Cb radio antennas

[06June1944]

Anytone 6666 / PowerWerx DB-750X
102" Whip w/ 6" riser / Tram 1159-WB

Have full coverage of 7 different bands. 3 HF, 2 VHF, 2 UHF between both radios. 10/11/12 meter HF Bands, 2 Meter/Public Service VHF Bands, 440/GMRS UHF Bands.
Been into radio for quite a while now, both as a hobby & professionally.

I know there's been mention about tuning the radio, & while yes it helps its quite pointless if all your running is a shorty firestick. Those aren't very effecient antennas. As the old saying goes, it's better to have a good antenna & a bad radio than a good radio & a bad antenna. It doesn't matter how much power you crank out if the antenna doesn't efficiently radiate your signal.

What’s the mount in the rear? That’s where I want to put an antenna in. I got all my interior ripped out currently and plan on putting it back together before it gets cold

 

[94 Sub]

Way back in the day,(talking 1980), I had a 73 Javelin that I had put a 401 interceptor in. Anyone from that time would remember the CHP Matadors. Anyways, all my friends and I had CBs in our cars. I had a Midland 200m, a 250 watt foot warmer and a Digiscan with 2 108" whips on the back bumper. It was very directional due to the ground plane being full forward. It was perfect for T-hunting though. It was also fun for raising havoc at the old RC airfield in San Fernando. Key that thing up playing Deep Purple at 250 watts and the RC planes got a mind of they're own.

 

[John DeWitt]

What’s the mount in the rear? That’s where I want to put an antenna in. I got all my interior ripped out currently and plan on putting it back together before it gets cold

FireStik SS-204A Adjustable Stainless Steel Vertical Door jamb Mount https://a.co/d/bfYUubx
Thisis the style mount I have currently& although it works well if I were to do it again I would use a different mount as this style has just barely enough thickness to maintain the vertical posture of the antenna when in motion. Occassionally if I hit something hard enough, it will bend back just a bit causing lean. A little pressure & I bend it back straight. I've considered changing out the mount for one of these & again, if I was to do it all over would use either one. I used self tapping screws, drilled upward into the body. Doesn't interfere with the taillight. Although my coax is run through the body panel to the underbody, along the driver side frame, up the firewall & into a grommeted hole just above the driver side floorboard.

FireStik SS-194A Pickup Truck Bedrail Stakehole Antenna Mount - Stainless Steel https://a.co/d/5lGi66O

UngSung Fender Mount Antenna Bracket 3/4 inches Hole Stainless Steel for CB UHF VHF Ham NMO Antenna Mount Between Vehicle Hood and Fender https://a.co/d/8fLmHoz

 

[Erik the Awful]

The technical side of my radio knowledge is basically what I've learned from my friend Dave, but I would think that a door jamb mount is lacking a ground plane and would limit the antenna's effectiveness.

 

[John DeWitt]

The technical side of my radio knowledge is basically what I've learned from my friend Dave, but I would think that a door jamb mount is lacking a ground plane and would limit the antenna's effectiveness.

Well, no & yes. The type of vehicle & mounting location will the deciding factor on an adequate groundplane. Using my setup for example, my Suburban is more than adequate however since the antenna is on the rear leaving all of the vehicles body towards the front (which acts as the groundplane), my signal is extremely directional. Although 108" of pure vertical antenna helps improve my omnidirectional signal path, the majority of my lobe will be towards the front of the vehicle. But, I do this for several reasons instead of mounting on the roof. 1, this focused directionality helps "amplify" my signal in the direction I want it to go. It's not hard to find an open spot & point my hood towards the direction signals are coming from. 2, fox (signal) hunting. With it being so directional, I can easily drive in a circle a couple times while watching the S meter & obtain a bearing on where my received signal is coming from. 3, I do alot of DX so having a more omnidirectional signal pattern isn't as useful to me especially when I'm aiming for other continents. Omnidirectional has its place, but I've found it's better for more local to lightly moderate DX contacts. 4, no 10/11/12 meter antenna beats the straight 1/4 wave whip in performance. But, gotta watch out for the bridges & power lines so a little lower than the roof was a must.