Suggestions for CB Whip Antennas

BanxBug · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:49 pm Post subject: Suggestions for CB Whip Antennas

Setting up the "Blue" with a CB for Manx on the Banx. Looking for input on the best off road and on road antennas for CB radios. Since I do a good deal of 65+ MPH highways, I am wondering about the best height and composite type to use. Suggestions???

Dale M. · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:49 pm Post subject:

Well you have a problem.... Since body is fiberglass, you have issues with ground plane effect.... Best would probably be fiberglass whip mounted off front (yes front) or rear bumper...

Dale
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

BanxBug · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:56 pm Post subject:

I am hoping to ground the antenna to the frame and attach it to the rear tube bumper. I guess my question has more to do with type and height to avoid drag at higher speeds.

Scott

LeeVW · Samba Member Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 1016

RedBaronofRedBud · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:50 pm Post subject:

I use a four foot Firestik 2 and it mounted to my skidplate bumper. I never had a problem with ground plane effect and get great reception. I mounted mine near the center of my rear bumper. You can go to any truckstop on the interstate and get the right antenna and mount for your application.

I would NOT recommend the optional spring. It adds too much length to the antenna and you cant tune it properly. Also, it tends to rotate way too much at speed with the spring.

I would recommend getting an SWR meter and adjusting your antenna for the best SWR. They arent expensive and make a big difference.

This setup went to Big Bear and back from St Louis with no problems.

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joescoolcustoms · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:19 pm Post subject:

I second the Fire Stick antenna. The technical bullitens suggest 2/3 of the height of the antenna be above the height of the top of the vehicle. So, I bought a 5 foot fire stick and it did very well on the ECVW trip. But, with Tims 4 foot doing so well, I would go with a 4 foot if I did it again.

The SWR meter is super cheap at around $ 20.00 and adds life to the transmitter in the CB.

One thing David did for me on the ECVW trip was supply ear buds and the extension cord for the RCA jack on the CB. It let us clearly hear the chatter on the CB even at 70 MPH.

Ground the bumper cage, and then ground the antenna to the cage. The parking Garage's in Saint Lewis and Oceanside sounded like crap with the antenna hitting the sprinkler system pipes overhead, but did not hurt the antenna or the Ninja Duck.

The Ninja Duck was put on by I think Monomanx, (Chris), in Manitou Springs, then rode the rest of the way to CA and back to the East Coast.

As an important side note, do not run a flag on the antenna. The antenna is not made for that kind of drag and will break the antenna off. Ask Mike Dario about this. I do not think he made it very far on the C2C trip with his flag.
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LeeVW · Samba Member Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 1016

Good point on not using the spring on the antenna. Mine has one, and the antenna was really whipping around in the wind last desert trip. Well, it was whipping around until it finally got caught in the carrying strap of one of the chairs on the back of the rack. It was nice and quiet after that. Laughing

Lee

wythac · Samba Member Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791

4 foot Antennex mounted to the top of rear hoop. Works great.

vincent9993 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:12 am Post subject:

wythac · Samba Member Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791

My local CB radio nuts told me that the metal pan of my buggy was a sufficient ground plane. I don't know if any of them had any professional experience though to back that statement up. I do know that in the mountains in which I use my radio it seems to have decent coverage.

Dale M. · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:15 am Post subject:

There is a inner relationship to where antenna is mounted and metal portion of buggy (pan) 'most" antenna designs are for mounting on METAL bodies (of cars and trucks), with fiber glass buggies you don't have that luxury (YES it makes a difference) .... Think more in terms of antenna system that are designed for marine environments (think fiberglass boats).... Also radiating element has a direct relationship to metal mass of that is uses as "ground plane" it has to do with strength and direction of which signal in radiated.... Its called "propagation".... Do your home work well it you what best functionality from your CB.... Like everything there is science behind all this... Also its all about transmitted signal (range) not how well you can hear...

The reason HAM (Armatures) dislike CBers, is because Ham operators have studied for years, on theory and practice and jumped though hoops to get a license and consider themselves the gods of the airways, and CB just had to apply for licence (or maybe no licence now I have lost track) and have much of same abilities (talk) and didn't care about the science or protocols Amateurs practiced.... Its like to two different religious cults praying to same god...

As a side note I put magnet mount on hood of my Jeep and every body laughs, but magnets don't stick to well to fiberglass top on Jeep, and system I use is portable (borrowed) so no permanent mounts drilled into body or bumpers...

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

LeeVW · Samba Member Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 1016

Since we're on the topic of radios, when Kevin and I led runs for the Manx Club in Big Bear we used hand held FRS radios to communicate with each other. Being separated by 35 or so buggies meant the CB was pretty much worthless, especially with several members of the group having conversations unrelated to the run.

The FRS radios worked great up to about a mile, even in the canyons, and had none of the hash, trash, engine noise, or other annoyances typically associated with CB radios. They also didn't require any antennas to be mounted on the buggies. Wink

Lee

VOLKSWAGNUT · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:48 am Post subject:

How... bout.. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=564872

.
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manxvair · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:52 pm Post subject:

Axitech · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 4:28 am Post subject:

Stainless steel 102" whip with spring mount. Mount it near the top of the buggy, as high up as possible. Don't worry about hooking it up to a radio. Just the 'cool' factor of it bending rearward under the strain of highway speeds is enough to 'outman' any State Trooper and cause him such shame in his 'deficit of manhood' in your presence, that he will turn around and go donut hunting!

Plus, it is really cool to look out and see your silhouette on the ground with that antenna 'indicating' that you are indeed approaching Mach .95.

Added bonus: tree-whacker effect is awesome!!!!
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Jerry39218 · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 5:39 am Post subject:

You can get an MLB 2700DC (cut to 27.185 mhz if needed) dc being direct coupled. Mount on an L bracket anywhere.
Works fine with very little reflected.

RedBaronofRedBud · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:58 am Post subject:

Dale M. · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 8:21 am Post subject:

Last time I was on CB band there was so much "freakin" NOISE you could not hear anything (unless other radio was right next to you) ....

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

LeeVW · Samba Member Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 1016

RBofRB,

I have no doubt that a properly tuned vehicle based CB will reach out and receive better than a typical handheld FRS radio. CB used to be my hobby back in the early nineties. I once shot skip to Victoria, Australia while sitting on a hilltop in Orange County, CA. The big problem in Big Bear was the fact that the altitude of the mountain caused us to hear every idiot in Southern California. The CB was just a bunch of trash and noise whereas the FRS was nice and quiet except when someone in our group was talking on it.

Lee

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:02 am Post subject:

I ran the Blue group off road at Big Bear and used my ear buds with the CB. I had no problem hearing what was going on. Listened to the break downs and when they started back up. I did not get the chatter from off the mountain.

It was also fun to listen to Tim and Kim talk back and forth while on the ECVW trip. Now, Vincent was a little hard to understand, but he must have some kind of accent or something.

I have yet to tune the antenna, just did not have time before we left on the ECVW trip. I tried not to talk on it much so I would not damage the transmitter before tuning it. It is on my buggy "to do" list.
_________________
Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone


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