installing GME tx3200 UHF

[benito]

hi, i have never done this before so i was wondering if someone could give me the step by step run down on how to install a tx3200 from scratch. The system going in is a package deal;
GME TX3200 UHF CB
6db Pretuned Black 830mm Ground Independant Antenna
4.5m RG58 coax cable
PL259 (UHF) coaxial connector .

And its going into 2000 hilux x/cab. are there anythings that i need to do the job? How do i go about running the power off the cigarette lighter etc? and is it safe enough to do that? thanks alot for ur help.

[Heathx4]

Run +ve from battery to +ve on radio.
Run -ve from battery to -ve on radio.
Run antenna cable from antenna to radio.
Bolt antenna to bullbar.
Screw radio to dash.

That's how I did it. Works wonders.

You'll need screwdrivers, spanners, a soldering iron, wire cutters and pliers.

To run off cigarette lighter power, clamp one of those double wire joiners around the wire going to the cigarette lighter and the wire going to the radio. Safe enough.

[Bush65]

And don't shorten the coax cable as it could adversly affect impedance matching of antenna.

[murcod]

Also use a fuse as close as possible to the battery positive. Better to be safe in case something shorts out.

[DaveS3]

Also use a fuse as close as possible to the battery positive. Better to be safe in case something shorts out.

Just out of interest, What whould be a suitable fuse?

10amp?

[murcod]

I'm not sure how much current it would draw, but 10 Amps should be a good size. You could probably even get away with a 5 Amp.

Have a read through the manual and it may suggest a fuse size.

[DAZZ]

The harness for the UHF will have an inline fuse holder and fuse fitted. Solder your connections as scotch locks can fail...

[RaginRover]

10A will be fine - 5A would be a bit too low

Tom

[barbz]

if you were to hook it up to the cig lighter would you need to worry bout the fuse as it would already be fused by the vehicles main fuse box?

Paul

[murcod]

if you were to hook it up to the cig lighter would you need to worry bout the fuse as it would already be fused by the vehicles main fuse box?

Paul

Yes it should be OK to not fuse a wire off the cigarette lighter. The main reason for doing the battery wire is in case the wire (or UHF) shorts out- the wire could overheat and cause a fire.

[DAZZ]

Fhe fuse for the cig lighter will be of too high amperage to protect the UHF if there is a problem with it. The inline fuse in the UHF harness will protect the unit in case of failure,

[barbz]

Yup - the inline fuse for the radio is 2.2a whereas the cig lighter fuse is 15a. Just got my radio and installing over the weekend.

Paul

[GeneralFubashi]

just out of interest can someone confirm that shortening co-ax for uhf frequencies will actually affect swr? I have only heard that shorter is better for uhf because of the high loss, and only hf and vhf freqs demand lenghts in correct multiples of the wave?

[TuffRR]

Heath - you mentioned running the -ve back to the battery. Is there any advantage to doing this rather than earthing it on something nearby?

[GeneralFubashi]

it just makes sure that you have a good connection, because sometimes the bits of the body people earth radios to are not well earthed themselves to the -ve of the bat, which causes voltage drop and intermittent power failures. If you connect it straight to the batt, at least you know it is going to be right.

[jasonmcc]

Im an aircraft radio tech so I will give you a few tips.

The Tx3200 only draws about max 3 amps so a five amp fuse is fine. If you are going to tap into your cig lighter power, make sure the inline fuse to the radio is as close to the cig lighter as possible. Or if you go straight to the battery make sure the fuse holder is right there. Remeber the fuse is to protect the wiring and not the radio. Could also tap into your stereo power wire.

The length of the coax doesnt matter. It is correct that a shorter length of coax is better as there will be less loss, but you wont be able to tell the difference. Only adjusting the length of the antenna will effect the VSWR. Also make sure you terminate your PL-259 connector correctly, its important that the sheild of the coax is properly terminated. The shitty screw on PL-259 connectors that come with most antenna's are not as good as a crimp on type but they are good enough for a CB.

Any other radio/electrical questions be sure to ask me.

Cheers

Jason

[murcod]

Remeber the fuse is to protect the wiring and not the radio.

Not entirely correct.... it is also to stop the UHF from smoking if it shorts out internally. Otherwise you could just rely on the cig lighter fuse, or use a 15 Amp fuse at the battery.

[GeneralFubashi]

i have only seen one uhf that smoked itself internally, and that was an old philips fm320 that had fallen off a bike and hit a tree. I would say internal problems are a rare occurence, wires rubbing against bodywork causes heaps more problems.

[murcod]

Whilst rare, it can happen and could easily start a fire.

A friend had a car audio amplifier start smoking internally when a protection diode went short circuit- this happened because too high a fuse had been installed. He had to quickly pull over and try to disconnect the power cables before it caught alight!!!

[GeneralFubashi]

my favourite is where the power cable is crimped into the back of FM900 radios, bit of twisting and we have meltdown! Now i know what fuses are for