View Poll Results: where should the antenna be mounted
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CB antenna
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 357
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From: Midwest Illinios
Originally Posted by kjg26
i have about 5 extra feet just piled up under the seat. could this be my problem?
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 507
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From: Alpharetta
if instead of coiling it up could i just run it up and down the bed a bit. run it back towards the rear bumper then make a u-turn and back to my antenna? or will i have to go buy a 15 ft cable instead of the 20?
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 37
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the 5 feet under your seat won't hurt you, typically absolute cable lenght only matter on the dual setup. where as if you have the big funky T connector, please if you can go to a cb shop and have a cable made proper tuned lengths. something for everyone to keep in the back of your mind when you put everything in. every connection that you put inbetween the cb and the ant (minus amps) will remove some part of your power and reception. ie the more small pieces of cable you joint with connectors the worse your signal typically is. 1 cable is always best, when you buy them in a package they are typically close to being tuned.
Yes that big T could be part of your problem. any of you guys that are really good, you can tune your radio from inside the radio. also bump up the power a little. same thing goes for you guys with amps. the amp doesn't always like 4-5 watts of input, sometimes the work better with 2-3 and the radio can be tuned internally to impedence match the amp for better sound quality and xmit/rcv power.
Yes that big T could be part of your problem. any of you guys that are really good, you can tune your radio from inside the radio. also bump up the power a little. same thing goes for you guys with amps. the amp doesn't always like 4-5 watts of input, sometimes the work better with 2-3 and the radio can be tuned internally to impedence match the amp for better sound quality and xmit/rcv power.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta
as of right now i have one single 20 ft RG58 cable running from the radio to the antenna and i can't get it tuned. not at all. what size wire should i use to ground my mount to the frame. it's on my tool box which attaches to the bed with 4 screws. doubt it has a good ground. i used a 16 gauge wire but i don't think thats nearly enough
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 1
From: Kingsport, TN
CB Tuning
It hasn't been specificlly mentioned,but, electrical length is important-to-critical.
Physical length and appearance is a matter of choice/taste. Most dual setups come with a dual cable ready to install. Many truck stops have a CB shop nearby - some, in the same building. Sometimes a shop will disconnect one antennae to tune the other "twin", connect it and disconnect the other, and tune it. Most will be adequate out of the box. Some CB's have an SWR meter so you can do it URself. Not much adjustment is needed. Some motorcycles use shielded coax lead-ins - with a speaker inside the helmet - it sounds like a machine gun going off when each cylinder fires.
Physical length and appearance is a matter of choice/taste. Most dual setups come with a dual cable ready to install. Many truck stops have a CB shop nearby - some, in the same building. Sometimes a shop will disconnect one antennae to tune the other "twin", connect it and disconnect the other, and tune it. Most will be adequate out of the box. Some CB's have an SWR meter so you can do it URself. Not much adjustment is needed. Some motorcycles use shielded coax lead-ins - with a speaker inside the helmet - it sounds like a machine gun going off when each cylinder fires.
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