Need electronics help

[digglesworth]

ok.... so im new to CBs for sure.... I wanna replace my factory head unit in my 06 H3... I wanna put a single din head unit in so I can stack it on top of a cobra 18..... I don't need a fancy head unit with navigation and all that stuff. I just want something with an AUX input to plug an mp3 player into... do I need the gmos-04 adapter or any other adapter if I replace the stock head unit? I also wanna run coax to the rear and mount a firestick (2'-3') antenna on the spare tire mount. what is a good mount to use for that location? and whats a good firestick for that length.... ive seen theres a firestick, firestick II, etc.... id like the mount to have a little flex but I understand that location doesn't allow to much flex with a rigid antenna and spring mount..... that's why im looking to keep it somewhat short so it doesn't extend too high over the roof basket....

 

[alrock]

I can't help you with the stereo but I can help with the CB.

Note that you want as much as possible to stick up over the roof as you can as the antenna is line of sight and uses the roof as a plane to for the signal. I believe I was using a 3' Firestik II in that location. Flexible but not overly flexible. It still hit the roof above the rear window and damaged the paint over time. Nothing worse than scratches on the trail, but it's there. I did not use a spring mount there as it was too much flex and the antenna would just bounce back and forth between the tire and the rear door.

AirDoc has a mount for that location: http://rocdoc.net/. If you mount in that location I would highly recommend running a ground wire from the mount to the frame or body of the truck. While some owners have had different results, I could not get any continuity between the rear door and the body as the hinge is insulated - whether it's nylon, grease or paint - and it prevented a good ground.

If you have a roof rack I would strongly consider using the basket as the mounting point and then simply getting a spring mount and/or Firefly to get through the low spots. I still use a 3' antenna right now with that setup. The roof basket should get a good ground to the roof if you are using the factory rails for the basket. It's also easier to run and maintain the cable.

 

[digglesworth]

Thanks for the info.... That makes good sense... Would a piece of heat shrink tubing or rubberized tape around the spot that hits the paint interfere with reception.... Something that would only cover a couple inches.... Does the antenna come with the hardware to mount it to the airdoc mount or do I need to look for something for that? I read through a thread doc posted about running the coax from that location and a ground wire to a good spot..... I think I'm sold on that spot, at least for now.... Is there a particular cable I should look for? I appreciate the help....

 

[alrock]

You'll need an 18' cable and just about any cable should work. http://www.amazon.com/FireStik-K-8A-single-antenna-cable/dp/B000X3EPCI/ref=pd_sim_e_3
You also need a stud mount like the Firestik K-4A. http://www.amazon.com/Firestik-Scre...8&qid=1367886342&sr=8-2&keywords=firestik+k4a

I doubt that tubing or heat shrink will lessen the beating against the door as you're already dealing with plastic against paint. I doubt that a layer of anything will yield any real additional protection. Note that it took a lot of time with the antenna posted there - lots of wheeling trips - for any surface damage to show on the paint.

 

[jakesz28]

If you have not bought the coax, get a good one. A lot of people want to have their CB tweaked to get a little more power out of them. But a good coax is the way to go.

 

[digglesworth]

I've seen some cables with a "weatherproof" connector for the antenna side.... I'm not sure what makes a cable a good one or not..... I'm in good with our radio guy at work so I'm gonna see if he'll help me get it all tuned in after the install....

 

[digglesworth]

Oh and with the firestick stud, where should I attach the ground to?

 

[digglesworth]

So I just ordered a firestik II, k-4a stud mount, airdocs spare tire mount and a K40 18' cable...
Gonna get the radio when I get my new single din head unit and install it all at the same time...