Will this improvised cb antenna idea work?

[Subject]
Will this improvised cb antenna idea work?
[Question]
If I were to take a copper wire from my CB antenna jack, and connect it to my car's antenna, will it work?

treyb0 @ 2009-06-04 07:02:57

[All Answers]
Antennas are specific to which frequencies they're trying to pull in. I don't know if CB and FM radio are close enough on the frequency band to make good use of the same antenna, but I doubt it.



Try it... worst that could happen, is you get no reception.



Although, you'd want to connect it as close as possible to the CB radio itself. A basic copper wire running 6 or 7 feet through your dashboard is going to catch all kinds of interference. That's why your radio uses shielded cable from the base of the antenna to the back of the radio.

travis m @ 2009-06-04 07:10:40

Well, yes - sort of. The antenna's efficiency will suffer as car radio antennas are not 'tuned' to the same frequencies as CB radio. You will have a high standing wave ratio (SWR) which will reduce the CB radio signal output and may cause interference with other electronics. To tune this, you'd use a SWR meter (for CB - 27MHz) and trim (cut) the antenna to achieve the lowest SWR.



Also, DO NOT leave the car antenna connected to the car radio. You will damage the car radio as CB transmits (legally) up to 4 watts. You'll fry the car radio.



You can use the antenna for both, but the isolation equipment you need will more than pay for the CB radio antenna.

mistur_bill @ 2009-06-04 07:13:41

NO. The antenna has to be 109 in. long and definately do not use plain wire. It has to be a shielded cable of the correct impedance.You could do this if all you did was monitor the channels but do not key the mike. It will ruin your radio. Everything has to be balanced with each other, cable length, antenna length and radio.

Clark S @ 2009-06-04 07:13:43

Yes. ANY wire connected will WORK, just not very well if it is not the right "electrical" length. You can buy an antenna which is actually two antennas, which looks like and acts like your regular car radio antenna, but has a second part which is a CB antenna. They are NOT exactly cheap, but they DO exist... You are dealing with a wavelength of about 11 meters. Common electrical lengths used in antennas are 1/4. 1/2, 5/8 and full wavelengths. A common technique is to form a coil of the physical wire used. The coil adds an inductive component to the wave, so to compensate, they add a capacitor of an approproiqate size to offset the inductance. Capacitance has the opposite effect on the wave as the inductive component. The object is to have a purely resistive load on the transmitter which a full wave antenna HAS, but in a much smaller physical package. Buy the right antenna or you could damage the final output stage of the CB with a mismatch which is too large.

rowlfe @ 2009-06-04 07:16:11

Not a good idea. You can damage your radio if you key the mic and the antenna isn't matched.Look on line for homemade antennas.

Carl_the_Truth @ 2009-06-04 07:32:43

The antenna can be any old wire if all you want is to receive. For transmitting, the antenna must be tuned for SWR 1.5:1 or less. If not, you risk a wasteful standing wave which can damage the RF output. Also, I agree with the other guy that you need to isolate the CB from the stereo. CB antennas are cheap enough that you should use a dedicated CB antenna. You can match it up and not worry about it.

don r @ 2009-06-04 08:26:49

[Subject]
What could be the problem if subwoofers sound muffled?
[Question]

$ Money Mike$ @ 2009-06-04 08:28:33

[All Answers]
Wrong size box,



Wrong size amp,



Crappy wires/Connections





Could be a multitude of things.

Chip @ 2009-06-04 08:33:29

I would guess the amp to bridged incorrectly. Make sure the speaker wires go from right channel positive to left chanell negative and you are not right right or left left bridged

ignatiusrielly @ 2009-06-04 08:37:47

muffled subs are fixed by the following, build the correct size box then throw away those Electronic xovers. go to an electronic shop and hook up a set of 4.5 or 5.0 inductors (don't drop em cause u will break you toe) to the positive side of the woofer. sounds like a too lrg box or not enough power or both

tomuchtimeonmyhands2 @ 2009-06-04 08:40:20

plastic off the speaker wire could be touching the connections

justin9005 @ 2009-06-04 08:57:13

not enough information need all to advise .amp size of wires wires head unit box tight sub brand did make or buy box sub for box design,etc.

Charles R @ 2009-06-04 08:59:20

[Subject]
Is this a good setup?
[Question]
I have been looking for a while for a new system for my car. I wanted something relatively cheap, but at the same time decent, so here is what i came up with.

Kenwood Head unit:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000VAQMLK/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A3ADWMNXT7FS32&v=glance

2 pairs of Kenwood 3-way speakers:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001Q9ER8U/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

2 12" pioneer subs:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0012NON3O/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

and a Pioneer Amp:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001NFFYWK/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A3ADWMNXT7FS32&v=glance



So tell me what you think I would like to stay under $400 and it is $380 now

Legacy GT owner @ 2009-06-04 07:01:58

[All Answers]
Awesome i wish i was you

Marko @ 2009-06-04 07:05:31

well.... atleast your not using Xplod's.....

GreEnWitMyHeEn @ 2009-06-04 07:05:58

that is a VERY good set up

Chase Cureton @ 2009-06-04 07:06:05

Hi



In my old car (Nissan Cefiro) i was also going to get a sub... but if u get really good 3 way speakers (i had Pioneer ones) with a lot of bass u can ditch the sub altogether.



I found it was better to get and cheaper with clearer sound to get more expensive, hi-end 3 way (6 by 9) speakers connected to a amp then waste money on a mid-range sub.



Make sure u do plenty of research.



I had such fun putting it together, good luck and have fun.

Anfield07 @ 2009-06-04 07:11:44

If your trying to save money, buy things in stages (buy one sub now, buy the other in a few months)... don't just get the cheapest thing because it's what you can afford. Always buy quality gear.... cheap stuff is just a waste of money, you'll throw it out soon enough.



If your trying to keep your budget under control, get everything today that I mention below except the 4-channel amp, then add the 4-channel later when you have a little more money to put into it.



Everything here (not counting the 4-channel amp) adds up to $480, I realize it's a little over your budget of $400, but it's a HUGE improvement from where you were. Trust me, $400 spent on the other gear would feel like you were getting ripped off, compared to money spent on these, would be a NOTICEABLE improvement. Then, when you add the 4-channel later, it will just make things sound that much better.



The subs and your amp you have picked out are pretty low powered.... I don't know what your goals are with this system, it might be fine for casual listening, but if your looking to turn heads, this won't do it at all. It's an inexpensive setup, decent quality, but nothing spectacular.



Personally I'd put a couple more dollars down, and get these subs... If you have to, as I said before, buy just one now, and get the other in a few months. Just one of these subs will outperform the other two you had planned for.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_5347_JL+Audio+12W1v2-4.html



and match them with this amp...

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_17368_Rockford+Fosgate+PRIME+R500-1.html



These will add a couple dollars to your budget, but they will be SOOOO much more worth your money in the long run.



Also, really consider an amplifier for your front and rear speakers too. The power out of a head unit is really not enough to keep up, and you'll find yourself pushing the built-in amplifier chip inside it into distortion levels, just to make it audible over the wind noise at highway speeds. I'd go with an amp like this one...

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9712_Infinity+Reference+475a.html



of course, that amp is too much power for the wimpy Kenwood speakers you had picked out, so maybe speakers like these....

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8908_MB+Quart+DKG+116.html

Those speakers are only an extra $25 per pair, but they have MUCH better power handling and sound quality than your basic Kenwoods. More power handling means you can keep them if you ever upgrade to more power in the future.



The head unit.... that's fine I suppose. Ideally, you'd be better off with one that had 3 sets of RCA ouputs (one each for front, rear and sub), but you won't find that for close to this price, and you can make do just fine with the 2 sets that head unit offers. Run the front and rear outputs to your 4-channel amp. The amp I suggested has subwoofer outputs built in, you can connect your sub amp using that.

travis m @ 2009-06-04 08:27:40

[Subject]
Is my subwoofer acting normal(like a sub should)?
[Question]
I have a kenwood kfc w3011 in a .9 sealed box. It is really loud for rap and some metal songs, and it is really tight for the metal stuff. But for country and older rock i can barely tell a difference with it on and off. Also it seems quieter out on the road than it does in the driveway. Is all this normal for a sub or is there something wrong with mine?

djgbjim @ 2009-06-04 08:18:05

[All Answers]
country and old rock dont hit as good i believe if its on a 12" ull hardly hear it..country n older rock is more fast pace bass (drums basically) usually if someone wants to hear the bass they get a 10" or a 8" but it shud hit hard on metal and rap

justin9005 @ 2009-06-04 08:23:50

ya man your sub sounds like its acting up

try getting a bigger box or a stronger amp because it sounds like it just doesnt have enough juice to support it on the road.

Julian @ 2009-06-04 08:25:15

this is very normal. classic rock and country uses higher bass frequencies like 60-150. where as rap and new metal/rock hits lower, 30-150. this lower range usually gets produced louder. as far as it being quiet on the road... it's because your sub is working over the road noise. if you open your windows you may not even be able to hear it.

andy @ 2009-06-04 08:26:34

Country and some older rock is not normally played with a lot of lower tones...like newer rap and rock is. If I had to guess, your crossover could be set a bit too low...try switching the crossover up to around 150 hz but not higher than that. You'll never get hard lows with that type of music but it may clean it up a bit. Keep in mind though, increasing the crossover frequency may make the older music sound a bit better, but it could also make the rap and Metal sound bad. If you listen to more of that, then I'd leave the sub alone and look at getting your hands on a good component speaker set or 2 ( Kenwood is excellent, Infinity is better) and a small to medium sized 4 channel amp. The woofers on those will really bring out the mid range sounds in country and classic rock.



About the sound difference...it depends on the location and car type you have. On the road, you're moving...outside noise, engine noise are take away form the sound quality.



just my 2 cents.

Viktobog @ 2009-06-04 08:39:04

[Subject]
Reccomend me a good radio..?
[Question]
I have had about 4 radios in my truck..none of which I paid for, and none of which lasted more than 2 months...



I need a good radio to run through a 200 watt amp powering 2 kicker 12's..I am also on a very tight budget right now (hence the reason I ha vent paid for one) and I would really like one that wouldn't break the bank for me...also..I would like one that works correctly for longer than a week!!!

Big Nate @ 2009-06-04 08:31:14

[All Answers]
KENWOOD

Asian Sensation #32 @ 2009-06-04 08:41:13

pioneer sony kenwood in that order

tomuchtimeonmyhands2 @ 2009-06-04 08:45:35

cheapest good quality to most expensive best quality...sony,jvc,pioneer,kenwood,ALPINE,harmon karmon, if i were you i would just get an alpine unit. It will last because i have a ton of friends that buy used alpine head units and they stay workin 4ever the only reason they dont have it ne more or somin is because they traded it off for a newer alpine :)

justin9005 @ 2009-06-04 08:47:29

I bought my JVC unit and a Pioneer from JobberSite.com



Emailed them and got the stuff around wholesale cost.



Good Luck

GOETNIES @ 2009-06-04 08:56:07