CB Antennas

[supermario]

The regular radio antenna will not work for a CB. You can get smaller antennas, but they will some times work and sometimes not.

I am currently running a 3' antenna on a Magnet mount with a " Quick Connect " (Push down on the antenna and twist a 1/4 turn and the antenna is off) it works really well but since it is a magnet mount you have to be careful about tree limbs because they will "knock it over".

I am also running a really cheap Cobra 19

https://www.cobra.com/detail/19-dx-iv-compact-cb-radio.cfm

It is a weak radio, but if you take it to a CB shop and have them " Peak & Tune " ( peak and tune costs about $20 - $30 ) it like I did you can get a 5 mile range out of it in clear weather, but if you are having an overcast day or have alot of wind the range goes down to about 2 - 2 1/2 miles.

The nice thing about this radio is that it is compact and does not take up much space at all plus it is only about $70.

You can even step up to a Cobra 29 LTD for about $120 or a Cobra 25 WX NW ( has weather channels and a backlight display) for about $140. Both of these radios are " Full Power " radios, but they do take up a bit more room.

The only time you are going to spend over $200 for a radio alone is if you pic up one of the newer " Bluetooth " radios that will sync with your phone for calls.

If you would like some pics let me know and I will try to get some up for you.

Cool, I wouldnt mind spending $140 on the Cobra 25WX, I would love to have the option of the weather channel and lit screen. We traveled to Minnesota from LA last summer and that woulda helped. Almost ran into a tornado! My brother and I are kinda making our Expys into bug out trucks so we have them ready for anything. I prefer the perm mounted cb, otherwise friends will want to borrow my handheld and or may lose it. Ok one last question, do they make powerful antennas that are compact? I dont mind if i have to pay a more $, afterall $140 is not that bad at all. You cant even fill up your gas tank more than 2 times for that much $$.

 

[Racenut]

Cool, I wouldnt mind spending $140 on the Cobra 25WX, I would love to have the option of the weather channel and lit screen. We traveled to Minnesota from LA last summer and that woulda helped. Almost ran into a tornado! My brother and I are kinda making our Expys into bug out trucks so we have them ready for anything. I prefer the perm mounted cb, otherwise friends will want to borrow my handheld and or may lose it. Ok one last question, do they make powerful antennas that are compact? I dont mind if i have to pay a more $, afterall $140 is not that bad at all. You cant even fill up your gas tank more than 2 times for that much $$.

I havn't seen any but that does not mean they do not exist. If you do find one you will probably pay alot for it thou and I think that performance would still suffer.

The best thing that I have found is the " Quick Disconect " you have a full size antenna but if you wanna take it off you do not need any tools and it only takes a second ( literally ).

 

[Racenut]

Here are a couple of pics for ya. This is the quick disconect that I have on my Mag mount, like I said before it works really good and it is easy as push and turn to take the antenna off / put it on.

 

[supermario]

Here are a couple of pics for ya. This is the quick disconect that I have on my Mag mount, like I said before it works really good and it is easy as push and turn to take the antenna off / put it on.

Thats pretty cool, how long is your detachable antenna? and the base remains attached to roof with wire perm correct?

 

[Racenut]

Thats pretty cool, how long is your detachable antenna? and the base remains attached to roof with wire perm correct?

It is a 3' antenna, and yes the base stays on the roof. The nice thing about the base being "magnetic" is that if I actually need to use the roof rack on top to haul something, I can move the base back enough to clear whatever I need.

So even thou the base is always there with the cable running to the cb it can be moved around if needed, and you don't have to worry about unhooking the cable and trying to "reroute" it.

 

[panda24619]

how did you run the cable?

 

[Racenut]

how did you run the cable?

I actually ran it thru the passanger side rear vent window. I don't use those windows much so it worked out good. Then I ran the cable under the headliner until I got to the door post between the front and rear doors and ran it down behind the plastics under the seat.

The mount came with 18' of cable so I still have a bit tucked under the headliner for if I need to move the base.

Eventually I am going to do a mount like Walnuts but on the passanger side and still use the " quick connect" for easy removal when it's not needed.

 

[panda24619]

so is the ant a firestik? it looks like one.

 

[Racenut]

so is the ant a firestik? it looks like one.

No it is actually a Diesel I wish it was a Firestik since they are much easier to tune, but I have already had this one tuned to the CB when I had the CB " peaked and tuned ".

 

[panda24619]

thats cool. i know NVY needs to get this done. he keep complaining to me about his firestiks. haha he just needs to go get it done. but im thinking firestiks. who knows.

 

[cavakilla]

wilson antennie are the bomb! wilson 1000 magnetic or lil' wilson magnetic mount. my 1000 stays on at over 130mph...lol

the key is setting the SWR... it can be done by reading the directions with the radio but i have had better results having it professionally done. costs about 15 bucks at a cb shop.

you will get much better performance with one antenna it's omni directional if you run two you narrow the radio waves to an L shape

a cb shop can also peak and tune the radio raising the output wattage from 3-5 stock to 18-25, which really increases the range.

mounting the antenna on the roof or deck lid gives the antenna a ground plane as well which will also help with range.

swr and good antenna cable are the most important!

 

[panda24619]

nvy gave me a good idea. mount the 102 whips on the rear bumper putting eyelit holes where nvy has his mount so the whip isnt whipping all around. i might go that route.

 

[98EXPY 5-0]

If you'll be running an exposed metal antenna, besure to use an eye bolt with an insulator, or you'll effectively be shortening the antenna.

 

[nvycrmn]

True statement!

 

[panda24619]

o yeah no problem. idk how i would do that, but could i wrap the ant with tape or something?

 

[VTfireftr]

I finally got a few minutes to take some pictures this weekend. Here is my CB antenna and fender mount.

Marc

 

[tallsville]

ok quick question for all the cb users. are the handheld cb's any good? Midlands cobras etc. TIA for any help

 

[panda24619]

ive herd they r okay, for close courters. if you want distance they rnt that good.

 

[98EXPY 5-0]

I finally finished my antenna bracket. I need to pop it off and touch up the paint a bit, but it's not too bad and quite functional so far. I also need to trim my antenna a couple inches to tune it for my exact frequency. It's all CB components hooked to my scanner. For my part time job, I need to be able to monitor 4 channels, which all are 45mhz. I cut it to 65" for now, (from a 102" whip) but it should be more like 62.125" or so.

All work was done with a vise, file, hacksaw and an angle grinder.

If you want a GOOD CB antenna, from what I understand, a 102" stainless steel whip is the BEST available, everything else is trying to mimic a 102" without the height.