Car Wash and OEM Antenna

[Jake]

Hey Mark it’s from Craven Speed. See the attached screen shot showing the website and price. Like I said it gets great reception.

Brand? I bought an AntennaX, and it destroyed radio reception (in the middle of Los Angeles). Any recommendations would be appreciated.

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[Proximo]

@MarkO I'm 20miles outside of Detroit. I'm using 13" Rydonair and get FM stations very good. Found on Amazon. If you are in the city, should be good

 

[khokhonutt]

Where did you end up grounding the multiplexor?

Behind the passenger kick panel, right below where the antenna enters the cab, is a grounding point.

 

[spazzyfry123]

Behind the passenger kick panel, right below where the antenna enters the cab, is a grounding point.

I have to say, it was difficult getting in there. Getting the grommet in was the most difficult thing as stupid as it sounds. I could only find one place to mount the box down by the carpet behind the kick panel. Just enough reach to get to the factory antenna plug point.

 

[SF_E60]

A little late, but try one of these I have them on both my JLU and JT. https://www.quadratec.com/p/rugged-ridge/elite-antenna-base-6-reflex-antenna-jeep-wrangler-jk

I just ordered this. I had one similar on my old JK.

 

[spazzyfry123]

Behind the passenger kick panel, right below where the antenna enters the cab, is a grounding point.

Not to keep bugging, but did you ground your CB radio and multiplexor separately? I get great FM reception, but my SWR is at about 2.4 after attempting to tune the CB earlier today. As it sits now I’ve got both my CB and the multiplexor grounded to the same stud in the passenger kick panel. I figure I’ve either got an issue with my ground or possibly need a different antenna. I figure since you’ve had positive results with a similar setup, I’d ask you if you ran into any snags or have any suggestions.

My setup:
Rugged Ridge splitter system and antenna mount
2’ FireStik
Uniden CMX760 CB

 

[khokhonutt]

Not to keep bugging, but did you ground your CB radio and multiplexor separately? I get great FM reception, but my SWR is at about 2.4 after attempting to tune the CB earlier today. As it sits now I’ve got both my CB and the multiplexor grounded to the same stud in the passenger kick panel. I figure I’ve either got an issue with my ground or possibly need a different antenna. I figure since you’ve had positive results with a similar setup, I’d ask you if you ran into any snags or have any suggestions.

My setup:
Rugged Ridge splitter system and antenna mount
2’ FireStik
Uniden CMX760 CB

It took me a bit to get my SWR dialed in.Here are the steps I took.

1. I ran a ground wire from the mount itself. I ran a small wire along with the CB wire. The ground wire has a small ring terminal and it grounded on one of the mount screws outside.
2. That ground wire, the ground for the CB and the ground ground from the multiplexor all ground at the body, inside on a ground lug by the passenger's right foot.
3. After setting all of those grounds, I checked for continuity to ensure the antenna cable and all of those grounds were good.
4. My firewire connection only came with a 9' cable. I'd always heard you want 18' of CB wire, so I bought a 9' extension. I've also read you don't want that extra coiled up somewhere, so I ran that cable to the back of the truck and back in one long loop.
5. For what it's worth, my antenna is the 3' firefly by FireStik. I don't know for sure if that makes a difference since it's my understanding the FireStik antennas are wound in such a way that they are longer reception wise than they are physically. That said, the antenna itself is pretty cheap, so maybe try a 3' and see if it makes a difference. So far I haven't had an issue with mine in parking structures, or going down the road.

I watched several videos on CB SWR tuning. They all said the first thing you want to verify is continuity, so I'd recommend getting a cheap multimeter if you don't already have one and check all of the continuity. Once you eliminate that as an issue, you can focus on antenna length.

All of that said, after much frustration I did find that the SWR can be vary widely if you're adjusting the antenna too much at a time. In the end, after what seemed like 50 trips in and out of the truck, I got my SWR on 1 and 40 at about 1.5. That got my SWR near 0 on channel 19.

I hope all of that helps.

 

[JCJeep1]

Old school method of protecting antenna and windshield frame - Cover the whip with shrink tubing or rubber door edge protection (c channel) - removable and adds weight to keep it from whipping around - plus is mar resistant.

 

[spazzyfry123]

It took me a bit to get my SWR dialed in.Here are the steps I took.

1. I ran a ground wire from the mount itself. I ran a small wire along with the CB wire. The ground wire has a small ring terminal and it grounded on one of the mount screws outside.
2. That ground wire, the ground for the CB and the ground ground from the multiplexor all ground at the body, inside on a ground lug by the passenger's right foot.
3. After setting all of those grounds, I checked for continuity to ensure the antenna cable and all of those grounds were good.
4. My firewire connection only came with a 9' cable. I'd always heard you want 18' of CB wire, so I bought a 9' extension. I've also read you don't want that extra coiled up somewhere, so I ran that cable to the back of the truck and back in one long loop.
5. For what it's worth, my antenna is the 3' firefly by FireStik. I don't know for sure if that makes a difference since it's my understanding the FireStik antennas are wound in such a way that they are longer reception wise than they are physically. That said, the antenna itself is pretty cheap, so maybe try a 3' and see if it makes a difference. So far I haven't had an issue with mine in parking structures, or going down the road.

I watched several videos on CB SWR tuning. They all said the first thing you want to verify is continuity, so I'd recommend getting a cheap multimeter if you don't already have one and check all of the continuity. Once you eliminate that as an issue, you can focus on antenna length.

All of that said, after much frustration I did find that the SWR can be vary widely if you're adjusting the antenna too much at a time. In the end, after what seemed like 50 trips in and out of the truck, I got my SWR on 1 and 40 at about 1.5. That got my SWR near 0 on channel 19.

I hope all of that helps.

Excellent! Thank you!

 

[Reeb65]

What he said…!

I have the Quadratec 16" Hi Performance AM/FM Stubby Antenna and it functions as good as the factory antenna.

 

[BDK]

@MarkO I'm 20miles outside of Detroit. I'm using 13" Rydonair and get FM stations very good. Found on Amazon. If you are in the city, should be good

I'll second that. Bought the same one on Amazon and live in Macomb MI, just north of Detroit. I actually think it made both the AM and FM better.

 

[Rav34653]

I have never used an Automatic or Mechanical car wash on Any of my vehicles cause I have always liked all my vehicle I have owned way to much to intentionally damage them, I Wash at home or at a Wand type Car wash and bring my own wash glove and sponge

 

[fedel01]

I think automatic Car Wash is not safe for our vehicles. It can damage our OEM Antenna and Other electrical parts of our car. You can follow this guide https://bestobd2scanners.com/car-maintenance-tips/ . You need to take care of your car properly to reduce the maintenance cost!

 

[Gvsukids]

I think automatic Car Wash is not safe for our vehicles. It can damage our OEM Antenna and Other electrical parts of our car.

Thanks for joining the forum to make this post. While I agree that your stock antenna might be damaged in an automatic car wash, your electronics will survive.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for joining the forum to make this post. While I agree that your stock antenna might be damaged in an automatic car wash, your electronics will survive.

My bet - forum spammer............. Been admin'ing forum too many years, pattern is a match.

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