CB antenna height

[03denalisuv]

is an 102 inch legal and or necessary?
steel whip or fiber glass?
and what's the deal with ham radio licenses?
do i need one or does it not matter?

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Legal? Sure. Necessary? It's better.

You don't need a ham license for CB, it's a different set of frequencies

 

[barlowrs]

Experts, correct me if I am wrong, but what I have learned (or think I learned) is that a longer antenna MAY get you better reception, but location of the antenna is just as important. I short antenna in the middle if your car (roof) will most likely out perform a long whip mounted on the front corner (depending on your transmitting direction).

With that said, a GENERAL rule of thumb with fiberglass (firesticks, etc) is that you want 2/3 of the antenna above the highest point on your car.

One thing to remember though, no-matter what antenna, where its mounted and how well its tuned, a CB is still essentially line of sight, you will not be able to bounce out of a canyon or over mountains.

If you want range, get a ham license and you can get MUCH greater range. I use my CB for "convoy" communications when in a group that are not HAMs, so antenna doesn’t matter to much, as the range needed is VERY small. I have a ham radio for when I actually need to reach out and touch someone.

Hope this helps, and if I have anything wrong, please correct me experts.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

is an 102 inch legal and or necessary?
steel whip or fiber glass?
and what's the deal with ham radio licenses?
do i need one or does it not matter?

The 102" Steel Whip....is the True and best CB Radio Antenna.

Everything else is just using smoke and mirrors and wire twist's to simulate it.

However....I love my Wilson 1000 Mag Mount! It works fine for me!


Don't go fiberglass and wire twist's!

Check out the Wilson Website.

Oh Shoot! They are updating their website! Check back!

http://www.wilsonantenna.com/


Some Idea's....

http://www.premiere-electronics.net/store/wilsoncbantennas.html



Best write up I have found. I guess it can also be called a 108".....maybe depending on your mount. There is some confusion on spring mounts and their height.

http://www.olypen.com/craigh/antennab.htm




.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

One thing to remember though, no-matter what antenna, where its mounted and how well its tuned, a CB is still essentially line of sight, you will not be able to bounce out of a canyon or over mountains.

I was Rescued by way of CB Radio in the Panamint Mountains. Punching out of the canyon over 15 to 20 miles! I'm gettin sick of people slamming CB Radios.

If you set it up right, it will work. And it could save you!

It saved me.....because a fellow 4x4 dude also took the time set his system up right! Yup....dead at the World Beater Mine. And punched through the Canyon to the Panamint Valley near the PSR for help!

Thank God!

Don't tell me that CB Radios are junk!


Thanks to my Wilson 1000......!


.

 

[Hilldweller]

Scenic Wonderland linked a site; just wanted to post a warning.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33091

I work with rf engineers; if you have a specific tech question, they love it.

Don't use a 102" whip ---- purely safety reasons. They're unwieldy on trails, will snag on limbs, snap around, break windows, put out eyes.
I use a 4' Wilson Silverload Flex. It can bend 180* and is tough. The K40 base loaded is a great antenna if you want one in the center of your metal roof; the K40 fiberglass will break at the base quickly. All of my Firesticks & Fireflies broke at the base as well.

A cheap radio with good coax, ground, & antenna will run circles around an expensive radio with anything else done wrong.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

My Name......Is Not.....Scenic Wonderland!

Amazing.....


The OP Originally asked about the 102". Yes the 102" is dead on!




.

 

[PhulesAU]

CB or 11mtrs is HF, and am too boot. what you have to remember is at 4 watts, it's a qrp rig that for most people isn't good home brew quality.

 

[Hilldweller]

My Name......Is Not.....Scenic Wonderland!

It's so long that I stopped reading after the wonder part; sorry...

 

[barlowrs]

I was Rescued by way of CB Radio in the Panamint Mountains. Punching out of the canyon over 15 to 20 miles! I'm gettin sick of people slamming CB Radios.

If you set it up right, it will work. And it could save you!

It saved me.....because a fellow 4x4 dude also took the time set his system up right! Yup....dead at the World Beater Mine. And punched through the Canyon to the Panamint Valley near the PSR for help!

Thank God!

Don't tell me that CB Radios are junk!


Thanks to my Wilson 1000......!


.

Ohh I did not mean that at all! Heck as I said, I run a CB as well (though I use a firestik mounted on my front bumper corner, wich works for what I use it for).

I suggest to ANYONE going off the beaten path to have a CB and otehr forms of communication (as many as possible, as you never know which will get through).

And that is cool your range, I have never heard of them reaching that far...thats very good to know..haha maybe I shuld get a wilson and actually mount it well...might save me someday!

 

[RHINO]

<is an 102 inch legal and or necessary?>

never heard of it being illegal, not very safe on the trail for bystanders if it free to whip,, but by far the best antenna. all antennas strive for the 102" hence the winding of wire in every antenna shorter than 102". that wind is top, middle and bottom loaded.

<steel whip or fiber glass?>

personal preference really, i have both because they act differently. the fiberglass is typically top loaded, broadcast a flat pattern from the top portion of the antenna and that top portion really should be mounted above the rig. steel is typically bottom loaded, broadcast an umbrella shape and perform best when mounted in the middle of a metal roof. typically i use the bottom loaded antenna to get distance while i use the top loaded when i'm wheelin in a group.

>and what's the deal with ham radio licenses?
do i need one or does it not matter?>

only needed for HAM radio operation. thats a whole nuther topic.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

A fun CB Radio Rescue story. Not fun at the time!

Pandemonium in the Panamints........


This shows the importance of a properly tuned system and the use of a quality antenna.



.

 

[Nathant78]

Guy from my club (goes by Token on here) has a 102" steel whip with spring on the bumper of his H3. He used one of the heavy duty black bungee straps, screwed it to the roof rack and the other end just slides over the whip. works perfect. if he chimes in he can show you pics of it.

 

[alexrex20]

i've talked with truckers over 60mi away on my untuned CB. bounce it off the overcast clouds and you have incredible range.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

There are more CB Radio Threads here at ExPo than you can shake a Cholla Cactus at!:sombrero:

Mobile Antenna Placement.............

http://www.olypen.com/craigh/antennab.htm


"If you desire maximum range and performance from your CB, then you do not want to compromise the radiator, and you will need to consider mounting a full ¼ wave antenna somewhere... but your choices are few. The bumper is probably the poorest location for an antenna you can find, because the body blocks too much of the radiator, and usually gives a bad SWR (you might as well have a shorter loaded antenna where it will do some good). Mounting it on a tire carrier or on the front of a brush guard will work okay, but isn't a good coupling to the GP. So for the best performance that only leaves the roof (best performance, but not strong enough for a 1/4 wave whip), or high on the rear quarter panel."


Setting the SWR.........

.