CB Antenna questions and pics.

[BigEasy]

I've got a Connex 3300HPP and a Wilson mag mount single whip... it's a great setup. Don't ever be afraid of the performance on a mag mount antenna. It'll 'reach out and touch someone' :-laf



The guy talking about having a bullrack is dead on about duals... you gotta have 'em if you pull a tall trailer an you wanna talk behind you. If your antenna is the tallest thing on your ride, you don't need duals... end of story. If you want the ultimate in antennas, check out the Monkey-Made...



Check out www.12voltcb.com , these guys are some of the best in the business. They'll steer you straight, and get you on track. I'm gonna get one of their 150w Rangers someday...

 

[DDevine]

I've got a Connex 3300HPP and a Wilson mag mount single whip... it's a great setup. Don't ever be afraid of the performance on a mag mount antenna. It'll 'reach out and touch someone' :-laf



The guy talking about having a bullrack is dead on about duals... you gotta have 'em if you pull a tall trailer an you wanna talk behind you. If your antenna is the tallest thing on your ride, you don't need duals... end of story. If you want the ultimate in antennas, check out the Monkey-Made...



Check out www.12voltcb.com , these guys are some of the best in the business. They'll steer you straight, and get you on track. I'm gonna get one of their 150w Rangers someday...

I just received my Connex 4300hp. It is my first radio, and am trying to figure out what all the settings are for. Do you know where I should set the RF power knob? Is half way, half power?

And the e-tone knob is really two nobs. One is for echo effect, but what is the other knob for? Should I be thinking of getting a frequency counter for this radio?



Thanks for the help!

 

[DHayden]

Would you have any problems if say you put a whip in the center of a headache rack for the cb, an antenna on the left for a scanner and maybe one on the right side for cell. They work at different freq's so would they have to be tuned? Would they cause interferance with each other that close?



What if a cb on the left and one for the scanner on the right, both single antennas but mounted on the far outboard sides of the headache rack... would be able to transmit behind you towing a tall trailer or would you need the dual antenna's on the outboard left and right?

 

[BigEasy]

I just received my Connex 4300hp. It is my first radio, and am trying to figure out what all the settings are for. Do you know where I should set the RF power knob? Is half way, half power?

And the e-tone knob is really two nobs. One is for echo effect, but what is the other knob for? Should I be thinking of getting a frequency counter for this radio?



Thanks for the help!

The two echo knobs serve different purposes... one controls the volume of the echo, and the other controls the timing of the echo... get an external speaker to plug in, and you'll hear it on the talkback...



I keep the RF Gain about 10% from full throttle... if you're talking to someone right close, you can cut it way back. I had mine tuned up, and with the knob in my normal spot, it punts about 43-44 watts.

 

[BigEasy]

Would you have any problems if say you put a whip in the center of a headache rack for the cb, an antenna on the left for a scanner and maybe one on the right side for cell. They work at different freq's so would they have to be tuned? Would they cause interferance with each other that close?



What if a cb on the left and one for the scanner on the right, both single antennas but mounted on the far outboard sides of the headache rack... would be able to transmit behind you towing a tall trailer or would you need the dual antenna's on the outboard left and right?

If your rack is aluminum, I wouldn't mount antennas on it, but I like in PA, where we have BIG roadsalt/corrosion issues. Mounting on the left will talk better behind a trailer, but you'll lose some range to the front... shoot the guys at 12Volt an email, or give em a call. They'll steer ya straight.

 

[ECappleman]

It should be ok to mount it to my aluminum tool box, as long as I run a grounding wire to the frame. Correct?

 

[DDevine]

The two echo knobs serve different purposes... one controls the volume of the echo, and the other controls the timing of the echo... get an external speaker to plug in, and you'll hear it on the talkback...



I keep the RF Gain about 10% from full throttle... if you're talking to someone right close, you can cut it way back. I had mine tuned up, and with the knob in my normal spot, it punts about 43-44 watts.

Ok, thanks for the help!

 

[BigEasy]

It should be ok to mount it to my aluminum tool box, as long as I run a grounding wire to the frame. Correct?

In Texas, you shouldn't have any problem at all, as far as I can see. It would probably still be a good idea to periodically check and clean all the contact points.

 

[Spooled-up]

I've been in contact with Dave at 12 volt asking all kinds of questions. He's been answering them all, and I get the impression that they really know what they're talking about. I told him exactly what I wanted to do with the 102" whip on the rear bumper, and he thought it might work. He said he knew what would work too. I just ordered a Wilson 5000 magnetic roof mount. I'll hopefully have an antenna setup that will work well instead of a compromise that I won't be happy with. Thanks for the referral BigEasy!

 

[Crunch]

I just ordered a Wilson 5000 magnetic roof mount. I'll hopefully have an antenna setup that will work well instead of a compromise that I won't be happy with. Thanks for the referral BigEasy!

I'm with you on not settling for a compromise situation, but I was told by several radio shops to avoid the magnetic mount antennas. They all said the contact between the antenna and roof wasn't all that great. I used to use one on my old Ford gasser, but at 85MPH it had a tendency to blow off the roof and I'd have to reel it in while driving so it wouldn't get run over as I slowed down.

 

[ECappleman]

This mount with a black fiberglass rod, ought to look pretty sharp mounted on the side of my black tool box.

 

[BigEasy]

I'm with you on not settling for a compromise situation, but I was told by several radio shops to avoid the magnetic mount antennas. They all said the contact between the antenna and roof wasn't all that great. I used to use one on my old Ford gasser, but at 85MPH it had a tendency to blow off the roof and I'd have to reel it in while driving so it wouldn't get run over as I slowed down.

I can GUARANTEE you that a Wilson magnet mount antenna will NEVER BLOW OFF. I have personally tested mine at 127mph in my GTP... That's all the faster the car would go, or I would've gone faster. I, too, have been warned by lesser shops about the magnets, but from 12Volt's recommendations, I got one. It works better than the Wilson 5000 on my Pete did, using the same CB to test.



www.12voltCB.com is where it's at!

 

[Spooled-up]

Does the antenna rely on a ground between the magnet and the roof? I was under the impression that it did not. There's even a teflon coating on the magnet in an effort to not damage the paint. I can't imagine a good ground through paint and teflon. Does this make it a "no ground plane antenna" or am I

 

[GFrance]

I have my antennas mounted on my aluminum tool box & have a better standing wave than I did when they were hood mounted on my 01.

Heres a pic

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayimage.php?&photoid=20585&width=3

 

[LesStallings]

On the firestik website there is a lot of information about antennas, mounts, duals, ground plane, etc. They discuss the theory and their actual experience. Look at their FAQs. Some are very detailed and make a lot of sense.



Regardless of what make antenna you buy, it seems very improtant to us it the way it was intended. Also, tuning the antenna with a SWR meter is a must. SWR meters are relatively cheap.

 

[ECappleman]

Brett,

I found it here.



http://www.walcottcb.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29_109&products_id=298

 

[Flat_Lick_Dodge]

One should never mount two or more antennas within close proximity. Also the correct length of coax is 18 ft, and never coil the excess it creates a balun trap that works much the old tvpay channels did. the cable guy would put them on the [pole and it would block or degrade so you couldnt watch them. I personally tune the swr at ch 20.

reason being that the channels i use most.

wilson as well as larsen, makes premier antennas and all should recieve weather band freq. Oh, There are radios that have built in tuners in them just not any cb radios, that I have seen anyways. That swr meter is strictly for monitoring your swr on a more continuous basis. That way when you suspect any type or irregularites you can check it to see if you have problem, ie bad ground, broken tip, loose connection, etc.

I hope this helps. I have been a HAM for 10 yrs now. KF4FWF

 

[ECappleman]

One last question before I start this.



The bed of our trucks are grounded to the the frame, correct?

 

[Flat_Lick_Dodge]

Yes it is.

 

[DaveK98]

I pull a 30 foot 5th wheel trailer, would I need to go with duals?



Also, I don't have a truck box. Where is the easiest place with the least drilling to mount the antenna?



I park the truck in a garage, and would have to probably take the antenna off evertime I put it in the garage? Sounds like a pain... .