Just wondering what people have done for a cb antenna that would look good on my 78 f150. Any pics of em please post em. Im not big on whips because every 90's chevy has them. Thanks!

 

Dual ones, on the door mirrors I always thought looked good. (one each side) Ya know they are about 3' tall and usually white and sometimes black. sorry no pic.

 

For best performance, you need to drill a hole right in the center of your roof, and put the antenna there. However I do not like this idea at all. A magnet mount in the same location is the second best thing.

For best mounted antenna with no modification, a factory AM/FM/CB antenna, or a replica of the factory AM/FM/CB antenna will work. But performance will be reduced due to the relationship of the antenna and cab.

Radio Shack used to make a Ford replica AM/FM/CB antenna, but not sure if they still do or not.

edit:

Dual ones on the door mirrors, or drip rail "gutter" mounts, look good too, I'll admit, however the width of the cab is too narrow for those to be tuned properly with each other, IMO. The two antennas can cancel each other out, if not properly spaced and tuned. Works good on a semi, but not so well on a pickup, in my opinion.

 

Agreed, but that three footer on each mirror looks real sharp, gives it that big rig look!

 

Now when your talking antennas do u mean like a whip antenna black or white?

 

I didn't realize anyone used cb's anymore.

 

most of my buddies just have the cb whips just for looks, no coax or radio. but i got the real deal-i figured just putting the whips on with no cb is like putting a lift on your truck with stock tires. hardly ever use it, but i hear some 4wheel places like you to have them and you can all talk to eachother.

 

Wilson antenna mounted as specified on the Wilson mounting page


I've the T-5000 magnet mount in the #1 position, but that will change as it gets knocked off when OHV'ing.


The original position was a SW-2000 in the #6 position (as long as the coil is above the roof, this is a good location). I'd recommend a cb spring for any hard body mount.

 

I can assist here, the reason for two antennas is this when you co-phase antennas you get more gain in the forward and backwards directions, but only when separated by a 1/4 wavelength or more do you see results. So in 11m or CB 27.x mhz your looking at about 9ft, which is close enough to the width of your truck.

the reason this is important is when your on a CB your likely on a road, so it increases the distance you can talk "on the road"

as far as mounting on the roof ect thats very small change and likely isnt a care in the world. I say if you want to do it right mount it on the hood near the latch for best ground plane take off.

other things that matter are getting a good radio if you really want to do good go SSB radios.

try to get a longer antenna matched to the CB band
(math isn't perfect I just guessed in my head)
1/4 wave 9ft
3/8 wave ~13.5
1/2 wave 18

so ideally you want a 36 foot antenna not practical so if you can get a 1/2 wavelength better.. then 3/8

I personally don't like anything with traps or loading coils (as pictured) I personally say if you go longer antenna and then mount to the bumper for a few extra feet to make it more managable you get better propagation then you will with a coil or loaded antenna.

mounting on your antenna isnt that great as the ground plane is normally lifted because of the rubber bushings for the mirror flex. so ground your radio and antenna real good. body mounts are always better.

or just get a amature radio license

73 DE K7MHI

 

I know you said that you aren't big on whips and all, but I have a whip on my '76 and it is on a ball mount on the drivers side of my rear bumper. I get really good reception, probably around 25 miles before it starts getting fuzzy and breaking up.

 

well a whip is a matched antenna (so I like that personally)

a coil or loaded antenna is like the one pictured it will have a coil or large plastic thing with a coil inside it. same goes for the fiberglass "quick stick antennas" they however are a bit different and more in the whip less in the loaded.

if you want to improve your whip make sure the spring isn't that cheap chrome plated stuff, if so make sure that there is a good copper braid somehow insulated from the ground attached to your whip. ideally you dont want RF traveling over chrome or grundgy steel but again thats ideal which isnt always ideal.

you can also find out how much energy is actually going INTO your antenna by using what is called a SWR meter, normally they have two needles one for forward power and one for reverse power. Reverse is bad, it means your antenna stinks.

you want to have less then 3:1 ratio (that is less then 3x the power reflected then put forward)

so 10 watts forward with a 3:1 would be 3 watts wasted meaning you only have a 7 watt effective

watts = dbi which means better signal (not accounting for antenna gain etc)