not up on antennae, hookups, etc.

If you give it a go, let us know how it works out.

Jim

[bozobill]

If dual CB antennas are tuned together they will provide the strongest in/out transmission. Since our MM's are not 7' wide, why not one on the front bumper and one on the rear. Lots more than 7' available that way.

[Geo]

Regarding where to put a mike hanger, how about using something to put in one of the cupholders and mounting the mic to that; no drilling and you could simply hide the mic and even remove this eloquent cup whenever you wish. If you think that only having one cupholder left for drinks while cruising and CBing is not enough, perhaps one of those RWD-type cupholders (available in the aftermarket) would suffice, mounted on the drive-shaft hump directly behind the front console and fully accessible to front passengers (well almost fully). Just don't forget about them when engaging in "spirited driving sessions".

About antennas being mounted in the rear and in the front: perhaps the front fender area paralleling the hood (just like the rear quarter-panel paralleling the trunk lid) would be better.

GEO

[Larry Vogel]

And here I thought CB's went out with the 80's.:eek:

[james_hart6]

Originally posted by Geo
Regarding where to put a mike hanger, how about using something to put in one of the cupholders and mounting the mic to that; no drilling and you could simply hide the mic and even remove this eloquent cup whenever you wish. GEO

Geo -

Hey, that might be a good idea! I'll muck about with it for a bit and see if I can come up with something along those lines...

Thanks!

Jim

[james_hart6]

Originally posted by Larry Vogel
And here I thought CB's went out with the 80's.:eek:

Larry,

They did. Unfortunately, so did I ;).

Actually I drive about 30K a year on Michigan highways, and have found a CB to be very useful in avoiding traffic problems, and the occasional speed trap. I've had CB's in my cars since the '60's and the WORST period was when they became popular in the mid-seventies. Once the fad was over, and the incessant chatter on channel 19 dropped back to a tolerable level the device became a useful tool again.

The install problems have changed, though; used to be the radios were very large and heavy - but there was usually plenty of room under the dash to hang one. Now the radios are small and light - but the dashboards are not generally after-market-device friendly.

The Marauder has been a bit of a challenge - getting a clean looking install, that is. This forum and crownvic.net are most excellent resources for ideas, and I thank everyone.

Jim

[03 Merc]

Jim,

You can buy cup holder inserts, to hold cell phones for hands free operation, at WalMart and Target. These would be easily adapted to be a mic holder as well the cellphone...and it will be nice and close without reaching for the dash.... Lift it out and you have your cupholder back....

Just a thought...

BTW do you still do the "Good Buddy" bit...:D

[james_hart6]

Originally posted by 03 Merc
Jim,

You can buy cup holder inserts, to hold cell phones for hands free operation, at WalMart and Target. These would be easily adapted to be a mic holder as well the cellphone...and it will be nice and close without reaching for the dash.... Lift it out and you have your cupholder back....

Just a thought...

BTW do you still do the "Good Buddy" bit...:D


Hi Merc.

There's a Target store right up the road; I'll give it a shot in the a.m.

Ummm..."Good Buddy" tip...

No, I'm married ;)

Kidding. I never got into the 'rubber ducky' craze - to me the CB is just another way of getting information. Great for getting around construction, getting directions (I just GOTTA get me one of them GPS thingies!), and sometimes being able to help out others.

' course, I've been around so long that I remember having to PAY to register for a CB license, and the call signs were issued - the user just didn't pick a "handle".

Thanks for the tip on the cup holder!

Jim

[03 Merc]

Jim,

I still have my old 23 channel with my FCC assigned "Call Letters" on it somewhere in the basement...

BTW how do you intend to do the antenna? My previous experience with magnetic and trunk lip mount antennas was not good as far as the paint under them was concerned... I was looking at a glass mount, similar to a cellular, but I don't believe it would have near the range of a "real" antenna. Loading coils can only make up for a certain amount of "antenna"....

I also run a Valentine V1 BTW...best unit on the market, bar none IMHO
...just don't drive by a Dunkin Donuts with it's audio turned up!!!:D

[james_hart6]

Originally posted by 03 Merc
Jim,

...how do you intend to do the antenna? My previous experience with magnetic and trunk lip mount antennas was not good as far as the paint under them was concerned... I was looking at a glass mount, similar to a cellular...loading coils can only make up for a certain amount of "antenna"....

...just don't drive by a Dunkin Donuts with it's (the Valentine) audio turned up!!!:D

Merc,

I've installed a trunk lip K40, on the driver's side. I've not trimmed it out yet, so don't have any real feel for the range it's getting.

I've used the window mounts on two other cars and neither antenna gave good results. They were basically 'line of site'.

The best I've gotten was a whip installed on a ball mount through the left rear side of a Jeep. I gave some thought to that type of mount for the Marauder, but decided to try something less invasive. I expect that there will be some paint damage under the K-40 mount eventually - it has a decent rubber pad between the base and the trunk deck, but there's bound to be some damage. The K-40 does have the advantage of being a quick disconnect - the mount stays attached to the deck lid but the entire mast comes of with a twist; it can be replaced with a small cover that protects the mount from the elements while the mast fits neatly into the trunk.

On the Valentine - I hooked it up when I picked up the car and the somewhat elderly salesman (this particular dealership hasn't sold any Marauders except the one they sold to me, and I think their sales staff may be part of the reason...) blanched when I was plugging it in. His final words of wisdom as I closed the driver's door were "Well...well...don't get any tickets!" ;)

Jim