CB Radio Upgrade Kit
#41
09-08-2016, 03:40 PM
Road Warrior
Miles of Texas - you are correct in that it is the ground wire on the right that connects to the plane.
There in is the issue because that wire is not shielded. Plus, the bike frame is split so, there is not a good ground from the front (battery) to the a=back - to the ground plane.
This is whee that CB kit comes into play. First, there is a cable that connect the front frame of the bike to the rear portion of the frame. Then, that same connection is run to the ground plane in the tour pack.
From there, a new shielded cable goes to the antenna on the right hand side. Some say the cost of the kit is pricey ($101( however, I like things that are built right and made for the bike. So, I opted to get is.
Here is a picture of the new shielded cable on the bike.
There in is the issue because that wire is not shielded. Plus, the bike frame is split so, there is not a good ground from the front (battery) to the a=back - to the ground plane.
This is whee that CB kit comes into play. First, there is a cable that connect the front frame of the bike to the rear portion of the frame. Then, that same connection is run to the ground plane in the tour pack.
From there, a new shielded cable goes to the antenna on the right hand side. Some say the cost of the kit is pricey ($101( however, I like things that are built right and made for the bike. So, I opted to get is.
Here is a picture of the new shielded cable on the bike.
~MOT
Last edited by MilesOfTexas; 09-08-2016 at 03:44 PM.
#43
09-08-2016, 10:55 PM
The CB is on the left side on my 14 Limited. Could it be pre-Rushmore's had the CB on the right?
I just bought a Hustler HQ-27 Black Center Loaded 55" CB Antenna with an adapter to mount it on the stock antenna stud. This was a very popular CB antenna due to its range and is still in use by many truckers. The SWR is supposed to be tunable to 1.5:1 or better. 1.5:1 ratio or below is considered a passable broadcast signal. Hope to install in the next couple of days. Would have it installed now but I just haven't had the time to pull off the outer fairing to tune it, and I am not going to leave an untuned antenna connected to my CB.
I just bought a Hustler HQ-27 Black Center Loaded 55" CB Antenna with an adapter to mount it on the stock antenna stud. This was a very popular CB antenna due to its range and is still in use by many truckers. The SWR is supposed to be tunable to 1.5:1 or better. 1.5:1 ratio or below is considered a passable broadcast signal. Hope to install in the next couple of days. Would have it installed now but I just haven't had the time to pull off the outer fairing to tune it, and I am not going to leave an untuned antenna connected to my CB.
#44
09-08-2016, 11:08 PM
Good point. When I measured the SWR, I did use the cb connector behind the seat. Got a reading on channel 19 of 2.5 with the Harley shorty antenna for 09 and later bikes. 1.5 with the 08 and earlier bikes. Do you think it would be better when read at the CB Radio? If so, and if it has the same connections as near the seat, I'll try it next time I have the batwing apart.
#45
09-08-2016, 11:11 PM
#46
09-08-2016, 11:13 PM
The following users liked this post:
MilesOfTexas (09-09-2016)
#47
09-08-2016, 11:31 PM
Miles of Texas - you are correct in that it is the ground wire on the right that connects to the plane.
There in is the issue because that wire is not shielded. Plus, the bike frame is split so, there is not a good ground from the front (battery) to the a=back - to the ground plane.
This is whee that CB kit comes into play. First, there is a cable that connect the front frame of the bike to the rear portion of the frame. Then, that same connection is run to the ground plane in the tour pack.
From there, a new shielded cable goes to the antenna on the right hand side. Some say the cost of the kit is pricey ($101( however, I like things that are built right and made for the bike. So, I opted to get is.
Here is a picture of the new shielded cable on the bike.
There in is the issue because that wire is not shielded. Plus, the bike frame is split so, there is not a good ground from the front (battery) to the a=back - to the ground plane.
This is whee that CB kit comes into play. First, there is a cable that connect the front frame of the bike to the rear portion of the frame. Then, that same connection is run to the ground plane in the tour pack.
From there, a new shielded cable goes to the antenna on the right hand side. Some say the cost of the kit is pricey ($101( however, I like things that are built right and made for the bike. So, I opted to get is.
Here is a picture of the new shielded cable on the bike.
The connection in your picture is the center conductor for the coax cable, but it is not shielded at the point it connects to that fitting on the TP. That replacement cable is still terminated in the same (poor manner) as the factory installed coax & just runs from the Motorola connector outside of & in front of the TP.
That Motorola connector was originally designed to be used on 75 ohm coax for AM/FM antenna systems as originally used in automobiles as far back as the 1950's. It has no business being used in a 50 ohm CB antenna system as it causes an inherent mismatched.
Anyone that wants maximum performance/range from their H-D CB should run completely new, high quality shielded 50 ohm coax with TNC connector attached at the CB unit, all the way back to the CB antenna stud as a single, integral piece of coax, preferably cut to 1/4 wavelength (roughly 9 foot).
The following 2 users liked this post by Hammz:
dcfatboy (04-25-2019),
MilesOfTexas (09-09-2016)
#48
09-09-2016, 07:38 AM
Dave - thanks. Perhaps something out these is better - but I haven't found it. If I recall, you made your own.
The one I installed is a RG-58 coax harness replacement, that plugs into the coax cable female jack under the back of the seat, then routes to the rear & connects to the CB antenna stud at the inside back of the trunk.
The one I installed is a RG-58 coax harness replacement, that plugs into the coax cable female jack under the back of the seat, then routes to the rear & connects to the CB antenna stud at the inside back of the trunk.
#49
09-09-2016, 10:31 AM
Road Warrior