CB Antenna
Senior User
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 103
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CB Antenna
I'm running a set of twin , 48 inch, vinyl covered whips I bought From a Navistar Dealership (where I work) they're mounted on the front of my tool box. I get very good reception, and can really get out. using my signal meter, I noticed that I do put out a little less signal towards the front of the cab. I'm using a Cobra 40X, with a 100 watt power amp.
New User
Joined: May 2000
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CB Antenna
I AM TRYING TO PUT A 3000 WATT LINEAR IN A 94 RANGER X-CAB. I HAVE TRIED TO PUT A SECOND ALTANTOR IN BUT DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM UNDER TO HOOD. SHOULD I PUT A SECOND BATTERY AND RUN THEM IN PARALLEL, WILL THIS WORK AS THE SAME AS A SECOND ALTANTOR. DOES ANY KNOW WHERE I CAN GET A BIGGER ALTANTOR? PLEASE HELP, ALL WILL BE CONSIDERED.....
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 396
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CB Antenna
Why are you trying to put that much into a mobile??!! PCMs and other electronics don't like that much RFI!! I run a Galaxy 88HL with a Palamar TX250 on a Wilson 1000 magnent mount on the roof of my '88 F150, and I've talked all over on that. Virginia, Oklahoma, Washington.... My SWR is about 1.2 - 1.3. By the way, a 1:1 ratio like mentioned above is impossible without destroying radios, too much reflected back while tx-ing. I've tried many different antannas, and I've found Wilson to be the best. The fiberglass style I've found picks up too much noise on my '86 Ranger and the Wilson's coil is more resistant to the noise.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 335
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From: Hutto 20 mi. above Austin USA
CB Antenna
I didn't read all of the messages posted here, so I hope I'm not repeating anything, but I saw a really cool setup just the other day. Some guy had an '84 short bed, with a long whip in one of his stake bed holes. It was mounted on some sort of home made track, so it could slide down really deep into the hole. I don't know how having it slide down would help him though, maybe for drive-in car washes, or 500mph. passes? :-)
Good luck
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300" T18 4speed
Blue & Silver
Good luck
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300" T18 4speed
Blue & Silver
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: Hutto 20 mi. above Austin USA
CB Antenna
I didn't read all of the messages posted here, so I hope I'm not repeating anything, but I saw a really cool setup just the other day. Some guy had an '84 short bed, with a long whip in one of his stake bed holes. It was mounted on some sort of home made track, so it could slide down really deep into the hole. I don't know how having it slide down would help him though, maybe for drive-in car washes, or 500mph. passes? :-)
Good luck
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300" T18 4speed
Blue & Silver
Good luck
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300" T18 4speed
Blue & Silver
New User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
CB Antenna
OK, want more electrons? A spare battery with an aftermarket battery switch is a good start. An RV shop will have ready-made battery transfer switches to help.
Bigger, Badder, Better? An alternator can be upgraded, again with the use of a good RV or off-road shop. It's not cheap; expect a rebuild or purchase price of up to 50% more than stock. Ask around; use a shop that the local garages recommend for rebuilding. The off the shelf upgrade would be better, the magnet and stator is made bigger for the increased windage and power output. They will be bigger, too. That's not usually a problem with our trucks.
The Best: Both. Go to that offroad or RV shop, replace your little alternator with a better one, and install the second battery. When you install that second battery, install an outlet under the hood for quick hook-up for jumpstarts and charging!
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Bigger, Badder, Better? An alternator can be upgraded, again with the use of a good RV or off-road shop. It's not cheap; expect a rebuild or purchase price of up to 50% more than stock. Ask around; use a shop that the local garages recommend for rebuilding. The off the shelf upgrade would be better, the magnet and stator is made bigger for the increased windage and power output. They will be bigger, too. That's not usually a problem with our trucks.
The Best: Both. Go to that offroad or RV shop, replace your little alternator with a better one, and install the second battery. When you install that second battery, install an outlet under the hood for quick hook-up for jumpstarts and charging!
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Senior User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 296
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CB Antenna
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 05-Jun-00 AT 12:44 PM (EST)[/font][p]The ANSI has suggested that an antenna putting out 1500watts be at least 100feet away from people. Putting out 3000watts with the antenna within 10feet of you is bad. Id hate to be in your truck when your using your CB. If I remember right its also very illegal to put out more then 10watts on CB AM and something like 100watts on SSB. Ham radio's get around the world with less then 5watts, I've done it, although they can legally put out 2000 on most bands. What do you need with all the power? Are you trying to cook yourself from the inside out? just be glad it's on HF and not VHF, UHF or microwave. You'd be dead in 5min.
If you do go ahead with it, get some metal screen and build a cage for your PCM and ground that cage the the chassis. Solder all the cage edges together, that will help sheild your PCM. Also get some bead baluns to go around all your wires to and from the pcm. Put them as close to the PCM as you can.
Good Luck
If you do go ahead with it, get some metal screen and build a cage for your PCM and ground that cage the the chassis. Solder all the cage edges together, that will help sheild your PCM. Also get some bead baluns to go around all your wires to and from the pcm. Put them as close to the PCM as you can.
Good Luck
New User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 16
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CB Antenna
I would be very surprized if the intention wasn't for 300 watts. This is a very popular string, it's been alive for a year, now.
Paint curls before 3000 watts, doesn't it?
Paint curls before 3000 watts, doesn't it?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,100
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From: Durham
CB Antenna
Wow, and I thought this thread would have died a long time ago. I purchased a fiberglass Firestix with a Valco Electronic mount that mounts on my truck bed and works with my hard tonneau cover. It works and looks great!!
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
New User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 16
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CB Antenna
See how ya are---
troublemaker!
I still like my 102" stainless steel whip; it goes real well with my "DIE YUPPIE SCUM" bumper sticker. I hit Canada, Montanna, and depending on the skip-New York, from Nevada. That's barefoot, albeit freeband.
Now let's see if we can cut this thread. I claim it duly dead and well horsewhipped.
Kevin
troublemaker!
I still like my 102" stainless steel whip; it goes real well with my "DIE YUPPIE SCUM" bumper sticker. I hit Canada, Montanna, and depending on the skip-New York, from Nevada. That's barefoot, albeit freeband.
Now let's see if we can cut this thread. I claim it duly dead and well horsewhipped.
Kevin
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 60
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CB Antenna
If your serious about cbs a whip or wilson is the way to go. Performance wise they are about the same. Most people prefer the Wilson because of the magna mount but I like the good looks of a whip. It will really make you truck stand out. I run a SuperStar 121 with whip and 600 watt linear, of course I dont transmit with the linear so I dont get into any trouble.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 931
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From: Stanton, Suffolk England
CB Antenna
how about a mirror mount. also depending on the year of your truck it should have a hole with a plastic plug in the roof that works excellent for that. My 90 did as did a buddy of mines 91. I am not sure if my 86 CC does or not (haven't looked) hope this helps.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,504
Likes: 1
From: Texas
CB Antenna
Have you doen your antenna's yet? I put mine behind the cab and mounted them to the front bed railing. I just drillet four holes in the inside face of the bed rail and mounted my dual 3' firesticks right there behind the cab. I ran my wires out through a grommet in the floor of the truck under the seat. Hope this helps if you haven't already done it.
1988 F-150 Custom to XLT Lariat conversion, 5.0 EFI (formerly 300 I6), 5-speed M5OD, 3.08 rear gears (will be upgraded to 3.55's), Summit headers, Flowmaster muffler W/ dual 3.5" tips 24" long.
Pioneer CD, AC, Tilt, Cruise, Mobile Radio, Lightbar (Force 4 LP6000), Federal Signal PA300 Siren W/100W Siren Speaker. Caution Customizing in progress, Watch for flying tools & Parts!
1988 F-150 Custom to XLT Lariat conversion, 5.0 EFI (formerly 300 I6), 5-speed M5OD, 3.08 rear gears (will be upgraded to 3.55's), Summit headers, Flowmaster muffler W/ dual 3.5" tips 24" long.
Pioneer CD, AC, Tilt, Cruise, Mobile Radio, Lightbar (Force 4 LP6000), Federal Signal PA300 Siren W/100W Siren Speaker. Caution Customizing in progress, Watch for flying tools & Parts!
New User
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6
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CB Antenna
Are right you guys had your say NOW let the masters take over. One, a magnet mount works good for just a cb radio. Now if you start running power you will need to step up to a screw mount. Whip turn to SH** when you start to run power though them (try running about 5000watts though one and watch what happens). Now to place your magnet or screw mount (the higher the better) I have mounted my screw mount on a bracket that comes out of the bed of the truck. If you have any questions ask them and I will answer. Just to let you know I am running about 4500 watts on my step up. I run on ch 36, give me a shoot out (#325). '73ssss and for you guy that don't know what that means ((BYE BYE))