CB FireStik II antenna length

[Miguelon]

Rules of antenna sizing:

1. Don't have more than one unless you want to look like a douche.

2. Size matters. :bigok:

I guess us HAM guys who run a CB also will have to settle for looking like a douche.

 

[snivilous]

HAM/UHF/VHF etc. aren't douchey, it's just the poser guys who run twin antennas for no reason and probably don't even have a CB.

 

[AirspeedX]

It looks like a lot of these antenna's aren't properly grounded.

Are you guys getting away with running the regular Firestik's, or are you also installing the no-ground plane antennas?

I'm half tempted to just use my old magnetic mount antenna on the middle of the roof and run the cable through the sunroof or door. It's very temporary, but it may work the best for the offroad trips.

However, for a more permanent installation, I'm liking the Diamond mounts for the hatch. The problem is that there really is no ground for the antenna.

 

[MStudt]

It looks like a lot of these antenna's aren't properly grounded.

Are you guys getting away with running the regular Firestik's, or are you also installing the no-ground plane antennas?

I'm half tempted to just use my old magnetic mount antenna on the middle of the roof and run the cable through the sunroof or door. It's very temporary, but it may work the best for the offroad trips.

However, for a more permanent installation, I'm liking the Diamond mounts for the hatch. The problem is that there really is no ground for the antenna.

Firestik and Firestik II are both ground plane antennas and they don't need to be grounded themselves. As long as your mount is grounded to the body they'll work just fine.

 

[AirspeedX]

Firestik and Firestik II are both ground plane antennas and they don't need to be grounded themselves. As long as your mount is grounded to the body they'll work just fine.

Thanks, I didn't realize that the mounts were being drilled into the body. For some reason I was picturing more of a clamp on mount. Makes sense.

Guess it's time to order up a 3' Stik and a Diamond 400 mount.

 

[Ol'Blue]

My .02. Firestick suck. If you are going to by that one spend another 20/30 bucks and get something that is going to get out there. I run a bottom load on a copper coil. It flexes like no other and takes a beating off road and never misses a beat. I have talked over 50 miles on a Cobra 29 tune nicely. If you are going to spend some money on a cheap set up it doesn't take much more to get something that is going to last 30 years. If you have anymore questions pm and I'll get you a number to a guy that will answer any question you can ever come up with.


Blue

 

[MStudt]

Thanks, I didn't realize that the mounts were being drilled into the body. For some reason I was picturing more of a clamp on mount. Makes sense.

Guess it's time to order up a 3' Stik and a Diamond 400 mount.

That mount will come with a thin piece of aluminum. There are 4 small set screws that hold it in place. Make sure you trim the aluminum to in between the two outer screws. Your outer screws are your grounding point, and need to have good contact with the body. Get a Firstik II since the tunable tip makes it a lot easier to tune. Also, make sure that around half the antenna is above the roof line for best reception.

 

[KidVermicious]

Is this for trail comm? Get a Little Wil magnetic base and run with it. IMO a big CB antenna hanging off the side of your truck just advertises to all the meth heads that you've got something in there they can pawn.

 

[IAmTodd]

I have a 2ft Firestick no ground plane antenna mounted on my roof rack. It has the tuning screw on the end and works great on the trail.

http://www.amazon.com/FireStik-FG26...&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=firestick+ground+plane

 

[MStudt]

You could also look into a Cobra Roadtrip. It's a handheld radio and magnetic base. The handheld radio works great alone, and you can connect it to the external antenna for add range.

 

[KidVermicious]

I have a Roadtrip, it's huge. I like my Midland I like much better as a portable CB, or Cobra makes another that is much smaller too.

Either way it's a good concept. There was another CB thread a bit ago where we talked about this, I think too much CB is a waste. They're good cheap trail comm, but if you need range, you should get a HAM license.

 

[MStudt]

I have a Roadtrip, it's huge. I like my Midland I like much better as a portable CB, or Cobra makes another that is much smaller too.

Either way it's a good concept. There was another CB thread a bit ago where we talked about this, I think too much CB is a waste. They're good cheap trail comm, but if you need range, you should get a HAM license.

What Midland do you have? We take this with us backpacking as well when the weather could get sketchy. I like it because of the weather radio feature.

 

[KidVermicious]

I have the 75-822. Even with the battery pack it's smaller than the Roadtrip, but with the 12v adapter base it's much smaller.

It costs more though because it doesn't come with it's own antenna like the Roadtrip.

 

[MStudt]

I have the 75-822. Even with the battery pack it's smaller than the Roadtrip, but with the 12v adapter base it's much smaller.

It costs more though because it doesn't come with it's own antenna like the Roadtrip.

I know what I'm getting for the Rover now! Or maybe I'll get it for the 4runner and move the Roadtrip over.

 

[fourwd1]

Rules of antenna sizing:

1. Don't have more than one unless you want to look like a douche.

2. Size matters. :bigok:

Correct. A full size quarter-wave antenna at CB frequency is 9 feet. As it is made shorter, it becomes less and less efficient.

And unless you drive a semi, dual antennas are a total waste.