I know your looking for the tool box mount but just wanted to show you how i mounted my dual firesticks paint white to match the truck, good luck.

 

HF radio antennas will loose up to 3dB gain when they are painted. I wouldn't advise painting them unless your willing to sacrifice some signal for appearance.

 

As always ReAX, appreciate your input, your a great asset around here.. This radio i got from a friend and its pretty hot. I can get out pretty far, maybe 5 miles or so and can hear for maybe 7 to 8 miles. Asked other truckers what mile markers they were at of course.

 

I only mentioned it because 3dB is a very significant change. By theory with unpainted mast you could talk 10 miles. Every 3dB takes twice the power to produce. Say you have 100 watts output, if you can pick up 3dB gain from the antenna it will talk like you have 200 watts. Conversely if you have 200 watts and you loose 3dB in the antenna it will only produce the effect of 100 watts.

 

I see what your saying. Just for the heck of it, how would i go about testing my output on this setup?? Would a portable 41 range multimeter do it??

 

I think you would need an oscilloscope and another antenna.

 

Well the chances of me getting a hold of one of them. I got a CB shop down the road a bit, maybe they can run the test for me just to see where i,m at. Thanks ReAX for your time.

 

Your welcome.

Also check with any really high end car stereo shops. Most stereo shops will not have a use for an oscilloscope, but some shops will use them.

Thinking about it and I am not sure if this will even work. You can try another antenna placed at least 37 feet away from your truck, with a power/SWR meter on backwards. You will need a ground plane or Dipole antenna and something at the other end of the meter, maybe a florescent bulb.

Distance is critical. CB broadcast over the 11 meter band and takes roughly 37 feet for a full wave to form, which is why it sounds garbled when your next to someone transmitting. The oscilloscope should show the amplitude, but amplitude is also voltage when it's traveling in conductor, so a power meter or if you can figure out the math a DMM could give you the basic information.

 

im running a setup similar to what ur looking for there is some pics in my gallery but they dont show it to good! ive got a toolbox from tractor supply with a rack that is welded around the top of it that i mounted the antennas too

 

Anyone looking for a Cobra 29 LTD Classic? Let me know. I have one that has been tuned. It has a talk back and roger beep installed.

 

I mounted two on my tool box....I used a mirror bracket and just drilled 4 holes in the tool box. It works pretty good and looks awesome!