Powering The Radio Connect red first then connect black. Connect the red wire directly to the positive side of the battery or to a connection on the fuse box that is always on. Connect the black wire to the negative side of the car, usually the chassis. Any other location with good electrical contact will also work.

What all is needed to install a CB radio?

Required ComponentsCB Radio - Most new CB radios come with a microphone, mounting bracket and power cord, so you wont need to buy those separately.CB Antenna - Without an antenna, your radio is useless! CB Antenna Mount - Youll need a mount of some sort to attach the antenna to your vehicle.More items

Is it illegal to have a CB radio in your car?

Use of a CB radio or any other 2-way radio while driving is not illegal as long as a user maintains proper control of the vehicle. NSW: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio. [Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

How do you power a CB radio?

Powering Your CB RadioTap Into Existing Wiring. If youre fairly knowledgeable about electronics, you can tap into one of the existing power lines used for other vehicle accessories such as stereos, speakers or seats. Use a Fuse Tapper. Use a Cigarette Adapter. Wire Directly to the Battery.

Will a CB radio work without an antenna?

CB Radio – Most new CB radios come with a microphone, mounting bracket and power cord, so you wont need to buy those separately. CB Antenna – Without an antenna, your radio is useless! Failing to tune your antenna can result in poor system performance and even permanent radio damage.

Should I put a CB radio in my truck?

Theres no better vehicle to install a CB in than a pickup truck! Apart from the rugged good looks and functionality a nice CB install adds, the pickup offers the most options when it comes to antenna and radio mounting.

Can you plug a CB radio into a cigarette lighter?

It is possible that your cigarette lighter circuit may not have a high enough amperage rating to power your CB radio. Your vehicles owners manual should have the accessory outlet amp rating for the cigarette lighter listed.

Do I need a spring on my CB antenna?

A spring is beneficial for most CB antennas, provided you are using a good, conductive spring of the correct size for your antenna. You should definitely add a spring if there is a chance your antenna will strike limbs or other obstacles, or when you need to add length to an antenna for SWR improvement.

How far does a CB radio transmit?

CB radios have a range of about 3 miles (4.8 km) to 20 miles (32 km) depending on terrain, for line of sight communication; however, various radio propagation conditions may intermittently allow communication over much greater distances.

Is it worth getting a CB radio?

CB radios are not the go-to communication devices of yore, but theyre still a very valuable tool to have out on the road. Lets say you have a bad trailer tire, another driver could tip you off on the CB before it really starts smoking like a tar kettle and catches fire.

What is the point of CB radios?

Citizens band radio (also known as CB radio), used in many countries, is a land mobile radio system, a system allowing short-distance person-to-person bidirectional voice communication between individuals, using two way radios operating on 40 channels near 27 MHz (11 m) in the high frequency (a.k.a. shortwave) band.

Can you listen to police on a CB radio?

The BearTracker 885 does what no other CB Radio can do: It can keep you up-to-date with current public safety activity anywhere in the US and Canada* by scanning for police, fire, ambulance, and/or DOT radio traffic.

Can I wire a cigarette lighter directly to the battery?

In your case, with the battery already in place, you can either wire it into your electrical system or leave it disconnected and just connect a 12-volt socket directly to it.