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Jun 2, 2015 | 11:09 PM

#16

hasteranger

Lead Driver

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 5,250

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From: West Virginia

I know very little about them, I've just always heard (and read in cb books) that the more somewhat flat metal you can get under an antenna and the least metal around it horizontally, the better. So vans and suvs with metal roofs do best with it on the roof, and old town cars and crown vics with a huge trunk do well with them in the center of the trunk. My understanding is that if cb performance were the only consideration, we would almost always use the middle of the roof. Of course there are other factors like overall height and aesthetics and unwillingness to drill holes that intervene.

Jun 2, 2015 | 11:45 PM

#17

Stewart_H

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 29,380

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From: Central Coast of CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene Horr

This is a simplification but think of any metal next to the antenna absorbing signal and any metal underneath distorting the pattern. So by placing it on top of the roof you have the least amount of loss and by placing it in the center you distort the signal pattern the least.

Thanks, Gene. Forgot to post that I repped you for this.

Stewart

Jun 9, 2015 | 09:00 PM

#18

ScaldedDog

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 1,461

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From: Sedalia, CO

Here's where I put mine years ago, and it's still there. 2' antennas are impossible to tune well that close to the A-pillar. I've got a 4' one now, and it's marginally better.

Mark

Jun 10, 2015 | 10:30 AM

#19

mats027.3

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From: granite iowa

I still havn't mounted mine.. ugh I don't want to mount it on the rear bumper and have it slapping the barn door /glass or taillamp. definitely don't want a hole in the roof and I don't care to have a cable hanging down the side of my truck with a magnetic mount to roof.. So the cowl mount is more or less the only viable option unless I attached it to the front bumper(thunderstruck bumper)

Jun 10, 2015 | 03:23 PM

#20

LivingLarge

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Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 26,410

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From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

If you install a mag mount on the roof just before the 3rd brake light you will only have 3 inches of cable showing. That will work much better if you are looking for any type of performance. The cowl setup is nice but it sucks as far as actually working. Just my .02

Jun 10, 2015 | 04:29 PM

#21

mats027.3

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Joined: Mar 2015

Posts: 27

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From: granite iowa

That's true. I could just do that an run the cable between the seals and yeah unless I want to run a super tall antenna at the cowl its gonna be hard even at that to get good clean signal.. im totally new to this and bought a newer cb with firestick antenna/ cable for $10 at a swap meet which works but I need to get it mounted.. actually I need to pull the rear hatch glass and reseal that .. leaking water... ugh.. just did ball joints not fun but not horrible either. thanks for all the input everyone.