The CB thread
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
Clarifications
when I said Ground Plane, I did not mean electrically grounding the antenna to something. It has more to do with antenna theory.
A little bit of reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_plane
Large, flat metal surfaces are best. Hood, roof, you get it. Tubular items such as headache racks and lumber racks are poor ground planes.
Hope that clarifies my comments.
73 de Ray - AG6TH
A little bit of reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_plane
Large, flat metal surfaces are best. Hood, roof, you get it. Tubular items such as headache racks and lumber racks are poor ground planes.
Hope that clarifies my comments.
73 de Ray - AG6TH
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
My SWRs keep changing themselves!!!!!!!!!!!
Ive got my cobra 29ltd classic hooked up to my 4ft mag mount stuck in the middle of my roof. I run the coax through the roof over the headliner. the extra gets pushed up in the headliner.
I had my swrs almost as good as it gets, highest reading under 1.5 on all channels. I was very pleased. now I haven't touched a dang thing since then and now theyre through the roof! lowest reading is 2.5 on channel 40...
I tried pulling the coax out of the roof and putting the antenna all over the truck just to see if I could find a spot that would create some lower readings, I couldn't...
why would this happen all of a sudden?
Ive got my cobra 29ltd classic hooked up to my 4ft mag mount stuck in the middle of my roof. I run the coax through the roof over the headliner. the extra gets pushed up in the headliner.
I had my swrs almost as good as it gets, highest reading under 1.5 on all channels. I was very pleased. now I haven't touched a dang thing since then and now theyre through the roof! lowest reading is 2.5 on channel 40...
I tried pulling the coax out of the roof and putting the antenna all over the truck just to see if I could find a spot that would create some lower readings, I couldn't...
why would this happen all of a sudden?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
What?!?
Well, sounds like the mount or coax might be going away.
Place it on a surface, get a baseline SWR reading, then move the coax around just a bit. See if the SWR changes.
Mag mounts and coax exposed to the elements usually don't last long.
Place it on a surface, get a baseline SWR reading, then move the coax around just a bit. See if the SWR changes.
Mag mounts and coax exposed to the elements usually don't last long.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
is it possible that the surroundings can change swr readings? I don't know much on tuning, just that high is bad and low is good and a bit more.
it occurred to me that ive never had the truck where it is right now, (underneath our tower and next to our steel shed)... obviously that changes signal reflection and what not but would it put the swrs up like this?
it occurred to me that ive never had the truck where it is right now, (underneath our tower and next to our steel shed)... obviously that changes signal reflection and what not but would it put the swrs up like this?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
Huh?
is it possible that the surroundings can change swr readings? I don't know much on tuning, just that high is bad and low is good and a bit more.
it occurred to me that ive never had the truck where it is right now, (underneath our tower and next to our steel shed)... obviously that changes signal reflection and what not but would it put the swrs up like this?
it occurred to me that ive never had the truck where it is right now, (underneath our tower and next to our steel shed)... obviously that changes signal reflection and what not but would it put the swrs up like this?
When you check SWR, make sure the doors are closed and nobody is standing outside when you do your checks.
Hope this helps.
73 de Ray AG6TH
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
K40 V Lil Wil v road pro
having trouble deciding on what antenna I should buy. ive split between these 3
A) the k40
K40 35" Magnet Mount Stainless Steel CB Antenna, 300 Watts - K40
B) the lil wil
Wilson "Little Wil" Magnet Mount CB Antenna Kit, Boxed - Wilson
C) road pro
RoadPro - 36" Magnet Mount CB Antenna Kit #RP-707
I like the k40, made in USA!
Wilson is of course the big wig,
the road pro unit is a little cheaper, and has a spring.
all 3 are in the "Road Pro Family"
I like springs for driving under trees, but is it a quality antenna?
id rather have something that will last and perform the best and can brag about than just say, "oh its just some cheap POS I bought"
OPINIONS AND EXPIREINCES ARE WANTED! good bad or otherwise... which one?
A) the k40
K40 35" Magnet Mount Stainless Steel CB Antenna, 300 Watts - K40
B) the lil wil
Wilson "Little Wil" Magnet Mount CB Antenna Kit, Boxed - Wilson
C) road pro
RoadPro - 36" Magnet Mount CB Antenna Kit #RP-707
I like the k40, made in USA!
Wilson is of course the big wig,
the road pro unit is a little cheaper, and has a spring.
all 3 are in the "Road Pro Family"
I like springs for driving under trees, but is it a quality antenna?
id rather have something that will last and perform the best and can brag about than just say, "oh its just some cheap POS I bought"
OPINIONS AND EXPIREINCES ARE WANTED! good bad or otherwise... which one?
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New User
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I have ran 6-8 Lil Wil's and they will talk great and last a long time with a radio by itself or a small box in the 75-125 watt range.
The coax Will Not take getting the door shut on it so would be coming through the gromets. The magnet holds great will put with 'some' limbs and stuff ok.
I haven't ran the others but have herd the K40's were very good at one time.
Best of luck, FB
The coax Will Not take getting the door shut on it so would be coming through the gromets. The magnet holds great will put with 'some' limbs and stuff ok.
I haven't ran the others but have herd the K40's were very good at one time.
Best of luck, FB
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
My 0.02 USD worth . . .
I'll suggest you go with the K40. Good antenna according to the reviews.
The Lil Will isn't bad, either, although it isn't tolerant of big branches.
The Lil Will isn't bad, either, although it isn't tolerant of big branches.
Last edited by raystankewitz; Sep 17, 2013 at 05:33 PM. Reason: hit post instead of review.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,080
Likes: 5
From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
Currently still working on the set ups in a few of our trucks.
One is a Cobra 18 series mounted under the ash tray of my 88 F150. Still have to hook it up. Going to get a stock antenna and mount it on the drivers side so it looks stock.
2 is a cobra 19 or 50 series mounted under the dash of the 84 B2 of my brothers. Still need to hook up a antenna and going to do the same again.
3 is the same as the B2 has mounted under the ash tray on the 89 F350 of my other brothers. Once again doing the same set up as the 2 above. Only plan using them to communicate with my brothers while we are driving together or doing a job.
4 is a portable one that is in the 02 F250 right now but probably going to be put in the 89 F250 so my dad can communicate with us (he doesn't want a rigid one).
Trav
One is a Cobra 18 series mounted under the ash tray of my 88 F150. Still have to hook it up. Going to get a stock antenna and mount it on the drivers side so it looks stock.
2 is a cobra 19 or 50 series mounted under the dash of the 84 B2 of my brothers. Still need to hook up a antenna and going to do the same again.
3 is the same as the B2 has mounted under the ash tray on the 89 F350 of my other brothers. Once again doing the same set up as the 2 above. Only plan using them to communicate with my brothers while we are driving together or doing a job.
4 is a portable one that is in the 02 F250 right now but probably going to be put in the 89 F250 so my dad can communicate with us (he doesn't want a rigid one).
Trav
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