Side mount antenna??
- Thread starter jcaron
- Start date
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If the mount, spring and connector on the inside are in good shape and not corroded, then these can be an excellent mount radio-wise.
People tend to shy away from them nowadays because you have to cut a hole in the side of your truck to mount them. You're already over that hump. If there are any issues with the mount, etc, you can just pick up new parts and R&R the existing installation.
You didn't say if the mount had an antenna already on it. You'll want to make sure it's an antenna cut for CB freqs and check the SWR during the install in any case.
As far as the antenna, typically people put a quarterwave antenna on these. This is the real long one that is just a piece of stainless steel. Watch out for low overhead things if you run one of these. This is a very effective combination that can really help you get a good signal out, as the body of your vehicle provide a great ground.
If the antenna is mounted at one corner of your vehicle, as it often is, the maximum radiation pattern will be slightly offset, catty-corned to the opposite corner. If you're stationary and need maximum range, align those two corners of the vehicle toward the targetted direction for best range. You'll have good range no matter what with this setup, though.
Some want a shorter antenna and these can also mount easily on that exact same mount.
As for your CB/FM splitter, that should work fine with any of the setups above. Personally, I prefer separate antennas optimized to each radio, but that's just me.
People tend to shy away from them nowadays because you have to cut a hole in the side of your truck to mount them. You're already over that hump. If there are any issues with the mount, etc, you can just pick up new parts and R&R the existing installation.
You didn't say if the mount had an antenna already on it. You'll want to make sure it's an antenna cut for CB freqs and check the SWR during the install in any case.
As far as the antenna, typically people put a quarterwave antenna on these. This is the real long one that is just a piece of stainless steel. Watch out for low overhead things if you run one of these. This is a very effective combination that can really help you get a good signal out, as the body of your vehicle provide a great ground.
If the antenna is mounted at one corner of your vehicle, as it often is, the maximum radiation pattern will be slightly offset, catty-corned to the opposite corner. If you're stationary and need maximum range, align those two corners of the vehicle toward the targetted direction for best range. You'll have good range no matter what with this setup, though.
Some want a shorter antenna and these can also mount easily on that exact same mount.
As for your CB/FM splitter, that should work fine with any of the setups above. Personally, I prefer separate antennas optimized to each radio, but that's just me.
- Thread starter
- #3
The PO did tell me that he has the antenna still and will give it to me, but I am not sure what it is. Think its is a long one..unknown material. I was considering a 4 or 5 foot firestick type. First time with a CB, don't know which one I will end up with yet. Thanks for the reply, Jerry
Either way, you'll want to check the SWR unles he confirms the long one is for CB service. The long 1/4 wave should be good to go, just want to make sure that it's for CB.
The fire stick type is typically fibreglass. These will have a wire at the top covered by a plastic or rubber cap. Take that off and you'll see the end of the wire that's wound all the way up the antenna. Before cutting anything off, check with the SWR meter. It may actually be pretty close, as production standards are pretty good (compared to some of the stuff from the 70s.) You may be OK right out of the gate.
If not, then you clip SMALL pieces of the wire until getting the SWR down to 1.5 or less, the lower the better. You should make sure that the ball mount has no corrosion, i.e. that it is well grounded to the body. If you've never set the SWR before, it's best to find someone who has to help. I'm a little dyslexic, so even though I've done it a bunch, I always am careful.
Some of the better antennas these days have a adjustment screw instead of the wire under the cap on top. These are good because you can always just back them off if you go too far when adjusting the SWR. Kind of fool proof that way, so long as you don't transmit too long on the radio before you get the SWR set right. A few bucks more, but good for your peace of mind if you have the choice when buying.
The fire stick type is typically fibreglass. These will have a wire at the top covered by a plastic or rubber cap. Take that off and you'll see the end of the wire that's wound all the way up the antenna. Before cutting anything off, check with the SWR meter. It may actually be pretty close, as production standards are pretty good (compared to some of the stuff from the 70s.) You may be OK right out of the gate.
If not, then you clip SMALL pieces of the wire until getting the SWR down to 1.5 or less, the lower the better. You should make sure that the ball mount has no corrosion, i.e. that it is well grounded to the body. If you've never set the SWR before, it's best to find someone who has to help. I'm a little dyslexic, so even though I've done it a bunch, I always am careful.
Some of the better antennas these days have a adjustment screw instead of the wire under the cap on top. These are good because you can always just back them off if you go too far when adjusting the SWR. Kind of fool proof that way, so long as you don't transmit too long on the radio before you get the SWR set right. A few bucks more, but good for your peace of mind if you have the choice when buying.
- Thread starter
- #5
Cool, I am going to work for the next three days, hopefully I will get the antenna while there and I will post what it is. Next to buy a CB! Any recommendations? Would like a decent one, not too cheap but not the most expensive either. Also backlit for night wheeling (maybe they all are). Thanks, again
jc,
I've been using a Uniden PC122XL for the last ten years. It's fairly compact, gives you several features, plus SSB. You can see it in the thread where I wrote up my install on my Tuffy console:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333965-anyone-ever-install-cb-tuffy.html
Looking at the Uniden CB page, it appears they are no longer producing any models with SSB. It was kind of a niche, but did give you a little more range. Oh well/
Most all CBs except the super cheap will be backlit to some degree. Looks like some of Uniden's models have fancier backlighting than others, like around all the control knobs.
I've had a lot of experience with Unidens. They were our standard CB in the fleet of trucks I worked for as a parts guy. A few drivers insisted on their own radios, but most were happy enough with the Uniden. The ones we supplied were straight AM units, what is now listed as the PRO510XL. Very reliable radios in general.
I've been using a Uniden PC122XL for the last ten years. It's fairly compact, gives you several features, plus SSB. You can see it in the thread where I wrote up my install on my Tuffy console:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333965-anyone-ever-install-cb-tuffy.html
Looking at the Uniden CB page, it appears they are no longer producing any models with SSB. It was kind of a niche, but did give you a little more range. Oh well/
Most all CBs except the super cheap will be backlit to some degree. Looks like some of Uniden's models have fancier backlighting than others, like around all the control knobs.
I've had a lot of experience with Unidens. They were our standard CB in the fleet of trucks I worked for as a parts guy. A few drivers insisted on their own radios, but most were happy enough with the Uniden. The ones we supplied were straight AM units, what is now listed as the PRO510XL. Very reliable radios in general.
- Thread starter
- #7
OK I think I am going to go with a 4 or 5 foot wilson or firestick antenna on a spring base atop of my ball mount. I also want to wire the fm/ stereo up seperately to a 2 foot cb antenna on a spring mount in factory antenna position. Will a regular cb antenna cable hook up to a stereo? Thanks
Most car stereos have what is called a Motorola plug. It's got just a straight round center bayonet that sticks out, with a larger ground around the base that provide the shield part of the circuit. Not sure if you can get a converter for that at Rat Shack or not. The CB will have a PL 259, more than likely.
A CB/FM splitter may solve that issue. It's been years since I saw one, so not sure if it will.
A CB/FM splitter may solve that issue. It's been years since I saw one, so not sure if it will.
BenMara
Asian Redneck
i love these
Flat Top Swivel Ball Mount
Flat Top Swivel Ball Mount
