deathrunner

Ok, but let's not get the mormons involved, they always harass me when I'm workling on the 4runner in the driveway. No means No!

Tanto

you don't need to tune it to get it to work, you just may not get the range you could get from tuning it properly. I have the Cobra 75WXST and I mounted the tiny box behind the extra power outlets in front of my shifter and below my ashtray. The only thing that shows is the pigtail that comes through a tiny hole in the front. I'll take a picture of my setup tonight so you can see what I'm blabbering about.

deathrunner

Ryan, you can actually cause harm to your cb unit if you don't tune it, and that kind of damage is not covere dunder the warranty of the manufacturer. Tuning the cb determines how much of the power is reflected back to the unit during transmition. If it is not tuned properly you actually send more power at back at certain frequencies than others. This isn't a problem if you happen to be using a channel where the SWR's are low, but if you continually use a channel with high SWR's, you can cause damage. Now how do you know the SWR on the channels your using if you don't tune it?

Sure, lots of people don't tune them and thinsg work ok, but when it is so cheap and easy to tune it, why not?

You can do what is called off center tuning. This is where you choose to optimize one specific channel (Say you only plan to use cahnel 4), well you can tune your system so that channel 4 has a Super low SWR and not concern yourself with teh SWR on the other channels. Effectively this is how an untuned system is setup, but you have no idea which channel it is optimized for, if any.

Moral of the story, I have an SWR meter, and am willing to help anyone with a tuneable antenna.

Tanto

I may hit you up on that, Seth. I know you're pretty knowledgeable on that stuff with all the problems you had with your antenna. I've had pretty good range on my CB un-tuned and I'm using a Cobra antenna so it shouldn't be that bad since I'm sure Cobra tested their antennas with their CBs.

ecchamberlin

Seth, I will also take you up on this and must say that is the best, most simple way I have ever heard that explained. Even I understand it.

BruceTS

Put it this way if it wasn't photochopped, his rig would be toast!

looks like the straps came loose and his rig is gonna fly off the pallet

deathrunner

You are correct in that they do bench testing at the manufacturer's plant, but every cb is different,and furthermore, every system is different.....

the type of coax, length of coax, how it is run, wher eth cb unit is placed, teh groud plan in relation to the antenna, my plastic antenna tip even amde a HUGE difference when it was removed. EVERYTHING affects the SWR rating. If you go wheeling ta pismo and salt sticks to your antenna....your SWR's will climb.

Eric- get a tuneable antenna. My friend got a non-tuneable firestik, and although you can still tune them, it is a pain in the rear.

Beerdrinker

I bought one of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=172282
and a Wilson "little will" antenna

works pretty well. IMO. plus you can slap on the batt. pack and walk around with it.
Seth do you think I should get it tuned?

deathrunner

If it hooks to a tuneable antenna and I can put the meter in between, then I say "yes". I'll bring it on one of the runs and maybe we can get some of you gusy tuned while we wait for everyone to show up.

Tanto

here's the pics for my setup.




You can see two small holes where the screws set in, but you can really just put it behind that plastic since it's so tight back there. Jared, I know you probably have a totally different setup in your runner, but this may give you an idea.

ecchamberlin

Just thought I'd show the result of driver error on steep decent:



Going to get me another spare today!

deathrunner

How much does a full spare run for a 3rd gen. I'd need to get t-1oo axles.

Also, is any of that salvageable....or do you just return it as a core? It seems to me that most of that is reusable.

ecchamberlin

Your right about the damage to the CV. It is not really broken. It just seperated due to the wheel being locked hard to the left. It is a $130 core r for me when I return it. I paid $99 for the new one +$130 core.
I am hitting up a junk yard this afternoon that I know for sure has 1 CV from a 3rd gen. Not sure how much he is gonna want for it yet but I don't thik it will be that much.
I can keep an eye out for a T-100 when I am out there.

deathrunner

That would be great.

Jerry

Look like a good time I'm going rideing out there Wednes day

ecchamberlin

Are you going by yourself? If you are I would highly suggest a GPS. Could very easily get lost out there.

Have fun that place is a blast!