If you’re new to CB radios, it’s pretty common to have a bit of trouble at first when you’re setting up your whole system. Wiring your CB microphone is particularly problematic, and that’s because there’s really no standard wiring setup for all CB microphones. Each brand may have its own design and setup to wire their CB microphones.
Your best bet, of course, is to consult your manual and hope it offers a clear idea of how you should set up your CB mic. Since you should also hope for the best and expect the worst, here are some tips that can help. If your CB mic brand is part of the coverage, you’re good to go.
Table of Contents
Wiring Precautions and Tips
If you’re having any problems with your CB microphone, the following tips may solve your problem:
- Do you have an echo or power microphone? If you do, make sure that it actually has a battery inside.
- Check that you tighten all your connections.
- Check and make sure that the microphone pins on your CB radio are actually connected with the microphone plug. If you have to, you can use a small flathead screwdriver to spread the pins. Just do this very carefully and gently.
- Plug in your CB microphone securely.
- Look for any signs of damage and breaks in the plug and the cord.
- Also check over the pins in the CB radio for any kind of damage.
- Make sure that you’re pressing the CB microphone button all the way in when you’re using it.
Common Radio Microphone Wiring Diagram
This is a pretty common setup, because it works for a lot of CB microphone brands and models. This particular diagram can help if you have the following models:
This is a pretty common setup, because it works for a lot of CB microphone brands and models. This particular diagram can help if you have the following models:
Midland CB Radios
- 9001Z
- 5001
- 1001LWX
Uniden CB Radios
- PRO520XL
- PRO510XL
- PRO505XL
- PC78XL
- PC78LTW
- PC78ELITE
- PC68XL
- PC68LTW
- PC68ELITE
Cobra CB Radios
- 29 WX NW ST
- 29 NW LTD
- 29 LX Camo
- 29 LX
- 29 LTD DE
- 29 LTD Classic
- 29 LTD Chrome
- 25 WX NW ST
- 25 NW LTD
- 25 LX
- 25 LTD
- 19 DX IV Camo
- 19 DX IV
- 18 WX ST II
- 148 GTL
Galaxy CB Radios
- DX44V
- DX55V
- DX66V
- DX77V
- DX919
- DX929
- DX939
- DX949
- DX959
- DX979
Astatic
- 636L-DX1X
C29LTDBT and C29 LX MAX CB Microphone Wiring
- Ground
- Audio
- Transmit
- Receive
- BT button
- BU microphone
Cobra Pin 4
The wiring here is:
- Shield
- Audio
- Transmit
- Receive
Here is the pin-end view:
- The TX is white
- The MOD (modulation) is red
- The REC is blue
- The Shield/Common is a braided or black wire
Midland 4 Pin
As you can see, this time it’s different with the wiring somewhat reversed. This time, you get:
- Audio
- Shield
- Receive
- Transmit
- The TX is white
- The MOD is red
- The REC is blue
- The Shield/Common is black
Cobra 5 Pin
You will find that 4 the 4-pin microphone sockets are much easier to deal with, compared to the 5-pin. It’s often much more difficult to wire with the 5-pin because you don’t really have much distance between the pins. As a result, you can short out really easily. It’s why it’s often a good idea to prevent this issue by putting a sleeve on each wire.
This time, you have this setup:
- Audio
- Shield
- Receive
- Common
- Transmit
- The TX is white
- The mod is red
- The REC is blue
- The shield is braided
- The common is black
Astatic 6 Wire Microphone: Wiring Color Codes
- Audio – white
- Ground – shield
- Switching – normally blue
- Transmit (push to talk) – red
- Receive – black
- Receive ground (which isn’t really normally used) – yellow
Additional Tips for 4-Pin Basic Microphones
The basic setup gives you 3 colored wires, along with a braid/screen. The braid wire is normally for the RX/TX/MOD, and it’s typically twisted around the modulation wire. If you set this in the wrong place, you’ll have problems afterwards.
So, here’s what you need to do:
- Set the plug into the radio.
- Check the solder pins. Two of these pins are designed to let the radio receive sound.
- To find out which 2, turn the radio on and then short a piece of wire across the pins. You will then find the 2 pins that make a sound.
- One of these pins will let the radio transmit, and you’ll need to solder the braid to that pin.
- After you’ve soldered the braid to that pin, touch each colored wire on the other pin until you get the sound again. Solder that colored wire on the other pin.
- It’s now time to find the transmit (TX) pin. While you press on the microphone key, touch the other 2 wires to the transmit pin until you find the one that makes the radio transmit.
- Finally, you can then get the modulation wire on the last pin remaining. Usually, the mod wire is yellow, though some have the braid wrapped around it.
For Power Microphones
This time, you have a braid plus 4 colored wires.
- In general (but not always), you should twist the braid and the black wires together and then set it on to the earth pin. Set the blue wire to the receive pin.
- However, in some cases you have to twist the braid and the blue wire instead. This time, the black wire goes to the receive pin.
Conclusion
Is it complicated? Yes, a bit. But then again, part of the reason why so many people find the whole idea of CB radios fascinating is that it’s challenging. Doing the work can be invigorating, and it’s quite satisfying when you get it right.
But then again, it’s always a good idea to do it right as quickly as you can. So do try to get a CB microphone with a good manual—you’re really going to rely on it!
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