View Full Version : What kind of CB radio antenna should I get?
So I've had this CB radio for about the past 10 years or so. I don't remember where I got it, and it has never been hooked up. Looks like it is a Uniden Pro 520xl. I looked it up and it seems to get good reviews. That makes me happy, since I know for sure that I never paid for it.
It is small enough to fit anywhere in my truck, but I don't know anything about radios. What kind of antenna should I be looking for? I'd honestly prefer just a magnetic one that I could throw on top when I thought I'd be using it (off road trips and road trips). I've seen stuff from 100w to 300w in a magnet antenna. What should I be looking for? I've only ever used a slightly more powerful FRS radio (which I lost and wish I still had). Any help?
I was thinking about just picking up an antenna and cable off of Amazon or something.
Contact tropicdive, he is a member here and knows pretty much everything you will ever want to know about CB's.
He hooked me up with my first set up and has been great!
I will, thanks for the tip.
ChadAmberg
06-29-2011, 12:15
You can't go wrong with either a Wilson 1000 or a K-40, both in simple magnet mount. The only thing better is a permanently mounted 9 foot wire whip antenna.
CB's pump out a whole 4 watts (legally) so don't worry about power ratings, etc.
Just be careful running the antenna wire so it doesn't make sharp bends or gets pinched, and you'll be all set.
permanently mounted 9 foot wire whip antenna.
Wow, that's a damn tall antenna! I personally have a 5 foot on my Jeep and it works great.
Firestik make good products.
Thanks for the input guys. I think with the 9 ft' whips, I generally see people bend them around the spare tire to the other side of the bumper, or from one end of the vehicle to the other. Also, they make antennas that are curled at the bottom, so the wire can still be nearly as long, without being nearly as tall.
ChadAmberg
06-30-2011, 09:32
Thanks for the input guys. I think with the 9 ft' whips, I generally see people bend them around the spare tire to the other side of the bumper, or from one end of the vehicle to the other. Also, they make antennas that are curled at the bottom, so the wire can still be nearly as long, without being nearly as tall.
Bending it down does mean signal losses, the question is how much loss is acceptable. A quarter wave vertical (9 foot) with good grounding and nothing around it is as optimal an antenna as you'll get.
If you stuck a clothes hanger into the back of the CB, you'll get some signal out into the air, and you'll be able to talk to someone before the magic smoke starts coming out of the radio.
Everything in between is a compromise, with power converted into heat instead of being transmitted, or power reflected back into the radio. The coils are a compromise and have effects like diminished range, and smaller bandwidth (more signal loss on the upper and lower channels than you would normally get).
The k-40 and Wilson 1000 have coils at the bottom, firesticks (essentially a coil the entire length) are also great but not as much with a magnet mount when you're going fast and all of a sudden hear a whump as it comes loose off the top of your car. To get out well with a coil, you just need to make sure the coil is above your car. So on the roof is good, the trunk not so much.
The Wilson little wil is a darn good mag mount antenna. Strong magnet and good signal. I use this for our 4x4 club trail runs.
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Wilson-Magnet-Mount-Antenna/dp/B0006VKG7K
But HAM radio is the way to go. Couldn't resist the plug.
Hello again. I was doing some more research on this, and will probably get a Firestik II tunable kit. I see that there are antennas made for vehicles that don't really have grounds (like boats) and I am curious about this. Where is the important part to be grounded in the system?
My actual question is, can I use a mount like this and still be properly grounded? I think a 4-5ft antenna mounted this way will get me up over the roof and work out okay.
https://www.independent4x.com/merchantmanager/images/uploads/cbbracket.jpg
If you install an antenna besid your vehicle instead of above it, the vehicle effectively becomes a reflector and you will have a highly directional antenna. This is especially true with an antenna with a coil at the base. The more antenna you have above the jeep the more omni directional it will be.
I'm thinking with a 5' antenna, mounted the way in the picture, will give me about 3' above the top of my truck.
So, will this set up be grounded correctly? Is it the radio that needs to be grounded or the antenna?
So, will this set up be grounded correctly? Is it the radio that needs to be grounded or the antenna?
What does the bushing on the spare tire carrier look like is it insulated? if so just run a ground strap to the frame of the vehicle ground are very important in order to get range. Irving lets setup a day and i will look at your set up and give you pointers.
Thanks for the offer, but I don't quite have a set up yet, I'm trying to decide how I want to mount it before I buy all the part. My concern, is that my spare is the factory aluminum. It makes perfect sense to just run a ground wire though. I don't know why I didn't think of it.
Okay, I picked up an antenna, some cable, and a mount. I'm going to run the cable and install the mount tomorrow. I was able to pick up the cable where one end unscrews, so I don't have to drill such a large hole in my truck.
DFBrews, do you have an SWR meter? Should I pick up a spring like the one being used in the photo I posted? How important is that spring?
ridgewalker
10-02-2011, 08:09
Irving, a spring will in effect change the SWR of the antenna, but it will prevent damage if you accidentally drive into a garage, parking garage or tree limb. It will reduce stress on the mount.
Ideally an antenna should be as long as possible, mounted as high as possible and centered on the ground plane to get the best transmission in all directions. Barring this, everything is a compromise (what's new?)
The SWR will let you know if you have a good ground as well as allow you to "center" on the frequencies (channels) you want to use. Example: if you only use the lower half of the channels including emergency 9, then you may want to make them the optimum. But if you want to average over all the 40 channels (assuming the antenna can do it), then center it on 20, just make sure it is still good enough to use channel 9.
BlasterBob
10-02-2011, 08:27
Another member here, baglock1 is/was also looking for someone to help check out his mobil CB. Maybe he'll check in on this thread and get something going for his radio/antenna too.
Ridgewalker, after I posted about the spring, I realized exactly why I need it. I'm a bit worried about my antenna location though, so we'll see how it goes.
I realize that the spring will add to the height of the antenna and affect the way it is tuned. I'm going to get a spring today so I'll have it when it comes time to tune.
Got everything installed today. Looks nice. Now I just need to get it tuned properly. Install went better than I thought it would.
HEY COPS! Some guy told me that it is illegal to use the PA (Public Announcement) portion of your CB. Now, I can't imagine when I would actually use it in public, and I wouldn't use it to road rage at people, but is it actually illegal? He didn't seem like he knew what he was talking about.
Another member here, baglock1 is/was also looking for someone to help check out his mobil CB. Maybe he'll check in on this thread and get something going for his radio/antenna too.
I PMed him saying i would help him set it up never got a response I have a SWR meter.
I PMed him saying i would help him set it up never got a response I have a SWR meter.
What does your week look like this week? I can meet anytime after 7 pm and live in Westminster.
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/1002011655.jpg
[QUOTE=Irving;435321]What does your week look like this week? I can meet anytime after 7 pm and live in Westminster.
[IMG]http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/10020
should be able to meet up tomorrow or tuesday depending on my females "urges"
PM me your info irving
BlasterBob
10-03-2011, 07:46
I PMed him saying i would help him set it up never got a response I have a SWR meter.
Well, many thanks for sending that PM and trying to help him out. You did give it a good try and that is really appreciated!!!
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