Jeep Liberty/Electrical/CB Radio

Antenna
The most popular mobile CB antenna electrical lengths are 1/4 and 5/8 wave. The best practical mobile antenna is the 102" steel whip as it's electrically closest in length to 1/4 of the CB wavelength. According to FireStik, a popular mobile CB antenna manufacturer, the antenna cable between the atenna and the radio should be exactly 18' long for optimum performance.  Using coax with a dense shield and twisted center ensures the least loss and least susceptibility to interference.  The short length of mobile CB atennas makes a proper ground plane very important.  For optimum radiation pattern and efficiency the antenna should be mounted in the center of the Liberty's roof.  If the antenna can't be mounted on the Jeep's roof, at least 60% of it should clear the roof.  Remember that when mounting the antenna near the edge of the Jeep like the front or the back that the radiation pattern will be most focused in the direction of the mass of the vehicle.  If at all possible try using top loaded antennas followed by middle and then bottom loaded.

Popular Mounting Locations
Most people mount a fiberglass antenna to either the rear spare tire mount or the front left hood lip. Other possible mounting locations include roof, the roof basket if equipped, the tail light seam, the factory AM/FM antenna bracket, and the front bull bar if equipped. As noted previously, the best locations are those closer to the center and top of the Liberty. If you don't want to permanently install a bracket on your Liberty you can use a temporary magnetic mount just when you're off-roading.


 * /Original CB Antenna Installation/ (replaces AM/FM antenna)
 * /Upgraded CB Antenna Installation/ (replaces AM/FM antenna)

Permanent

 * Cobra 75 WX ST - a popular all-in-one handset radio that numerous people have installed in their Libertys

Handheld

 * Cobra 38 WX ST - Cobra's equivalent to the Midland 75-822, only it can't be snapped into a car harness, doesn't have channel memories, and supports VOX

Hybrid

 * Midland 75-822 - similar to the Cobra 75 WX ST in form, only it can be snapped off of the car harness and onto a battery pack to become a portable handheld CB radio