CB Antennas
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From: St. Peter
CB Antennas
Hey, WXboy, how do those firesticks work? Where'd you get them and how much? I'm looking at getting some 4 foot whips for my truck, and i was wondering where the best place to mount them is. I have an access cover, which covers up the bed, but leaves access to the stake pocket holes. I was wondering if there are any stake pocket antenna mounts avalible, and where i would be able to find them?
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From: King William, VA
I know im not the one ur looking for but I do have a stake pocket antenna mount on my ranger. I got mine on ebay for like 12 dollars. But if u do it that way u will have to buy coax cable because it doesnt come with the mount. The mounts are made by firestik. They have ones that come strait out of the pockets or others that come out over the bed allowing for a camper shell to be mounted. So its ur choice
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From: St. Peter
Hey, thanks for the info, i am looking for other peoples opinions also. I just saw in wxboy's signature that he has the firesticks, so if anyone else hasexperience with them, let me know how they work
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No experience with CB, but I had a 2-meter Firestick antenna and the SWR was HORRIBLE. Could never get it below 2.5:1. Replaced it with a Wilson antenna and was right down to 1:1 SWR.
If you do get one, put a spring on it. When mine hit trees, I thought the mount would tear the sheetmetal off the truck!
If you do get one, put a spring on it. When mine hit trees, I thought the mount would tear the sheetmetal off the truck!
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From: Upper Peninsula of Michigan
You might want to consider a single antenna. If you put two antennas on a small truck it warps the transmit pattern due to the antennas being too close together. The dual antenna system is meant to be used on semis where you can space them a quarter wave length (of the frequency you TX on) apart. If you really like the dual look then go for it, but if performance is your goal you may want to go with a wilson, k-40, or a quarter wave whip.
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From: Central KY
Re: CB Antennas
Originally posted by Peter94
Hey, WXboy, how do those firesticks work? Where'd you get them and how much? I'm looking at getting some 4 foot whips for my truck, and i was wondering where the best place to mount them is. I have an access cover, which covers up the bed, but leaves access to the stake pocket holes. I was wondering if there are any stake pocket antenna mounts avalible, and where i would be able to find them?
Hey, WXboy, how do those firesticks work? Where'd you get them and how much? I'm looking at getting some 4 foot whips for my truck, and i was wondering where the best place to mount them is. I have an access cover, which covers up the bed, but leaves access to the stake pocket holes. I was wondering if there are any stake pocket antenna mounts avalible, and where i would be able to find them?
Run one antenna. Dual antennas are not good on pickups and are hard to tune. I bought my radio at a Flying J truck stop. My antenna came from walcottcb.com in Iowa, and my mount came from alfenterprises.com in Wasington.
I can take pictures if you would like! Forget cell phones, I talk to my friends for free!
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From: St. Peter
Hey, thanks for the info so far, i do like the dual whips, but if it will kill my performance, then screw it. I just want it to perform, then i'll worry about the looks. I wonder where it would look good to just mount one. maybe on the back left stake pocket hole, or back right. I heard if its too close to the engine it will cause interference or somthing. I like that 2 footer.
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From: South...
Originally posted by brianjwilson
No experience with CB, but I had a 2-meter Firestick antenna and the SWR was HORRIBLE. Could never get it below 2.5:1. Replaced it with a Wilson antenna and was right down to 1:1 SWR.
If you do get one, put a spring on it. When mine hit trees, I thought the mount would tear the sheetmetal off the truck!
No experience with CB, but I had a 2-meter Firestick antenna and the SWR was HORRIBLE. Could never get it below 2.5:1. Replaced it with a Wilson antenna and was right down to 1:1 SWR.
If you do get one, put a spring on it. When mine hit trees, I thought the mount would tear the sheetmetal off the truck!
I just bought a CB for my Ranger - the first CB I've messed with in 20+ years. It seems like back in the 70's & 80's when my Uncle mounted his antenna, he used a portable meter of some sort to "dial in" the SWR or SNR or whatever that is.
Can you (or anyone else) tell me how to go about that for the best signal?
Thanks,
Scott
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Some CBs have a built in SWR meter. The Cobra 29 does, but I didn't like how big it is so I went with the Cobra 25. I bought a serparate SWR meter from RadioShack for $19.95. Instructions for using it will be in the box, and it's very simple. It's a must-have item if you own a CB radio. Good luck!
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Nice setup on the CD WXboy...
Makes me want to take of my camper just to mount my 3' wilson and my old President radio again
The previous owner of the truck just had an inverted L-bracket bolted in the bed, which saved me alot of trouble with my truck!
Makes me want to take of my camper just to mount my 3' wilson and my old President radio again
The previous owner of the truck just had an inverted L-bracket bolted in the bed, which saved me alot of trouble with my truck!
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Firestik's website (firestik.com) should give you some basic info on SWR (Standing Wave Ratio), and how to tune your antenna. On mine (as with most amatuer antenna's), I had to trim some off the top of the antenna to get it close to being tuned. Most of the CB's have a little **** in the top that allows you to tune the antenna by screwing it in or out.
With my 2-meter antenna, I mounted it on the driver's side fender, could run out and take pics if you'd like. Hood and fender are grounded, makes a decent ground plane. I have a Wilson 2m/440 amateur antenna mounted on an NMO mount on the opposite side of the hood, with an L-bracket. Let me know if you want pictures
Brian
With my 2-meter antenna, I mounted it on the driver's side fender, could run out and take pics if you'd like. Hood and fender are grounded, makes a decent ground plane. I have a Wilson 2m/440 amateur antenna mounted on an NMO mount on the opposite side of the hood, with an L-bracket. Let me know if you want pictures
Brian
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