Dual antenna look symmetrical, but they can actually severely reduce output by cancellation or somesuch. Weird huh?

 

Which is why, I've heard, that often antenna #2 is just for looks - not hooked up. Is it correct that if it's not hooked into the CB, then it won't significantly impact range?

 

That I couldn't say, would not be surprising.

 

The 8'+ whip is the most effective and most fun in drive-through's, if it hits the bridge so what, I haven't ever hurt one regardless of how hard it hits.... The garage door did do bad things to mine and didn't really didn't do the door a lot of good either. . Even if you don't have a radio the big whip is a blast going through a drive-through, The person behind the window tends to have some entertaining reactions to it hitting the window overhang. . So far the majority of my CB experience has been with Cobra 29 series radios and the only real complaint I have with them is the occasional broken mike wire.