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2ft. cb antenna in stake hole


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Posted

Hey guys...I just ordered the CB that i am going to mount in my dash (see other post) and i also ordered a 2ft Wilson fiberglass antenna with a stake hole mount. However, i just read that you have to have atleast a 3ft antenna for that mounting position because you have to have at least 40% of the antenna above the roof line. has anyone tried this set up with the 2ft...does it work ok? Can anyone confirm this issue because if it is true I need to order a 3ft instead.

 

Thanks guys

Posted

The 2'ft antenna will work there. I had a 2' antenna on my truck while working at my last job because I would park in the parking garage. It would be better to have a a longer antenna but you should still be able to get out a few miles with that set up.

Posted
The 2'ft antenna will work there. I had a 2' antenna on my truck while working at my last job because I would park in the parking garage. It would be better to have a a longer antenna but you should still be able to get out a few miles with that set up.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for that reassurance...I will stick with the 2ft. and maybe pickup a 4ft. and just throw that one on for long road trips...

 

Does anyone know if i need to recalibrate swr if i switch antenna's?

 

Also any other opnions on this set up would be great!

Posted
The 2'ft antenna will work there. I had a 2' antenna on my truck while working at my last job because I would park in the parking garage. It would be better to have a a longer antenna but you should still be able to get out a few miles with that set up.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for that reassurance...I will stick with the 2ft. and maybe pickup a 4ft. and just throw that one on for long road trips...

 

Does anyone know if i need to recalibrate swr if i switch antenna's?

 

Also any other opnions on this set up would be great!

 

 

 

 

 

It may work but you probably won't transmit very far. I have dual 4ft mounted to my toolbox with a Galaxy 959. I get 1.5 SWR on 1 & 40 with 1.3 in the center 20. Make sure the antenna is grounded properly and you check the SWR. The antennas are not plug and play, they still require adjustment.

 

Anytime you change antennas you have to check SWR.

Posted

CB's basically work by "Line Of Sight", so the longer the antenna, the further the reception/transmittion, but not necessarily better.

And, like MR. Smith said, it will need adjusted when changed to work to the best of its ability.

Posted

Thanks for the help guys....i am assuming that when you say to make sure i have a good ground...you mean from the CB to the chassis...or are you reffering to the antenna needing a good ground...if you are reffering to grounding the antenna...I have never had to do that so any help would be great.

 

I think i will try the 2ft.er and see hwo it goes....As for tuning it i have an adjustable tip antenna...how do I calibrate that with my radio...do i need an SWR meter...if so where do i get one and how much $... or where can i take my truck to have it looked at ...Maryland

 

Thanks guys!

Posted
Thanks for the help guys....i am assuming that when you say to make sure i have a good ground...you mean from the CB to the chassis...or are you reffering to the antenna needing a good ground...if you are reffering to grounding the antenna...I have never had to do that so any help would be great.

 

I think i will try the 2ft.er and see hwo it goes....As for tuning it i have an adjustable tip antenna...how do I calibrate that with my radio...do  i need an SWR meter...if so where do i get one and how much $... or where can i take my truck to have it looked at ...Maryland

 

Thanks guys!

 

 

 

 

 

The ground is for the antenna mount unless it is a No ground plane antenna. That sounds like a Firestick antenna. You can pick up a decent SWR meter for less than 25 bucks online unless you can buy it from the place you picked up your radio gear.

Posted

I am stopping by radio shack tonight to pick a swr meter up for $30...as for the antenna...it is almsot the exact same as the firestik...it is a 2' fiberglass that is screwed into the mount in the stake hole...

 

Now you mention grounding this antenna...how do i go about doint this. As of right now i have a stake hole mount kit from firestik and the 2' fiberglass antenna, i also have the coax running to my Cb... HOW do i ground the antenna...do i really need to ground the antenna and the CB Radio itself?

Posted

Run a ground strap from the antenna (or one of the bolts on the mount) down to the frame and ground it. This is the best way to do it. There is also a "ground plane" with cb's that needs to be addressed with your setup. The best ground plane is the roof of a vehicle (why you need 40-60%) of the antenna above the roof and preferably in the center, unless running dual whips). With a 2' whip your distance transmission will be seriously limited (1-1.5 miles in ideal conditions). Personally I would go for a 4' whip unless clearance is an issue.

A heads up for toolbox mounts; if you get your bed sprayed with a liner and don't have the toolbox grounded to the frame, you will need to. The Line-x interferes with the ground between the toolbox and the bed and really screws your SWR. I figured this out after about 2 hours of adjusting, readjusting and trying to figure out why my SWR went out of adjustment, quick ground strap to the frame and she was back to perfect! :banghead:

Posted
Run a ground strap from the antenna (or one of the bolts on the mount) down to the frame and ground it. This is the best way to do it. There is also a "ground plane" with cb's that needs to be addressed with your setup. The best ground plane is the roof of a vehicle (why you need 40-60%) of the antenna above the roof and preferably in the center, unless running dual whips). With a 2' whip your distance transmission will be seriously limited (1-1.5 miles in ideal conditions). Personally I would go for a 4' whip unless clearance is an issue.

A heads up for toolbox mounts; if you get your bed sprayed with a liner and don't have the toolbox grounded to the frame, you will need to. The Line-x interferes with the ground between the toolbox and the bed and really screws your SWR. I figured this out after about 2 hours of adjusting, readjusting and trying to figure out why my SWR went out of adjustment, quick ground strap to the frame and she was back to perfect! :chevy:

 

 

 

 

Ok...i got the run the strap from one of the bolts to the frame...but how in the world do you attach it to the dirtygunk covered frame?

 

AND...You say only 1.5mi....can anyone else attest to this info? I cannot believe that i would only get that far out even with only 5-6" of the antenna above the roof...I have heard guys that have a 3ft. and can push 7-9mi

Posted
Run a ground strap from the antenna (or one of the bolts on the mount) down to the frame and ground it. This is the best way to do it. There is also a "ground plane" with cb's that needs to be addressed with your setup. The best ground plane is the roof of a vehicle (why you need 40-60%) of the antenna above the roof and preferably in the center, unless running dual whips). With a 2' whip your distance transmission will be seriously limited (1-1.5 miles in ideal conditions). Personally I would go for a 4' whip unless clearance is an issue.

A heads up for toolbox mounts; if you get your bed sprayed with a liner and don't have the toolbox grounded to the frame, you will need to. The Line-x interferes with the ground between the toolbox and the bed and really screws your SWR. I figured this out after about 2 hours of adjusting, readjusting and trying to figure out why my SWR went out of adjustment, quick ground strap to the frame and she was back to perfect! :chevy:

 

 

 

 

Ok...i got the run the strap from one of the bolts to the frame...but how in the world do you attach it to the dirtygunk covered frame?

 

AND...You say only 1.5mi....can anyone else attest to this info? I cannot believe that i would only get that far out even with only 5-6" of the antenna above the roof...I have heard guys that have a 3ft. and can push 7-9mi

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean a spot and attach it. Your mounting location, radio, antenna will all factor into transmission power. Remember that you are limited to 5 watts so any imperfections in any of the above will lower your transmission output.

 

This site is very good. Read it and it will help you understand a little more.

 

Tech Docs

 

 

Keep that ground wire as short as possible and the largest gauge of wire possible. Mine is less than 18" and 10 gauge wire. If you make it too long you can create a ground loop. I am no expert but I rely on an avionics tech at the place I work.

Posted

I would have a hard time believing 7-9 miles with a 3' whip. With A 108" stainless whip its quite possible. Lots of factors come into play, terrain, wiring, grounding, vehicle, other peoples equipment that are beyond control and can affect transmission. I would be surprised given average conditions that you will get anymore than line of sight with your setup. Mines pretty good (not ideal, but good)(see sig) and the furthest that I have been able to verify is 4 miles (I think I can get out about 15 but have never proven it) and my radio has been peaked and tuned over the stock wattage. Check out www.cbradiofourm.com. Gijoescb.com or something like that is a good place to buy radios and have them tuned. Thats where i got mine and I am very happy with it.

Posted

Watch the ground loop, keep your cables as short as possible. Also buy a custom made harness for the coax cable for your application and don't shorten it! A little reading and reaserch on the web will go a long way in deciding what to buy and how to hook it up for the best results. It took me 4 or 5 setups to figure this out!

Posted
Watch the ground loop, keep your cables as short as possible. Also buy a custom made harness for the coax cable for your application and don't shorten it! A little reading and reaserch on the web will go a long way in deciding what to buy and how to hook it up for the best results. It took me 4 or 5 setups to figure this out!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the help guys...i will try these ideas and see how i come out...i will definatly post the final results

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