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Cobra 29XLR

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77crewcab

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Scored a Cobra 29XLR, external speaker, unkown mag mount ant. on ebay for $27 today. So how did I do and will this make for a good starter CB?
 
Anyone have any input on this style radio? I know it is supposed to be an older unit but don't know how good they are. Just wanted to get a complete setup to get started with.
 
Yeah its fine . Good radio for trail use . Its not so great for long distance with that antenna , but can always upgrade the antenna ( Although its not so great for anyone long distance right now , we haven't had a sunspot for days , so no one is getting out your state with an illegal amp either :wink1: ) .

Don't have anyone touch the radio if you don't know where they learned their engineering at , more truckstop and CB shop guys with golden screwdrivers make radios sound so distorted just to see a meter swing .

The antenna is the number one thing to upgrade . It is the most important part of any communication setup . A good Wilson 1000 , or the right length whip mounted properly will make a 4 watt legal radio work so much better :thumb:
 
I am thinking of trying to use a 102ss whip mounted on a bracket similar to how the cucv antennas were mounted. Does that sound like a good idea, or would a mag mount in the center of the roof be better? I have also gotten 2 GE handheld 40 cb's and just tonight won a cobra 25 and 29 combo. I figure that I'll at least have a chance to try some different style radios and see which I like the best. The handhelds I figured would be good for car-to-car on vacation convoys with the extended family.
 
The 102 is going to be a good antenna, as long as you leave it vertical. By tucking it down the travel is going to be hurt a bit, but they are good antenna's. I want to get one to go on my Blazer, but have been considering the Wilson that Pauly mentioned.
 
I probably wont tuck it, just leave it vertical most of the time but plan on using a similar mount to the cucv. A mag mount center of the roof would be fine though.
 
It seems like the 102" ss whip would be cheapest with ball mount and HD spring. Would there be a problem mounting it on a CUCV esque bracket like I said? Or would it be better to just mount it to the rear fender? And if I wanted to tie it down sometimes, how would I go about doing it?
 
i would say with an L shaped bracket with a lip so you can bend the antenna down and the lip will keep it from sliding out
 
I was under the impression that the antena wasn't supposed to ground anywhere but at the mount. Am I wrong? I know the military uses a rope type tie down and thought that was why.
 
Your feed line or coax has the center go to the antenna whip , insulated at the mount with some kind of non conducting washer , and your braided shield going to the ground of the vehicle .

A vertical whip is half of a dipole antenna . The other half is the vehicle , I.E ground plane , counterpoise , etc .

Some fiberglass antennas come with a little wire you hook to ground , but that little wire is insulated from the other wire under the covering .
 
Okay so if I understand correctly, using a 102"ss whip, the whip is positive and the body panel is negative. Is that only when transmitting, or all the time? How would you secure it in a folded forward position? The kits used in the military have a nylon type rope with a metal hook on the end. You fold the antena, hook it with the metal hook and have the other end tied off to the vehicle. This leaves the antena folded forward without touching the vehicle. Would it be the same on the 102 ss whip?

Would it be best to just stick with a magnent mount in the center of the roof? If so can anyon answer the question on the wilson 1000? What all do you have to buy to get the wilson setup? It appears as if you would have to buy the mag base, and also a seperate antena?
 
Yup just the same , use a nylon non conducting cable to hold it forward .

And its not called positive or negative , its just the antenna has two parts , the whip is one , the body is the other half of the antenna .

Neat thing most didn't know here , when folded forward when you transmit it goes straight up ( and is called near vertical incidence skywave ) and when not folded it goes sideways towards the horizon and up .

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You can do magnet mount , or drill a hole and put a permanent mount on with the Wilson . I have tried both , and like the under the headliner cable routing of the drilled hole mount better .
 
Would it hurt any to tape a small hook or ring to the antenna to use as the tiedown spot? I figured out my own question on the wilson as far as the idividual parts. I just needed to read the descriptions better to realize it all comes in the box. So Pauly, which would you recommend, a 102"ss whip or mag mount wilson 1000?
 
Either is fine . I use the Wilson because I can unscrew it and stick the threaded cap on for washing , towing , move it to another rig temporarily , etc .

You can weld a little hook to the long whip , or bolt a clamp on , but you need to check your swr as its going to move it a little , and may end up trimming just a little off the antenna .
 
Okay thanks. It looks like I might just go with the mag mount wilson, mounted center of the roof. What is the best way to run the coax into the truck? At the blazer top seal or some other method? Don't want to have leaks, but also don't want to drill a hole in the roof since I have no headliner just the metal inner roof.
 
I went and drilled hole in roof , larger hole in second panel ( under headliner ) ran the cable towards the rear , and went under all the plastic interior stuff , down the side , and under the carpet .

You could also drill a second hole in the dome light area to double wall roof , run the cable in the double wall pillar area , but its a pain . Under the panels is easier .
 
Do you have a mag mount or the style that mounts permanently to the roof? how is the hole you drilled sealed up?
 
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