Looking For the CB Radio Geru ...... I have a question

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During the last discussion I was involved with about CB's and antanaes(sp?), I asked a question about running the antanae between the bed and cab, attached to the frame (somehow). That was due to a lack of garage (door and opener) height.

I have a better idea, seems like it would work, but I wanted to run it by the resident expert first. #ad


You mentioned single antanaes generally give better performance than duals. Could I tap my CB antanae signal off the truck radio antanae?

Seems like that should work. Then I'd have no clearance issues and its a single. Wouldn't that work well?

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Y2K 2500 Cummins ETC/DEE, SLT+, 4X4, Quad, LB, Intense Blue Sport, 3. 54 LSD, rear aux. springs (camper special), sliding rear window, all options except cab clearance lights including agate leather, totally stock engine, silencer ring removed, "stealth," mod to run fogs with high beam. Since everybody else listed their toys, I will too.
1995 Kawasaki ZX6-R (For Sale)
1990 Toyota Celica
1983 Mazda RX-7 GSL (For sale)

 

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I remember seeing in the past cable box designed just for what your asking about. The good news is they did not burn up the radio. The bad news is you could roll down the window and shout a greater distance than the radio would transmit. All joking aside they simply did not work. I think your still going to have to go with a quick disconnect antenna or maybe and I'm not sure about this but a ratchet type base like the one's used on boats might work. Your still going to have to get out of the truck to lay down or remove the antenna before entering the garage. If you have at least 2 inches of clearance the K-40 is very easy to remove by simply reaching up on the roof, a quick twist and removal before entering the garage. Even the Wilson 1000 I use is not difficult to remove if needed.

 

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I used a magnetic mount. I kept it stuck on the tool box behind the cab unless I was on the road and needed more range.

Once in a while I would forget it was on the roof and get it knocked off when I drove into a garage, but it was a matter of just setting it up again.

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John S. '99 QC 1T 4. 11 A/T Leather Driftwood, 50 Gal aux tank/tool box, gearvendors, BD brake/autolok, BD ISB comp, guages, BD Pressure Lock and Pract. Sol. Boost Elbow.

Just a Little BOMBed and liking it a lot.

 

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Jyro, had the same problem as you as I have a car port. What I did is use two 24" Firestick antennas with Valor stainless mounts clamped on the mirrors. This set up is slightly lower than the radio antenna. Email me for some pictures and the links Firestick and Valor. (use the link at the bottom please)


Neil

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Neil Copeman 92 D250,LE,limited slip, 16cm turbo housing, Isspro gauges, factory tach option, Lear cap, DC crankdown tire carrier
Hadley air horns, Stealhorse leather seats, e-mail (home): bombedcummins@sympatico. ca

 

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JyRO, Yes a single antenna in the middle of the roof WILL beat any two antennas you can put on your truck. remember we are dealing with quarter wave antennas and they really like being 7 to 9 feet apart so they don't react to each other.
#2. You can hook in to your cars antenna if you want to just listen, you can listen off a coat hanger BUT to talk the antenna must be resonate with the frequency the radio is trying to put out, that is when the length of the antenna gets real important. Hope this helps. Pete

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01. 5 Loooaded up!!!!!

 

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I have used one of the boxes that hooks your CB into your radio antenae. The range isn't the greatest, but they do work. If you don't need much range, it'll do the job, but don't expect too much. When I used mine, we were traveling on the highway convoy style, and had it in the tow rig (mom didn't want an antenae on the Suburban).

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

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There are some neat mounts available that use the stake holes in your truck as a mount if you don't want to drill any holes.

K9SL Steve in CA (Amateur Radio is my "other" hobby)

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1998 2500 Quad Cab, 12V, 5spd, 4x4, HD Transfer Case, 370HP Diamond B Injectors, #4 TST, 16cm2 Housing, AFC Spring Kit, BD Governor Spring Kit and other modifications, Walker Muffler, 285/75-16 BFG AT's, Stainless Steel Tube Steps, Reese Fifth Wheel Hitch, Leather, CD, LSD Dana 80 Rear, 60 Front, Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Rancho Steering Stabilizer, ATS Exhaust Manifold

 

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I've not had good luck with magentic base antennas unless they had a supplemental ground wire.

My father had the same problem with low garage door height, etc. We made a base that tucked in beside the truck cab, topper, & bed. The range did not meet the rigs with duals and a foot warmer or anyone with a conventional mount, but it beat the magnetic mount.
2¢
*JE*

 

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From what I've gathered from CB shops the front fender mount is the second best mounting spot. First is the center of the roof. I have a 3 foot Firestik II on it's way with a HD spring so that the thing can twang going in & out of the garage. Other than that I'd go with the quick disconnect or even just a 2 foot Firestik II on a hood mount.

There are some dual band antennaes that will handle both chores but by the time you get the antenna and the box that splits the signal to both radios you've spent big bucks, AND the antenna might still be longer than the stock one.

Check out ALF Enterprises . They have more stuff than is shown on the website. They were very helpful on the phone, too.

 

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Pete, actualy the very best antenna you can have is still the old 102' whip. And of cource everone says co-phased antennas don't work, you must have them a certain distance apart etc. , mine are only 6' appart, the idea behind these is to direct the signal fore and aft of the vehicle, just what you need on the highway.
The Firestick antennas are 5/8 wave not 1/4 wave and have a tuning knob on the top. My antennas are connected separatly, and use "T" connector on the back of the radio, this allowed me to set the swr on each antenna seperately. Set on channel 20 I have a swr of 1:1 for each antenna and 1. 2:1 when they are co-phased. So far I have a decent range of 10 miles from the side and close to 20 front and rear.
Base loaded antennas such as the K40 or Wilson 1000 work best mounted on the roof, this is because the base loading tends to direct the signal at an upward angle and not straight out parallel to the ground. By roof mounting, you take advantage of the ground plane shape, the lower hood and bed, to make your signal radiate flatter.
Also check out some of the new antennas designed for mounting on fiberglass that have a built in ground plane I think wilson makes one.
A good reference book to lok for is called "The Truth About CB Antennas" isbn 0-8230-8708-5
Neil

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Neil Copeman 92 D250,LE,limited slip, 16cm turbo housing, Isspro gauges, factory tach option, Lear cap, DC crankdown tire carrier
Hadley air horns, Stealhorse leather seats, e-mail (home): bombedcummins@sympatico. ca

 

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Neil, I agree the 102 inch steel whip is a good antenna as long as you put the heavy duty spring in it to get the full quarter wave length out of it. The wave pattern off the whip is shaped like a big dounut so you talk staight up to the space shuttle all the way down to the horizon. The K-40 or Wilson being a compressed load will talk with greater signal stength to the horizon where the people are that your trying to talk to.
I also agree that co-phased antennas will work at less than the prescribed 7 to 9 foot distance, they will work at 4 feet apart but the distortion in the pattern is not always where we want it to go.
The running of a "T" connector is fine as long as the coax is 72 ohm and not 50 ohm. Remember the radio is an unmatched 50 ohm load looking for a 50 ohm impedance to work into, thats why co-phasing harnesses are two lengths of 72 ohm coax tied together to equal 50 ohms.
I must respectfully disagee with your premise that the magnet mounts signal reflect up more than it transmits outward, with the load sitting right on the roof that signal is being directed to the horizon giving you greater range than a continuous laod or top loaded antenna can deliver.
And again I agree with you as to the amount of new antennas that are on the market, working in a CB shop for the last 8 years has given me a great opportunity to check the new stuff out.
Anyway Neil its been great fun in this discusion with our points of view. Regards Pete

 

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The best radiating position is at a point where there is no metal higher than the base of the antenna, located dead nuts in the center of the ground plane.

I had a 10 meter rig in my 95. I bought the longest CB base loaded, magnetic that would take 100 watts, put it on top of the cab, right above the back up light & trimmed a tad off for the difference in Mhz. I took out the light & drilled at an angle down, from the inside out & put the coax thru. Sloping the coax down helps keep out the water. #ad
Then just seal up the hole around the coax.

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Money Sink - 96, 5 speed, HX40-16, TST #11/280 slid 3/4 way, 300 HP Injectors, Scourge BD Governor kit.
4" CATless turn down straight out back.
ISSPRO Pillar, Delvac 1 & Amsiol, RE-0880, Mag-Hytec, 3:54, 235s on Alcoas, Rancho 9000's, Valentine One.
Clutch days are numbered, McLeod on the way.

 

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I wonder if my stacks are screwing up my antenae then? I don't talk much.

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• '93 250 LE 4x4 5spd 4:10 Loaded,dual 5" chrome stacks,12cm² turbo(37psi),PW injectors,K&N,pyro/boost,US Gear E-Brake,tool box,CB,10" AR rims, 285/75/16 Bf goodrich. "wirenut_21529" on Yahoo Messenger
• '97 Ford B-Series school bus (5. 9 Cummins!)I'm gonna Bomb it!
• '94 GMC 2500 6. 5L Turbo

PICTURES.

 

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Diesel Burner - Where can I check out one the stake hole mounting antenna? I like the idea of no drilling, and mounted in the stake hole I could probably get away with letting the antenna drag a little on the garage door.

Pete Peterson - Thanks for the info. The antenna in the stake hole will give good reception and transmission won't it? I realize it won't be as good as a roof mount but I'm not worried about the ability to transmit or receive trans-continental. #ad

 

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JyRO, putting the antenna mount and antenna in the stake bed hole will work just fine!! Just make sure you have a good ground to the mount. Regards Pete

 

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The 102' whip is the best bet. Mount it anywhere where it wont touch the truck when you're transmitting.

The higher the better. As long as you dont become dangerous.

I've seen in the past (dont remember where) a dual purpose antenna that replaces the am/fm antenna and is a combo am/fm/cb antenna. Yes you can transmit on it too. I believe a CB shop will be able to get one for you. -wb6bfd

 

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Jyro you can find the stake pocket mounts on Firestik's website at
http://www.firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm

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TAZ... 2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto ETC Cummins, LSD 3. 54,Quad Cab, Long Bed, Agate Leather, White/Driftwood Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group, Cab clearance lights,SPA-Technique Digital Dual Gauges (Pyro/Boost, Trans pressure/temp) Aux. Backup lamps. BNM 5th Wheel Hitch, Additional Body Molding on Bed. BD Torc Loc, BD Pressure Loc, Line-X bed-liner. DTT's TC & VB, Pac Brake, Power Edge, Edge EZ, Grover Air Horns

2000 32' Aljo Triple Slide 5th Wheel.

http://www.ramtaz.com

Add on's to come: any other Ram Runner required modifications...

 

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after all the answers 4 an antenna try
larson nmo base for 27 mhz, if u sell trk
base will fit a high perf cell phone ant.
then change coax connector to fit cell phone
a gtr selling point, also larson makes
a grt cb ant its 48'' and a bottom loaded black coil, mount in center of cab,
i do that w/ ham 2 meter ant, w. / camper i remove ant. and put on camper s own mount
the nmo is the base type w/ the best
connectors, mopar up mopar bill

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1993 w350 ex cab, banks,nv 4500 in
open exaust, pw Injectors are in. Big rig flaps,tach soon to be in. Its loud and goes ok, for a 93,only beat 1 pwr strk furd. 2 optimas,
love driving it!

 

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I put the Wilson 1000 on the roof of my truck and I garage it every night. I like that one because I get out and unscrew the whip from the base while the turbo reaches normal temperatures. Then I back her in and screw it back on in the morning while the idle picks up to normal speed.

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Chris Timochko
AUTO WURKS DIESEL R&D TEAM
1997 5sp 4X4, Espar Heater, A. W. D. HX40 turbo, ATS 3pc Manifold, BD 4" Brake, Marine Compression, A. W. D. Custom Tuned Injection Pump, A. W. D. Intercooler, A. W. D. 370B Injection Nozzles, Delivery Valves, Governor & AFC Spring Kit, Psychotty Air, A. W. D. Water Injection, NOS Diesel Kit, A. W. D. 6" Chrome Exhaust System, BD No Smoke Valet Switch, McLeod Dual Disc Clutch, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins Chrome Kit, Optima Red Tops, Hadley Bully Horns, Hurst Line Loc, Goodyear Wrangler AT/S 305/70/16s.

 

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Gyro; If you decide on a Firestick Antenna, my father still has various sizes left from his C. B. shop that he recently closed. Good luck whichever way you go. Ron

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1997 2500HD 4x4 Club Cab SLT,5 Spd, Rhinoliner, basically stock 4 now