- First Name
- Dan
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2025
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 120
- Reaction score
- 95
- Location
- Manitoba Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road, 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium
- Thread starter
- #1
Not much to report on my install here but i saw a few people were asking about radio set ups in other posts. Iv ran CB for the last 20 years and as of this year for the first time ditched CB totally and have gone full GMRS. in the last 7 years i think i was able to talk to 3 - 4 people on CB when just channel hopping and board. within the last month alone on GMRS i have had conversations with 5 or 6 people already ranging from construction workers board to regular people walking their dog. Sometimes i get lucky and even pick up hotel room chatter that can be very entertaining. I find it fun to pass time on drives to just scan channels and listen and sometimes jump in on a conversation.
My buddy and I both made the jump together and went with the identical radios. I run the stubby 3db 4" antenna 24/7 but keep a 3 foot 6db antenna in the rear storage incase im hitting any serious rides that require the distance for talk.
I ran the antenna through the firewall near the drivers side, zip tied it along the firewall in the engine bay and mounted the NMO antenna mount near the passenger side hood.
In the cab i ran the antenna line under the driver side dash up to the centre consol, then hid the line up under the plastics in the centre console along to the back of the centre consol beside the drivers seat. I looped the antenna cable down and under the drivers seat and mounted the radio base station directly under the drivers seat. It fits perfect with about 3/4 of an inch of space above it so the seat can move freely without pinching or crimping the radio.
I tied the radio into the factory AUX connector with AUX button 2, the install was very simple, took less then an hour to run everything and mount it with zip ties.
On testing i can compare to my CB set up vs my new GMRS set up, the results clearly show the better option.
CB RESULTS (4 foot antenna)
Dense City / Urban Buildings Talk - 1 KM talk distance
Highway Open Talk - 2 - 4 KM talk distance
Forest / Valleys - 1 - 2 km talk distance
GMRS RESULTS (50 watt radio with 6db 3 foot antenna)
Dense City / Urban Buildings Talk - 6 - 8KM talk distance
Highway Open Talk - 30 - 40 KM talk distance
Forest / Valleys - not tested yet
My buddy and I both made the jump together and went with the identical radios. I run the stubby 3db 4" antenna 24/7 but keep a 3 foot 6db antenna in the rear storage incase im hitting any serious rides that require the distance for talk.
I ran the antenna through the firewall near the drivers side, zip tied it along the firewall in the engine bay and mounted the NMO antenna mount near the passenger side hood.
In the cab i ran the antenna line under the driver side dash up to the centre consol, then hid the line up under the plastics in the centre console along to the back of the centre consol beside the drivers seat. I looped the antenna cable down and under the drivers seat and mounted the radio base station directly under the drivers seat. It fits perfect with about 3/4 of an inch of space above it so the seat can move freely without pinching or crimping the radio.
I tied the radio into the factory AUX connector with AUX button 2, the install was very simple, took less then an hour to run everything and mount it with zip ties.
On testing i can compare to my CB set up vs my new GMRS set up, the results clearly show the better option.
CB RESULTS (4 foot antenna)
Dense City / Urban Buildings Talk - 1 KM talk distance
Highway Open Talk - 2 - 4 KM talk distance
Forest / Valleys - 1 - 2 km talk distance
GMRS RESULTS (50 watt radio with 6db 3 foot antenna)
Dense City / Urban Buildings Talk - 6 - 8KM talk distance
Highway Open Talk - 30 - 40 KM talk distance
Forest / Valleys - not tested yet
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