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Cb Radio And Antenna?


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went to radioshack today and looked at the cb antennas just to price em and they have two i'd use, one is a 48" single trucker cb antenna for 44.99 and the other is a 48" no-ground cb antenna for 39.99. i know my wallet says go with the no ground one but i don't know the differences between the two, what do yall think, any other "good" cb atennas that are around 5'

 

Redwolf

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I have this antenna on my rig, I'll try to go snap some pics if I can.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Firestick-II-feet-Tunable-Tip/dp/B00317HUWU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1383077105&sr=8-2&keywords=firestik

 

From what I understand, no ground antennas don't get near as much range compared to normal CB antennas. 

that's one i was lookin at online, i just never heard of firestick and of course my dad (the only on in my family line that still remembers cbs) just went to radio shack and bout the 102 steel whip, i'm not tryin to go 9ft in the air, so 4-5ft would do for me :)

 

Redwolf

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Firestik is a good brand. Made in the USA, and I've never heard of any issues with their products/had any problems. Here's how I did mine (pardon the mess/bad pics) 

good idea for mountin, and i'll have to check out firestick than if they're american made and ya havent heard any problems outta em, what's up with the shift boot so deep in the concole?

 

Redwolf

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The thing was ripped (at the bottom) when i got it, so it just falls down to the transmission hump. Not really an issue as it still looks half decent, so I've never really cared enough to replace it. I've got bigger fish to fry than that. 

All of the components for mounting the sucker are firestik, and so far I like it. The quick disconnect is really awesome (smooth barrel looking part under the spring) as I park in a garage for school during the week, and I can just pull that puppy right off. In hindsight, I'd have gotten the thicker mounting bracket as the antenna is juuuuust barely heavy to make me worry about it bending a bit. 

 

I particularly like where I put the CB, as it's out of the way, and the wiring is really easy from the dash, and you can feed the antenna cable through a plugged hole behind the bench, and along the DS floor trim, under the carpet beneath the pedals, and into the radio. No wires really show.

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The thing was ripped (at the bottom) when i got it, so it just falls down to the transmission hump. Not really an issue as it still looks half decent, so I've never really cared enough to replace it. I've got bigger fish to fry than that. 

All of the components for mounting the sucker are firestik, and so far I like it. The quick disconnect is really awesome (smooth barrel looking part under the spring) as I park in a garage for school during the week, and I can just pull that puppy right off. In hindsight, I'd have gotten the thicker mounting bracket as the antenna is juuuuust barely heavy to make me worry about it bending a bit. 

 

I particularly like where I put the CB, as it's out of the way, and the wiring is really easy from the dash, and you can feed the antenna cable through a plugged hole behind the bench, and along the DS floor trim, under the carpet beneath the pedals, and into the radio. No wires really show.

makes sense, i was just wonderin, i don't have mine on due to the shifter hittin the console, and why wired into the radio?

 

Redwolf

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I mean the CB radio. Not like the stereo. 

 

ok, i got it now

te9ate4e.jpg Here is where I mounted mine, under the tool box used firestik mount and antenna. Out the CB radio on the bad side on my center consul

sweet, any pictures of the cb?

 

Redwolf

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Here's the only pic I could find that had my dash mounted unit in it. Not the best, but shows why the Coax was sun damaged. I had planned on running it through a grommet behind the CB. But the hvac system wouldn't let it.

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Here's the only pic I could find that had my dash mounted unit in it. Not the best, but shows why the Coax was sun damaged. I had planned on running it through a grommet behind the CB. But the hvac system wouldn't let it.

thanks, i'll take that into thought, i think if i mount it on the dash (if legal in VA still) i'll wrap electrical tape around the exsposed coax cable so it doesn't get sun damaged (hopefully)

 

Redwolf

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ok i see a lot of yall use firestick, enough for me to get one, obviously they can't be that bad lol, but what's the best length to get, 3' 4' 5'? that's where i'm at right now is figurin out the length for the antenna,

 

Redwolf

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Here's my Uniden Pro520XL mounted to the shifter console. It does not interfere with the passenger or any shifting. The CB display is directed towards the driver so you don't hafta strain your eyes to see it. The dials are w/In easy reach too. I usually just leave the mic in the center cubby between the 2 cupholders. Mounting it here allows easy access to 12V & ground and easy routing of the coax and power/grounds w/out having to run it down the A-pillar (if mounted to the roof) and it keeps it off the dash w/in the eyes of potential thieves. Plus the dash mounted CB's just looks sloppy/lazy.

 

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Longer the length the better.  Just be sure not to go so long that you catch wires on the street.       Just don't run dual unless you're freeway driving.  

 

that's what i've heard bout length, and that's why i'm limitin myself to 4-5' my dad told me get 102 steel whip but that's almost 9' there aint  no way i'm runnin that and what do ya mean by freeway drivin cause i see a lot of big trucks round here with duals

I like 4' as it clears enough of the roof to minimize the interference for the behind the cab mounting. No issues getting the SWR down into a really good range.

gettin the SWR down? what's SWR

 

Here's my Uniden Pro520XL mounted to the shifter console. It does not interfere with the passenger or any shifting. The CB display is directed towards the driver so you don't hafta strain your eyes to see it. The dials are w/In easy reach too. I usually just leave the mic in the center cubby between the 2 cupholders. Mounting it here allows easy access to 12V & ground and easy routing of the coax and power/grounds w/out having to run it down the A-pillar (if mounted to the roof) and it keeps it off the dash w/in the eyes of potential thieves. Plus the dash mounted CB's just looks sloppy/lazy.

 

sweet set up, and why do ya vote 4'? also is that floor matts on the tranny hump?

 

Redwolf

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Semi's benefit from dual for two main reasons...

 

1. if they only had antenna on one side the trailers would prevent the signal from radiating to the opposite side.

2. The two antenna's signals actually bounce off each causing them to send/receive further front to rear

 

 

In an offroad vehicle dual antenna's is pretty much purely cosmetic unless you can get them 1/2 wave length apart... one front of vehicle and one at end of a trailer? need to be 208" (i think). they they actually double eachother in all directions it could be 5/8 of the wave length. been a while since i've read up on cb and ham radio.

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Semi's benefit from dual for two main reasons...

 

1. if they only had antenna on one side the trailers would prevent the signal from radiating to the opposite side.

2. The two antenna's signals actually bounce off each causing them to send/receive further front to rear

 

 

In an offroad vehicle dual antenna's is pretty much purely cosmetic unless you can get them 1/2 wave length apart... one front of vehicle and one at end of a trailer? need to be 208" (i think). they they actually double eachother in all directions it could be 5/8 of the wave length. been a while since i've read up on cb and ham radio.

that makes sense, thanks,

 

Redwolf

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If i remember correctly two 3' antenna's spaced about 90" apart transmit front and back further then a 102 would, but to the sides they're about par with a single 4'. Those numbers are approximates from memory of calculations I did 10 years ago. I'm sure if you do a quick google search for dual antenna set up cb or dual vs single cb antenna. Also the duals needed to have exact length cords on each side after the split or they would end up out of phase.

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If i remember correctly two 3' antenna's spaced about 90" apart transmit front and back further then a 102 would, but to the sides they're about par with a single 4'. Those numbers are approximates from memory of calculations I did 10 years ago. I'm sure if you do a quick google search for dual antenna set up cb or dual vs single cb antenna. Also the duals needed to have exact length cords on each side after the split or they would end up out of phase.

so for less of a headache go with a single antenna? lol

 

Redwolf

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