Antenna for CBs

[targa88]

Finally decided on a portable CB (Midland 85-722). Now I am looking for a external antenna to help boost the reception.
There appears to be 3 options:
1) No additional antenna
2) Bandi mount + firestick
3) Magnetic (roof mounted) antenna (Wilson?)

The only use I foresee for the CB, is during trail rides.
The eventual plan is Ham radio set up for longer range.

Please provide recommendations and rationale.
Thank you

 

[Pskhaat]

3) Magnetic (roof mounted) antenna (Wilson?)

For temporary solution, yes, otherwise, stick with a simple quarter-wavelength whip.

 

[Big_Geek]

I would recommend the 102" stainless steel whip. It is a quarter-wave at 11 meters (CB) and can also be used for mobile HF when you get your amateur radio license. In fact, I just bought one today to use for mobile HF.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I would recommend the 102" stainless steel whip. It is a quarter-wave at 11 meters (CB) and can also be used for mobile HF when you get your amateur radio license. In fact, I just bought one today to use for mobile HF.

Notice that most 4WD clubs don't allow full length whips on their runs, it's very easy for bystanders to get smacked and it hurts when it happens. So you usually have to secure it down and that defeats the purpose of getting an external for trail runs. There's other considerations that make a full length whip impractical, like the mount needs to be very beefy not to break off highway. I think a magnetic mount Wilson 1000 on the roof is a good compromise, they work pretty well.

 

[BogusBlake]

I have a mag mount "Lil' Wil" and it works GREAT (for a CB...). It was easy to tune, the magnet is strong, and the whip is flexible enough to bend and not get caught in trees.

I just pull it off and pack it up when I'm not using CB.

I can't really comment on how it sounds when I Tx, but I can hear other people pretty clearly (again, for a CB...).

 

[ntsqd]

I have been hit on top of the head by my own 102" whip. It hurt badly. Great performance, bu the DB got a short fiberglass antenna after that.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Dave is right about the Wilson 1000. I just love mine and my CB has never put out so far as with the Wilson 1000!

Be sure to set the SWR perfect with an SWR meter and you will be amazed!


If you want to go one better..........check out the Wilson 5000.


Check out the Wilson website.........


WHY THE Wilson "5000" PERFORMS BETTER

The Wilson 5000 is the top performing base loaded CB antenna for the automobile. Wilson used the basic design of the Wilson Trucker 5000 with the exclusive low loss coil and proven performance qualities of the Wilson 1000. The Wilson trademark of designing an antenna with maximum efficiency is continued in the Wilson 5000.

Extensive research and engineering efforts showed that a 6 gauge solid copper wire with a properly designed coil, displayed excellent performance characteristics. And though copper is one of the best RF conductors available - silver is even better. Wilson combined the best of both worlds by using 100% pure silver to heavily plate completely over the large solid copper wire. This means that using the Wilson design techniques, the Wilson 5000 will outperform all other base loaded antennas available.

With the 5000 made from solid 3/16" copper silver plated wire, and the special design of the floating coil, it will not ice up, stop working even in severe winter conditions. There is no chance of the coil windings cracking from freeze up.

The Wilson 5000 is over 65% larger than the famous Wilson 1000, and designed specifically for users who want the best antenna and have to ability to withstand some power applied to it. The Wilson 5000 will handle 5000 watts AM, 20,000 watts SSB (ICAS ratings).

Wilson's engineering quality, design, and attention to details is the key to the high performance. The Wilson 5000's performance and power handling abilities will prove itself the first time extra performance is needed to break through the noise on the air.

With 30 years of knowledge and engineering experience in the design of antennas, Wilson has become the recognized leader in CB Mobile antennas. The Wilson 5000 is now the choice of the serious CBer.

All of these are the reasons you get a 2-year guarantee and your Wilson 5000 is guaranteed to outperform any CB mobile antenna or your money back.**


**PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE: The Wilson 5000 will transmit and receive farther than the antenna it replaces or your money back. This guarantee is good for 15 days from the date of purchase at the original purchase point only, and with dated sales receipt.

 

[AndrewP]

For CB use, the lil'Will is the best bang for buck antenna I've used. The 5000 is a GREAT antenna, but it's 3 times the price and much longer. The Lil' Will is nice because it is so small. It doesn't get hit as much, and is perfectly satisfactory for CB. Make sure you tune the antenna-all the Wilson whips are cut long, so some of the whip will need to be trimmed.

Don't spend a ton of time, effort or $$$ on CB, because the minute you use 2m Ham radio on the trail, the CB will be out the window for good.

 

[Photog]

I us the Lil' Will also. It does work great, as long as it is mounted on the roof. Tx & Rx are just fine for trail driving. An amplified mic might be helpful, depending on your CB box.

Many folks wory about a Mag-Mount antenna scratching their point (they don't worry about bushes and trees; but they worry about the antenna), you can put down a layer of the clear film used to protect paint from rock chips.

If you think the Lil' Will won't be enough, go with the Wilson 1000 or 5000, Mag-Mounts. They are much taller, and will whack everything you drive under.

As for the 102". Why? If you want the value offered by a 102", you would also need to mount it to the roof. You won't do that, so it will then be hidden behind your vehicle, attached to the bumper or door hinge. It will only be a 102" antenna for transmissions in the rear direction. All other directions will be less optimized than the shorter antenna on the roof.

Antenna theory is really twisted; but some of it is worth learning.

Also: if you get a HAM system and license, you will want to use a completely separate antenna.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION..........


HOW IMPORTANT IS POWER OUTPUT?

The output power of a mobile transmitter, which might be as low as I watt or as high as 1000 watts, has very little to do with the maximum distance that the signal may travel. Although signal strength varies inversely with the distance, a major increase in power output will have little or no effect in establishing communications to a distant point that couldn't hear the ground wave or sky-wave at the original power setting.
Out on the oceans, mariners use 25-watt radios for short-range communications on the VHF band. Up to about 100 miles, the sea water has little effect on VHF waves, but on the worldwide lower frequencies, the high conductivity of sea water causes the signal strength of the ground wave to vary inversely with the distance. When operating on these frequencies, mariners require more power and rely almost entirely on sky-wave propagation to get their signals received hundreds and thousands of miles away.



My Rescue story.........

And why I sware by the Wilson 1000 .....and/or the 5000.


I picked up my Wilson 1000 used on Craigslist for just $25 bucks. There is NO way a Little Wil....will put out as far as a 1000. Although it is still better than most other choices. Why not have both? If you live near a lot of trees, I can see why you would want a shorter antenna........but this won't help you when you Really need help!

I've been on the Top Of The World Trail near Moab....and have talked with truckers West of Green River Utah over 60+ miles away with my Wilson 1000. No other antenna I have ever had in over 37+ years of driving has ever put out like this for me. Now I want to find a deal on the 5000 and compare.

 

[Photog]

"Scenic W" is correct, the 1000 or 5000 will push the signal further, and may receive a bit better also. They are really designed for more power (per the posted information).

The only use I foresee for the CB, is during trail rides.
The eventual plan is Ham radio set up for longer range.

Please provide recommendations and rationale.
Thank you

This is why I recommended the Lil' Wil. You are not looking for longest possible range (trail runs), and you will be getting a HAM later, for the remote, rescue, long range communications.

You will be able to run two antennas on the roof, with no trouble. They do not interfere with each other. Check out the roof of any emergency, resue, or police vehicle. 12" - 18" spearation is usually all you need.