I am not an RF Engineer....but I like radios and will tel you what I know. Hopefully, it is correct...
What I mean is Performance as in Better coverage patterns and increased range. Antenna placement and type make a difference in both receive and transmit performance.
If all you are concerned about is trail communications where everyone is within a mile of each other...you will be happy with your setup the way it is.
However, on the highway, where I use mine often, your type of setup would result in reduced performance. Antennas use what is called a Ground Plane and if your antenna is at an angle, your radial RF Signal pattern will be too.
Bottom line, your antenna uses your vehicle as a Ground Plane structure. Your setup is firing more of its RF Signal in to the ground and the sky than it is parallel to the earth's surface. This will affect the distance you achieve front to rear of your vehicle. It will also narrow your side to side pattern as well.
Also, if you note the antenna I am using, it is Top Loaded Coil. This simply means that the tighter "wind" of the coil is near the top 1/3 of the antenna. This puts the RF Radiating Pattern up high above the roof line.
Both antenna placement and the top coil performance advantage CLEARLY yield better performance that is easily noticeable at range. Within 1 mile, it will not really matter.
Also, loaded coil antennas are a compromise when it comes to CB. You typically lose a few DB of unity gain through an loaded coil. A proper 1/4 wave CB Antenna would have a length of 102" ... which is the infamous steel whip antenna you may recall. In theory, these perform teh best ... but they are not really practical.
Again, none of this is an issue if you are just using it on the trail.
For me, performance is an issue since I use my radio to communicate great distances on the highway. It makes a difference in both receive and transmit performance, especially when you start getting out on the big roads.
Sorry for the long answer.
Rich
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(Wikipedia) GROUND PLANE - In telecommunications , a ground plane structure or relationship exists between the antenna and another object, where the only structure of the object is a structure which permits the antenna to function as such (e.g., forms a reflector or director for an antenna)
What I mean is Performance as in Better coverage patterns and increased range. Antenna placement and type make a difference in both receive and transmit performance.
If all you are concerned about is trail communications where everyone is within a mile of each other...you will be happy with your setup the way it is.
However, on the highway, where I use mine often, your type of setup would result in reduced performance. Antennas use what is called a Ground Plane and if your antenna is at an angle, your radial RF Signal pattern will be too.
Bottom line, your antenna uses your vehicle as a Ground Plane structure. Your setup is firing more of its RF Signal in to the ground and the sky than it is parallel to the earth's surface. This will affect the distance you achieve front to rear of your vehicle. It will also narrow your side to side pattern as well.
Also, if you note the antenna I am using, it is Top Loaded Coil. This simply means that the tighter "wind" of the coil is near the top 1/3 of the antenna. This puts the RF Radiating Pattern up high above the roof line.
Both antenna placement and the top coil performance advantage CLEARLY yield better performance that is easily noticeable at range. Within 1 mile, it will not really matter.
Also, loaded coil antennas are a compromise when it comes to CB. You typically lose a few DB of unity gain through an loaded coil. A proper 1/4 wave CB Antenna would have a length of 102" ... which is the infamous steel whip antenna you may recall. In theory, these perform teh best ... but they are not really practical.
Again, none of this is an issue if you are just using it on the trail.
For me, performance is an issue since I use my radio to communicate great distances on the highway. It makes a difference in both receive and transmit performance, especially when you start getting out on the big roads.
Sorry for the long answer.
Rich
--------
(Wikipedia) GROUND PLANE - In telecommunications , a ground plane structure or relationship exists between the antenna and another object, where the only structure of the object is a structure which permits the antenna to function as such (e.g., forms a reflector or director for an antenna)
