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Dual Pane Sunroof - Magnetic CB Antenna Mount?

7K views 35 replies 9 participants last post by  perpster 
#1 ·
Does anyone have experience with trying a magnetic CB antenna mount on a 14/15 JGC with the dual-pane panoramic sunroof? I am wondering if the large amount of glass roof leaves enough metal to make a decent ground plane for the CB.
 
#5 ·
I stuck my antenna on the back driver side corner of the roof close to the hatch and then ran the cable through the hatch inside. There was very little cable showing and the reception was fine.
 
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#9 ·
I mainly need it for interstate trips, so it doesn't need a permanent mount, and I don't want to do any drilling or electrical. My CB has a cigarette lighter adapter for power, so sticking the antenna on the roof for a trip is simple enough. It's what I've done for years, but with a crappy antenna and vehicle roofs with little or no glass. With the new JGC I'm going to splurge on a new antenna.
 
#15 ·
I went with the K40 magnetic mount. I will be putting it near the GPS sharkfin antenna at the back of the roof.

The K40 magnetic mount is actually the K40 trunk/tailgate lid mount, with a piece to connect the trunk lid mount to the separate magnetic mount. Can alternate between them if desired - neither is permanent.

Wilson 1000 and 5000 get better reviews, but are know to be having a manufacturing problem - something to do with the plastic moldings. Besides, reviews say that they are very comparable in performance running barefoot, which is what I'll be doing.

Both the Wilson and K40 loads/antennas can be removed from their magnetic bases, but the K40 is a quick-release bayonet mount requiring about 1/4 turn, while the Wilsons require several turns to unscrew. Not a major difference, but a consideration.
 
#17 ·
Yes, K40's have been around a long time! I had one in the 1970's-1980's, before I hung up my microphone. That familiarity, and the minimal performance differences between them at legal power, made my mind up. That, and the quick-release bayonet mount.
 
#18 ·
Do you guys/gals have any advice for routing the coax cable from the roof near the GPS antenna and through the hatch to cause the least pinching of the cable?


I looked and it seems the top corners have the most clearance with the hatch opened and closed. The top edge of the hatch/spoiler seem to drop down a bit when fully open, with a pretty tight clearance, so it looks like a pinch-prone location. (And also an impossible location for a trunk lid mount).


Once inside the cargo area, is there a good way to run the cable from cargo area to center console? I was trying to figure a way to snake a cable between the frame and the interior trim, but it looks like some disassembly required, and I'm not sure what to disassemble were I to go that route.


Would love to be able to run the cable into one of the existing pathways on the hatch for the 3rd brake light but that's probably not feasible (or is it?)
 
#21 ·
Yes, you are ahead. I would have been all over a Uniden 7760, for which I found no CB equivalent.

The sill door trims pop off thats the easiest way from front to rear. Even the side cargo trims pull off ;)
What's the trick to pulling off the side cargo trims without damage?

What's the trick to popping off the sill door trims without damage?

How/where would the cable enter from the outside, preferably without drilling? (bearing in mind the antenna will be mounted on the rear of the roof, near the GPS sharkfin).

Thanks/Ta.
 
#28 ·
Thanks to nicjak for sending details on his install. In the meantime, here's the follow-up on my magnetic antenna install:

Got the K40 and its Magnamount. Simple to put together.

Put it on the roof, next to and just to rear of, sharkfin built-in antenna. There is not enough room between the sharkfin and the liftgate spoiler to put it directly behind the sharkfin. It's at about the 5 o'clock position relative to the sharfin, viewed birds eye.

To my very pleasant surprise, the coax cable fits in between the liftgate and the body without being pinched at all! By putting it at the upper corner it does not get contacted at all by the gate open, closed or opening or closing. It's easy to keep a finger on the cable when open/close to make sure it stays in the corner.

I routed the cable under the rod that connects the gate piston, and then down, between the rear tail light plastic and the cargo area lip.

I then routed it down and horizontal along the bumper "deck". A few inches toward center from the corner, the rubber liftgate gasket gets softer and the coax fits with minimal impingement.

Inside the cabin, I ran it between the rear seats, pushing it down into the space between the 60/40 seats, under the rear floor mat, and along the hump. It comes up just past the front passenger seat belt receptacle.

Was able to tune the K40 easily, getting all channels to about 1.7 SWR, give or take. I could get lower SWR on some channels, but then the SWR's would go above 2 on other channels. So, I left it where they were all under 2 across the board. I was able to get decent radio checks with truckers a few miles away. I was picking up transmissions from over 10 miles away, but they couldn't hear me (or ignored me).
 
#31 ·
I drove a dump truck for a few years.Having a CB was the only way to tell the loader how much you needed since your not allowed out of your truck in the quarry. (ins.) or your good at signing!
 
#30 ·
CB radios are still very useful, especially on the interstates.

Dan
 
#32 · (Edited)
I think he means CB as distinguished from UHF. UHF use has supplanted CB use in Australia. I don't believe UHF is available in a CB-type format in US (and I don't know what the advantages are).

When I was looking for an all-in-the-mike CB, I came across a nice Uniden model. But I found it is only UHF and Uniden does not make CB equivalent. All the reviews I found for it were .au websites. The main 2 choices for all-in-the-mike CB in US are Cobra 75 and Midland 75-822. However, the Cobra isn't really all-in-the-mike. It has a separate "head" unit between the mike and the antenna. The Midland is truly all-in-the-mike.
 
#34 ·
I also researched installing CB antenna for a while for my GC but ended up getting an amateur radio license instead since the local club I joined were also ham radio operators. I installed a diamond mount and a cheapie antenna from Amazon. I was using a baofeng handheld connected to the antenna for a while but now I'm going to install a dedicated mobile yaesu radio for better range. The 5 watts on the handheld is not cutting it when there are about 20 vehicles in the group.
 
#35 ·
I did an interstate road trip and the setup worked well. One note: plugging the CB into the power outlet under the nav screen caused a lot of engine buzz directly related to RPMs. Plugging it into the power outlet under the armrest had no buzz. I suspect this is because the armrest outlet is marked battery, while the under-screen outlet is marked key [ignition].
 
#36 ·
Another note: I used a double-plug connector and had both the CB and Garmin NUVI plugged into the armrest "battery" power outlet. It didn't dawn on me that the GPS would stay on until unplugged from the outlet, until I saw it still on hours after I had parked the car. Beware battery drain if using the "battery" power outlets!
 
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