Question on Dual Antennas?

[Bart Timothy]

Don't know a darn thing about CBs and their antennas, but you guys have got my interest. Since a single antenna appears to be the right way to go, what should be the proper length of it? A 102" whip on top of the cab seems to be a bit tall. What's the difference between a Wilson 1000 and a Wilson 5000? Seen them at a radio store the other day.

 

[David Wheeler]

Shawn,

can you elaborate more about "really good ground plane" in respect to mounting locations on our trucks. I respect the knowledge you obviously have here and would like to know your thoughts. For instance, I am considering mounting a Firestick or like antenna on a special mount made for our trucks that attaches under the rear of the hood on the drivers side. Nice looking... . but functional? Not sure.

Thanks in advance!

David

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2001 3500 SLT, 4X4, ETH Cummins/DEE, LSD, 3. 54, Quad Cab, Long Bed, Agate, Camper Special Group, Towing Group, Additional Body Molding on Bed, Line-X bed-liner.

"REAL TRUCKS RATTLE!!"

 

[Shawn.L.Turbo]

David;

Well, when it comes to ground planes, usually people dont' like the answer they hear.

Let me just say that a good ground plane, that will work uniformly in all directions, would consist of a flat metal sheet, ideally 1/4 wavelength all the way around the base of the antenna. We all know, that on our trucks, this is impossible.

However, having said that, you can at least now figure out where a "least evil" spot may be on your truck. Mirror mounts and the like are not considered efficient.
Roof mounted (in the center of the roof) on an extended cab is about the best that could be had in our situation.

Shawn

 

[drives mopars]

i agree with most , 1 st iam an ham
been into ant;s years

one guy said it best cb'ers by cb stuff

hams buy ham stuff, dont always go for
best advertising, an antenna if same
materials and design is all the same
results no matter what brand,
i larson nmo works best \1st it does
no look like a cb antenna , can easely
be converted into a high gain cell antenna
w/ new screw on 5 db gain cell phone
stick, qualyity and matls are great
and not very expensive
try amateur radio supply on the web
ask for larson nmo base and coil and
48 '' whip with rg 8x coax
and center roof mount it
next best thing to a 9 ' whip

wait till you guys see my 9'
ham motorized antenna works
3. mhz to 144 mhz's even cb

larson does make a 66 '' whip
but coil would have to be worked on
. if anyone has done that would work well

also `1 more cb rule that does not
work , coax lenght makes no difference

only does if the antenna requires the coax to work as an balm, like 75 ohm
to 50 ohm coax i run a ham diapole
that needs 2 coax ohm's and one needs to be a certain leghth ( the 75 ohm)
but in cb stuff believe me
dont be fooled into thingng coax lenght
must be a certain lenght,
coax is not a big concern on low ferquencys like cb, try going over one gig
even at 144 mhz it becomes real important
at real high freq, coax is not even used
they use wave guides.


vegas meet ? ill be on cb ch 2
ham 146. 52 20 and 80 meters

on the road , thanks 4 reading , bill


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1993 w350 ex cab, banks,nv 4500 in
open exaust, pw Injectors are in. Big rig flaps,tach in,. Its loud and goes ok, for a 93,Ham radio Call KK6dm
has ability to communicate any where in the world. Headliner shelf
5 antenna's

 

[pcorssmit]

Here's another option for those who don't need much range and only use the CB's occasionally.

On the way back from Moab last week, while we were stopped so a buddy could do a tape measure alignment job on his truck, I "installed" a CB in my truck using an adapter that taps into the factory radio antenae. It has tuning screws on it, but I didn't have my SWR meter with me, so I just stuck it in. I have no idea where I got this thing, it's been in my garage for a long time. Yes, the range is no where near what a good single would be, but it works OK for traveling with friends running down the highway. Saves the cell phone minutes. It comes out easily, and there's no risk of scratching the paint with a mag. mount and no cable getting pinched by the door or whipping around in the wind on the paint. Now I just need to figure out where to mount the CB, it's loose on the floor now. It'll probably end up under the front center seat.

Pete

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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