Bought my CB, Now What Antenna????

[the_josh]

i just bought a cobra 29 black chrome cb on amazon and i was looking at the antenna options on there and also firestik but then i started getting a headache cause i know nothing about cbs!! which antenna should i get and what mount and how the hell do i hook it all up and tune the thing? i was thinking maybe a 3foot pole that was mounted to my rear bumper gaurd, the tubing is round, i dont really care to have this gigantic antenna popping up 3 feet about my car


any thoughts??

 

[Clemsonfan15]

A lot of people have the Firestiks and most mount them on either the front or rear bumper.

 

[the_josh]

what else do you need besides the antenna?

 

[HB 4X4]

You can use the fire sticks but they don't get reception as well as a roof antenna. I use a Wilson5000 with a short load adapter. It unscrews from the magnet mount when I don't want it up there.

 

[mangus7175]

http://www.wilsonantenna.com/lilwil.htm

 

[BlairB]

Wilson 1000- the 5000 is great if you have CB's running more power then they are supposed to ( ) but the 1000 is perfect otherwise.

The thing that I like better on the 1000 than the Lil Wil is that the 1000 has a much larger base magnet and is much less likely to fall off at speeds/from tree branches etc...

 

[PaulSula]

for what it's worth, I have an antenna that mounted to my back window which was a good option for me because I didn't want to run any wires through the doors on the runner. Reception is about as good as could be expected with a CB.

Link to my install below.

http://toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26235

 

[fourwd1]

1) An antenna needs to be mounted on a flat surface area of metal. This is refered to as a groundplane, and acts as part of the antenna. Therefore a bumper is not the best place to mount it if you're looking for the best transmission/reception range.
The roof or trunk would be better.

Also, when mounted on a bumper some or all of the antenna will be blocked by the metal sides of the vehicle, which is also bad.

2) The shorter the antenns, the less efficient it is. So again, if your looking for max range, don't go short. And FYI, a full size 1/4 wave antenna at CB frequency is 108" long.


In addition to the antenna, you need a mount and some coax cable.

 

[Thai]

I know this sounds stupid, but what is the purpose of a CB?? Yeah, i know that it is good if everyone in the off-roading group has one. I guess that it is also good on lonely roads where you can chat with truckers. But, for me, it is somewhat cumbersome to have and, as stated above, can fall off with off-roading (from branches hitting antenna for example). And when you need to call for help, i wonder if a cell phone is a better option??

I have found little FRS radio (cheapo radios with frequency and subfrequency settings) to be quite good on the trails. It is of limited range, but we tend to stay in a group. Easy to carry, esp. when you have to leave your vehicle to give directions to another driver. No wires. Portable.

Just wondering. No criticism of Josh on this one.

 

[PaulSula]

I know this sounds stupid, but what is the purpose of a CB?? Yeah, i know that it is good if everyone in the off-roading group has one. I guess that it is also good on lonely roads where you can chat with truckers. But, for me, it is somewhat cumbersome to have and, as stated above, can fall off with off-roading (from branches hitting antenna for example). And when you need to call for help, i wonder if a cell phone is a better option??

I have found little FRS radio (cheapo radios with frequency and subfrequency settings) to be quite good on the trails. It is of limited range, but we tend to stay in a group. Easy to carry, esp. when you have to leave your vehicle to give directions to another driver. No wires. Portable.

Just wondering. No criticism of Josh on this one.

You pretty much nailed it Thai. I use mine to keep in touch when off-road and cell service is not available. Many ranger stations still monitor channel 9 for emergencies. I also like to talk w. truckers on long road trips! Call it a hobby inside a hobby.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

heep support only

We use 'em out here to alert Forest Service officials of yet another broken down Heep.


just messing with ya Thai buddy

many many parts of the backcountry have no cell phone towers within miles.

Ham radio with its' greater range does make a lot more sense for emergency purposes, but contacting New Zealand when I am broken down in CO seems like overkill to me....

the josh-congrats on your new to you Cobra.:biggrin2:

 

[Thai]

Re: heep support only

We use 'em out here to alert Forest Service officials of yet another broken down Heep.


just messing with ya Thai buddy

That is just wrong....

 

[Jordan Petry]

Thai, just today I was driving down I-70 when the semi in front of me began smoking tremendously. I instantly turned on the CB to ask what it was and he had lost his brakes. That was helpful to know so I could get as far away from him as possible. :bigok: I think he just down shifted to a stop, though.

 

[Thai]

Thai, just today I was driving down I-70 when the semi in front of me began smoking tremendously. I instantly turned on the CB to ask what it was and he had lost his brakes. That was helpful to know so I could get as far away from him as possible. :bigok: I think he just down shifted to a stop, though.

How do you know what channel he was on?? Is there a general trucker channel??

 

[Jordan Petry]

How do you know what channel he was on?? Is there a general trucker channel??

Yes, channel 19 is the general "trucker" channel. Pretty much every trucker has a CB and it is almost always on 19. I believe 24 is also an alternative trucker channel, but I never use it and it is generally quiet.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

39 devoted to jeeps only

39 is the jeep only channel.

broken down jeeps are on 38, running Jeeps are on 39....check it out there is no traffic on 39....


hehhheeeeee

honestly my best connection at the 4wd parts store is a big jeep guy.

I like em for what they are... fodder for my fine 4wd.

They have their place-like at the bottom of the hill-making a bridge in low spots so I can drive right over em crushing their rollcages in Nittos smoking and clawin


yar

 

[Thai]

Re: 39 devoted to jeeps only

39 is the jeep only channel.

broken down jeeps are on 38, running Jeeps are on 39....check it out there is no traffic on 39....


hehhheeeeee

honestly my best connection at the 4wd parts store is a big jeep guy.

I like em for what they are... fodder for my fine 4wd.

They have their place-like at the bottom of the hill-making a bridge in low spots so I can drive right over em crushing their rollcages in Nittos smoking and clawin


yar

And then you wake up to find your bed all wet....

 

[PaulSula]

Re: 39 devoted to jeeps only

39 is the jeep only channel.

broken down jeeps are on 38, running Jeeps are on 39....check it out there is no traffic on 39....

How did the wrangler guys decide on 39? We (4Runners) should choose a channel as well. I propose channel 40...because it's one better than "those jeep guys"!

 

[Ron Helmuth]

just making *&^% up

they don't have their own channel paul

I was just messing with Thai some more.

 

[PaulSula]

Re: just making *&^% up

they don't have their own channel paul

I was just messing with Thai some more.

oh...sarcasm doesn't translate well on a computer...:bash: