Antenna relocation

[Ozpall]

This is the rubber antenna I installed, you could mount it just about anywhere in the vehicle, your snorkel would work with this in the stock location, no?

 

[DDabs]

@-Spike- great info, thank you

@Ozpall yes that would work with the snorkel

 

[lockd80]

My experience- I happen to live nearish to the Firestik manufacturer. A buddy of mine went and talked to the owner, who told my buddy that the Firestik is not the antenna to use in an application where the mount is not above the vehicle. They sell a top loaded antenna, called a Firefly, specifically for this. I went and talked to the owner as well, installed the Yotatech rear CB mount with the Firefly and the recommended hardware to go with it, and a splitter for the FM radio. The reception on both the CB and FM is amazing, many more miles from town for FM and the CB is actually useful with well over a mile of separation and no line of sight between vehicles. This setup way outperforms the stock FM antenna and every magnet mount CB antenna I ever used. SWR is 1.2:1, which is well within the preferred range. Also, the SWR did not change appreciably with the addition of the splitter. I couldn't be happier with the setup, and rarely use my MP3 library on the trail anymore.

I would also highly recommend a call to Firestik before purchasing anything, even from another vendor (like Amazon, which has some great deals). They can help you avoid buying the wrong stuff. All antennas are NOT equal, and each situation is unique.

According to their web sight all Firestik mobile fiberglass CB antennas are top loaded. The cheap ones (Firestik) do not have the tuning screw on top. Firestik2 and Firefly have a easily adjustable tuning nob on top and the firefly is a light weight design. Is there some other difference with the Firefly that makes it better?

I am running a splitter and a Firestick2 in the stock location with a homemade setup like Wagon Gears. SWR looks really good and the AM/FM is ok. The AM/FM was better when I was using a fender mount at the same location so I believe my issue is with the grounding of my current set up and not the splitter or antenna. I have not had the time to sort it out. Looks good tho! I kept breaking the stock AM/FM antennas in the woods and this works much better than a broken antenna.

 

[-Spike-]

I dunno, that's what I was told by the old guy. If it works for you, don't change a thing.