CB Radio

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by hollonator

i dont know much about CB radios, i just know i like 'em and i want one in my truck because truckers ALWAYS know where the cops are...but i refuse to have one of those "magnetic" bases, i hate 'em and they look like ****

Well, then you have a couple of other choices, depending on the truck. I've even seen ones that will mount to a stake pocket.

[lukasmcdukas]

Originally Posted by hollonator

i dont know much about CB radios, i just know i like 'em and i want one in my truck because truckers ALWAYS know where the cops are...but i refuse to have one of those "magnetic" bases, i hate 'em and they look like ****

you want to get yourself a big ol antenna and get your stuff dialed in real good for that... i use mine for traffic updates when traffic gets messy but even my 2' antenna doesnt give me much for range... id like to get one of the 6' whip antennas.

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by lukasmcdukas

you want to get yourself a big ol antenna and get your stuff dialed in real good for that... i use mine for traffic updates when traffic gets messy but even my 2' antenna doesnt give me much for range... id like to get one of the 6' whip antennas.

Yeah, when it comes to antennas, size does matter.

But, that doesn't mean you can't get a good antenna in a smaller size. With radio, the key factor is wavelength, and how closely the antenna comes to specific factors of that wavelength. Ideally, you'll get the best performance from a full wavelength antenna. Unfortunately, when you get down to the 27mhz frequencies of CB radio, that full wavelength is almost 40 feet. So, instead, we try for resonant fractions of that wavelength, such as the old 9 foot stainless steel whip, which is a 1/4 wave antenna. But, what if you took that 9 foot whip and made it into a shorter spiral? Still 9 feet of conductor, but now shorter? That's the principle behind the 2, 3 and 4 foot fiberglass antennas. You get 1/4 wave performance, or even 1/2 and 5/8 wave, by wrapping the wire of the antenna around a fiberglass blank, making the antenna long enough electrically, but shorter physically. (I'll discuss top, center and base loading later on if anyone is interested) This actually works pretty well, giving you close to the performance of a straight wire antenna of that particular length, but in a compact package.

On my GMC, even though the radio is 100% stock, not even "tweaked", I get excellent performance due to the combination of antenna size and placement (full wave, top loaded 36" whips on dual mirror mounts) and a top notch amplified "power" mike.

[bradrhale]

however, those fiberglass antennas that have wrapped cable have been known to have the wire breakor break in two on that stick over time rendering the antenna useless. those 9' whips dont break like that or when they do, you know they are broke. in other words, there are pros and cons against each.

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by bradrhale

however, those fiberglass antennas that have wrapped cable have been known to have the wire breakor break in two on that stick over time rendering the antenna useless. those 9' whips dont break like that or when they do, you know they are broke. in other words, there are pros and cons against each.

Yep, there sure are, just like anything else in life.

[lukasmcdukas]

i dont know a whole lot about em, i just know enough to know that the range i get from mine sucks compared to similar setups... im interested in learning more about it. a buddy of mine gets anywhere from 20 to 30 miles of range on a good clear day out of his, and he's got the same equipment i have... yet im lucky if i get half a mile of range! whats up?

[Crmzendrgone]

I am in the same boat as you mcdukas I can't seem to get out on mine and whatever is coming in is real faint or static. OH CB GODS HELP US!

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by lukasmcdukas

i dont know a whole lot about em, i just know enough to know that the range i get from mine sucks compared to similar setups... im interested in learning more about it. a buddy of mine gets anywhere from 20 to 30 miles of range on a good clear day out of his, and he's got the same equipment i have... yet im lucky if i get half a mile of range! whats up?

Could be a lot of things... Same radio and antenna? Same vehicle?

Things that affect range include:

• Antenna placement and tuning
• Bad coax
• Radio condition (could have blown the radio)
• Modulation levels

I'd start by getting an SWR meter and using it to tune the antenna, and also check the RF output on the radio. If the RF output is good, and the antenna is properly tuned you should have no problems getting out. Antenna placement on the vehicle is important though, and can seriously affect range. As a general rule of thumb you want the antenna as high as possible on the vehicle, and as close to the center as possible. That's with a single antenna. Duals (called co-phased) require different setups.

The body of the vehicle is actually part of the antenna system, serving as a kind of reflector (called the ground plane) for the radiated signal. (Note, with nonmetallic vehicles, such as fiberglass or carbon fiber bodies, a "no ground plane" antenna is required) The antenna placement on the vehicle affects the way the signal is radiated, tending to go further along the lines of the vehicle. For example, with the antenna centered on the roof of a car the signal will be stronger to the front and rear, but weaker to the sides. Put the antenna on the trunk and now the strongest signal is directly forward, and weak to the rear and sides.

If you ever get down around my area I'd be happy to help you get it setup. Or, maybe at the get together next year if we manage to do it.

[lukasmcdukas]

well my radio is spankin new, but the antenna its wired to could use an update... plus, my uncle mounted it IN the bed of the truck, so moving it to the center of the roof would probably help a ton. i used it when i helped a friend move (driving from Broadalbin, NY to Kittery, ME). she said i came in loud and clear for up to a mile when i passed her, but when she passed me back, i was literally INCHES from her rear bumper and she couldnt hear a word i said.

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by lukasmcdukas

well my radio is spankin new, but the antenna its wired to could use an update... plus, my uncle mounted it IN the bed of the truck, so moving it to the center of the roof would probably help a ton. i used it when i helped a friend move (driving from Broadalbin, NY to Kittery, ME). she said i came in loud and clear for up to a mile when i passed her, but when she passed me back, i was literally INCHES from her rear bumper and she couldnt hear a word i said.

Think about it... With the antenna inside the bed you have your basic steel box surrounding it. Most likely the only signal radiating outside the box was from the last few inches of the antenna that stuck over the box. From the back and sides that allowed some signal to get out, but from the front it's got the cab and engine blocking it.

Also, don't get your hopes up too high about moving the antenna to the roof and solving all the problems. It's very likely that the SWR was so high sitting in the bed that it blew the final transistor in the signal amplifier. You'll still transmit, but it won't get much power (about 100 mw) if that happened.

A good radio shop or licensed tech could fix that, but the cost would be about $50, which is equal to the cost of some of the lower end radios, like my Cobra 19 ($45)