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Getting Started in CB Radio
Installing A Rig In Your Car
The first thing to remember when using a CB in your car is that your first priority is to the safety of yourself and other road users.
Using the microphone when driving is now an offence like taking on a mobile phone.
That aside first find a place to securely attach your radio under the dash, on the centre tunnel etc. It is important that the radio is not just shoved under your seat, for starters it could slide forward if you stop suddenly and lodge under the break pedal and also if you are on the breaking channel and some one says knock it up one you cannot see the channel display.
Wiring
The following comes from one of the latest Amateur Radio manuals. It is now not recommended to power your transmitting eqpt. from the live wire in the ignition system as with most modern cars there is some sort of Engine Management System which controls the ignition and the fuel injection system, this could also be tied into the computer which is responsible for ABS breaking and other safety features which could be compromised with the introduction of RF energy into the system.
The live feed for the radio should be taken by the twin core wire supplied with the radio direct from the battery, this can be extended if necessary, there will be no power loss an average car battery delivers around 55 Amps under load.
Also the radio inside the car should not be fitted physically to a computer system such as GPS as this may effect its performance.
And remember don't key up in a petrol station RF energy can ignite petrol vapour.
Antennas
There is a dazzling array of antennas available for mobiles, all different shapes and sizes, a good pointer is look for one with a loading coil at the base or in the centre that is 5/8 wave, this specification will give good performance and not cause any undue strain on the bodywork at speed.
There are various ways of fixing the antenna to the car Body Mount, Stud Mount, Gutter Mount, Boot Lip Mount, Magnetic Mount. All do the job fine such as the mag mount and the boot lip mount if you don't want to drill the car, but the simple fact is these are a compromise, to get the best performance out of your radio a body mount is the only way to get a true earth connection, and the best position for a maximum radiating pattern is slap bang in the middle of your roof, (This doesn't count if you drive a Robin Reliant that's your problem, radios don't like plastic).
SWR is done in basically the same way as with home base but by adjusting a small alan screw at the bottom of the twig till you get the best reading (usually a two man job).
Always remove the meter from the coax when finished, the meter is a tuned circuit and although licence provisions state you must remove it, if you do not it is a serious source of interference and once your SWR if set it should remain the same for ever.

But remember if your going sitting on top of a big hill talking to breakers from far and wide, run your engine every now and again constant transmitting can soon drain a battery and you could find yourself having to roll down that hill to get started.
But all in all Mobile Breaking is the best way to enjoy CB.
 
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