To CB or Not CB...
- Thread starter 78Cruzr
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #42
it is a good place to contemplate!
Well, I do know where it is (not because I've been reading it). If it hasn't been put to good use for 4 months, I might as well pass it on to someone who may use it.
- Thread starter
- #44
decision made... FT-8800R from Hamcity
So, help me select the antenna and anything else needed for the install. I'd like to hardmount the antenna instead of mag mount.
Currently review threads of antenna installations on 40's...
So, help me select the antenna and anything else needed for the install. I'd like to hardmount the antenna instead of mag mount.
Currently review threads of antenna installations on 40's...
Last edited:
For an antenna I would start out with either a Comet SBB-1 or SBB-2. Then if you want to go bigger later, you can. Most folks here use a NMO mount of some kind. I have no idea what to suggest for a mount on a FJ40.
that will be a nice radio.i STRONGLY suggest NMO style mount (strong, easy to swap, common, etc). and you will end up with a few diff antennas likely anyway. Ali and lynn had 5/8 wave whips made at specialty communications south of oreilly's on central near eubank. i recall price is right (~$30?) and they will be durable and easily replaceable if damaged (they are tapered wire stuck in a base to make an antenna, break/bend the wire and just go get a new wire cut. i think i recall guys liking 1/2 wave antennas on 40's because they don't need the same ground plane for swr and 40's have ugly/lack of ground planes... but you can correct me after all your research
like Jon said, sbb1 isn't bad if you don't need lots of range, it is what you saw on the back of my 80.i am using this mount on the rear hatch of my 80. very happy with it. there are two flavors. a 6' coax and a 13.5' coax. it is a fender/hatch/lip mount so you may not want to use it. K400SNMO. IIRC shawn has his antenna mounted back on his cooler/reartire carrier, i assume he could get it to tune back there...
for placement on your 40, if you are going for "best" well that will be an adventure. i think you have lots of options for good for trail coms... just gotta check your swr, we have a meter, and pretty sure specialty com will check and tune the whip when they make it for you (ie take your rig and installed radio when you go there, and have your callsign
). i haven't had to touch either of my comet antennas as a result of swr.so send me your email and i can give you the "motivation" to take the test i gave lynn...
The nice thing about a 5/8 wave antenna (as told to me by Cruiserdrew and Rusty_tlc) is it is not ground plane sensitive. Most of us are running the Larsen LM150 whip antennas out here...I think Andy was the first. Tough, flexible and they just work. This antenna is a single band 2m antenna...not a dually.
More here: design your own 5/8 wave vertical antenna
More here: design your own 5/8 wave vertical antenna
ah so i had 5/8 and 1/2 wave swapped (i knew one of them was that way). thanks for the correction Dan. i know my sbb25 is a 5/8 wave but it is stiffer and much more likely to break than a good whip i'd guess.
Starting out for me, I bought Jon's radio and then bought the SBB-1 antenna. I am happy with it and it did not cost much through that site (RightChannel?), I think Jon said we have a discount through. My first radio check, I got some guy in Portales in my drive way to hear me fine. Like Jon says, if it mounts on a 40, not sure but it works fine on the 80.
Good, glad to see that you are logical.
I'd suggest going straight to a LM150 as suggested or go to RF Specialist in town and have them cut you a whip for 2M. Since this will be on a 40, make sure you pick the right type of antenna (ground plane or no ground plane). As been also said, only go with NMO mounts. These whips can take a thrashing and ask for more.
Unfortunately, you have to give up the ability to transmit on 70cm (440mhz) if you go with the plain whips, which I don't transmit on anyway. I don't think most of us transmit on 70 cm anyway
I have a SBB-5 by comet. A fine antenna but there is a coiled up section in the center that can get snagged by branches. I lost it last week on our way to the Jemez from Cochitti lake. Damn shame too, I love that antenna
Onur, Mike and I are victim to low branches and this antenna.Info on the local radio place is in the other thread where all local vendor info is posted if you wanna get a local whip made for your setup and get it tuned up.
Where's my morning coffee.....
Good, glad to see that you are logical.
Where's my morning coffee.....
I just drank it
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Just a correction:
1/2 wave will give better SWR than 5/8 if you lack a good ground plane.
If you have a good reflector(ground plane) then the 5/8 wave will give better electrical performance.
The difference is surprisingly small, however, and the 1/2 wave on my 40 reached out as far as I ever needed to-and had no problems with the repeaters 100 miles away.
I personally love the Larsen 150 series antennas. Cheap, tough, easy to mount, replacement whip is $12.
I have yet to see a valid, justifiable, rational argument for NMO over UHF (PL-259) mounts. It is all a matter of personal preference. About the only good reason is most folks use NMO, which makes swapping antennas easier.
That said, I run UHF mounts, mostly because my favorite antenna doesn't come in NMO (Comet CA-2X4SR). I can also mount a UHF antenna to the back of the radio with an elbow inside the house.
Most folks, if not all, have a SBB-1 for those times when we are driving through trees. It is probably your best first antenna. Then we also have a longer wire for distance. I have a SBB-2 mounted on the 4Runner because it's the longest antenna that will drive into the garage. Evan and I carry a SBB-7 when we really need to get out and touch somebody.
You and Rusty will have to hash this one out ;p. My understanding is, from what he told me, the 1/2 wave with a good ground plane will outperform the 5/8 without a good ground plane but not visa versa. I'm already out of my antenna league so I'll leave it up to u2...
hmmm, I had a 1/2 wave on my 40, but the whip got lost from it. I was at Specialty Comm and just bought a 5/8 wave(I think it was all they had). I told the guy what little ground plane I had and he said don't worry about it.
I may get another whip for my 1/2 wave if I can find the load base. FWIW, we checked the SWR on the 5/8 wave that I got for my Ford with mag mount and at 144htz it was outstanding(good ground plane). it lost a fair bit through the upper range, but still within spec.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
In practical terms it doesn't matter that much, but electrical geeks like Rusty or ALi care.
Anyway, the 1/2 wave antenna uses the coax as it's counterpoise, where a 5/8 wave uses it's ground plane. Note that the gain with a 1/2 wave antenna will be roughly 2.5 dB and the 5/8 wave will be 3.5. But the 5/8 without a good ground plane will be hard to tune and so radio and antenna performance will suffer.
For a wagon with a big roof, 5/8 is definitely the ticket. For a truck with just a roll bar up high, the 1/2 wave is theoretically likely to perform better and the antenna will be easier to tune.
Regarding Pappy's point about UHF or NMO, I basically agree. The NMO mount needs a bigger hole, and seals better in a through the roof mount. Both will provide excellent radio performance.
I've given up on CBs entirely and gave them away, one of them to someone in HDC.
The Ham Tech test is extremely easy. Review the questions posted on line at QRZ and eham, or use Hamtestonline (which costs $$ but is excellent), take test, pass. It's the best $14 you can spend in 4 wheeling.
The only disappointing thing about any radio in an FJ40 is the already uber noisy cabin. Running down the highway, I could never hear anything anyway.
Anyway, the 1/2 wave antenna uses the coax as it's counterpoise, where a 5/8 wave uses it's ground plane. Note that the gain with a 1/2 wave antenna will be roughly 2.5 dB and the 5/8 wave will be 3.5. But the 5/8 without a good ground plane will be hard to tune and so radio and antenna performance will suffer.
For a wagon with a big roof, 5/8 is definitely the ticket. For a truck with just a roll bar up high, the 1/2 wave is theoretically likely to perform better and the antenna will be easier to tune.
Regarding Pappy's point about UHF or NMO, I basically agree. The NMO mount needs a bigger hole, and seals better in a through the roof mount. Both will provide excellent radio performance.
I've given up on CBs entirely and gave them away, one of them to someone in HDC.
The Ham Tech test is extremely easy. Review the questions posted on line at QRZ and eham, or use Hamtestonline (which costs $$ but is excellent), take test, pass. It's the best $14 you can spend in 4 wheeling.
The only disappointing thing about any radio in an FJ40 is the already uber noisy cabin. Running down the highway, I could never hear anything anyway.
- Thread starter
- #57
now I know why most people choose cb... my head hurts!
On a 40, a roof mount is out because the hard top (if you have one) is fiberglass and won't give you a ground plane even if you wanted to drill a hole in it. And the shape of the hood does not lend itself to traditional lip mounts I'm pretty sure, so you're left with either the bumpers or the roll bar/cage. And the cage is out, if you ever run more than a bikini top. If you have a big enough front bumper, you can get some ground plane off of it, you just have to try and see.
I've posted photos and everything of mine before; I ended up fabbing a plate NMO mount that bolts inside the spare tire carrier of my MAF 4+ rear bumper. That way, it works with or without the hard top, and swings out of the way if needed. None of my existing 5/8-wave or 1/4-wave antennas would tune up back there; not enough ground plane, but a Larsen 1/2-wave tuned right up very easily, just had to trim the length a little.
And +1 on the 40 being a noisy radio environment - mine is barely usable on the highway with the hard top on, and barely not usable with it off. I still like having APRS on the highway though, and when you're on the trail then speed and attendant noise are not an issue.
I've posted photos and everything of mine before; I ended up fabbing a plate NMO mount that bolts inside the spare tire carrier of my MAF 4+ rear bumper. That way, it works with or without the hard top, and swings out of the way if needed. None of my existing 5/8-wave or 1/4-wave antennas would tune up back there; not enough ground plane, but a Larsen 1/2-wave tuned right up very easily, just had to trim the length a little.
And +1 on the 40 being a noisy radio environment - mine is barely usable on the highway with the hard top on, and barely not usable with it off. I still like having APRS on the highway though, and when you're on the trail then speed and attendant noise are not an issue.
Last edited:
I have mine mounted on the spare tire carrier like you. It would be pretty easy to fab up a mount on the hood apron (might need to try that). If you wanted you could even punch a hole into the fender. Or you could do something like Dan did with his dad's 40.
- Thread starter
- #60
I have my hardtop on and knew it wouldn't offer any ground plane and was wondering about the front bumper or hood. Like you said, just need to try it out.
More reading and searching MUD to see what other had success with...
More reading and searching MUD to see what other had success with...