[PeeWee]

I will be picking up a 102" whip antenna, mount and spring in a couple days from radioshack(not my first choice but I got a gift card for Christmas) and would like some input about where to mount it. I tried searching but we all know how excellent our search function is. I know the best place to mount an antenna is on the middle of the roof or as close to the center of the vehicle as possible, but that is not going to happen with such a tall antenna. Where would be the next best place to mount it? I could go toolbox, bumper, bedrail or in the bed somewhere. What is my best option? I do not mind drilling into the truck, but I will not be drilling into any body panels. Thanks and I'm sorry, I know this has been answered but I couldn't find info about whips.

 

[Devius1]

Hmmm.. rear corner of the utili-trac? so you can bend it down along the bed?

I can picture 8-1/2' of fluorescent light mayhem racing through garages... :laugh:

 

[grantypanties218]

like i said in beefs thread id put it on the bumper and put a small tennis ball on ti to protect the tailights

 

[PeeWee]

Hmmm.. rear corner of the utili-trac? so you can bend it down along the bed?

I can picture 8-1/2' of fluorescent light mayhem racing through garages... :laugh:

No utilitrac in my '98 lol I have been thinking that the rear corner of the bed might be the best spot though.

Grant, I really only want to put it on the bumper if thats my only option because this summer the bumper is coming off and something special will be there. I don't want to have to move it again when that happens. Also, I plan on selling the bumper once it is off and it will sell easier without a hole in it.

 

[grantypanties218]

Then I would go with the corner of the bed

 

[Wirenut]

How about that space between your tool box doors in the middle. Get a steel plate and bolt it down to the aluminum then a magnet mount for the whip.

 

[UTfrontier]

I have no experience with cb's but a friend who has lots told me that the best place is to have it on the top and back of the roof. This is because it uses the truck as a broadcast base and so if you have it on a corner of a bumper, say rear driver, that your signal will only broadcast in the direction of your front passenger side. Have you guys heard this? I guess if going with a whip, you could try between the bed and the cab? I again have no idea and I too want to eventually install a whip rather than the short 6" one on my roof.

 

[TwoBills]

I have no experience with cb's but a friend who has lots told me that the best place is to have it on the top and back of the roof. This is because it uses the truck as a broadcast base and so if you have it on a corner of a bumper, say rear driver, that your signal will only broadcast in the direction of your front passenger side. Have you guys heard this? I guess if going with a whip, you could try between the bed and the cab? I again have no idea and I too want to eventually install a whip rather than the short 6" one on my roof.

Yeah, center of the vehicle is best, for 360 degree broadcasting. Good grounding plane. I'm wondering, with new technology and all, if the whip antenna isn't a little outdated. I'm thinking a centrally mounted, shorter, antenna might be better.

With that said, a left rear mounting position, with a hold down near the driver's door, would be my choice.

 

[PeeWee]

I am most likely going to go with a with a 64" whip instead of 102" because that is ridiculously long lol

I am definitely going to bolt it down somewhere because it will be used mostly for wheeling and there are a lot of branches around here. I have a magnet mount right now and it gets knocked off all the time. I am not expecting to get 20 mile range from mounting it somewhere in the bed, but I really don't need that much.

I am thinking to mount it on the bed rail in this general area

and using this and this

 

[rorybellows]

UTfrontier is correct in saying that the best place for an antennae is the middle of the cab. but not too many are willing to drill a hole in their hood for an antennae. (i dont much care for the magnet mounts). ive had two of he rad shack 102's in use for a while now and get about 20 miles of use out of it, on clear days and in the lower elevations, of course. they work alright. i had a radio guy from federal way tune and soup up the cb radio, so i dont know how much that affects things. they work good for mounting flags to when in the dunes, if your mount spring is stiff enough

 

[reckless]

no matter which version of ant you go with dead center of the cab side of the bed is the best place if you go on any corner you will loose distance from your lack of ground plane now you can go and run 1 inch ground straps to every metal part of the truck to help compinsate for that but center is still going to be best. a 5 foot fiberglass or even a

will be much better and handle more power output but that one is about $90. I went with a dual 5 foot fiberglass for about $40.

 

[reckless]

here is a link to the fiberglass ones http://www.rightchannelradios.com/firestik-cb-antenna-110/

 

[PeeWee]

Ok, I have been thinking about this and I think I will go with the original plan of the 102" whip because that 64" on looks like crap lol I will probably get a mount similar to this Firestik M164A Aluminum Mirror Mounting Bracket - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com and mount it either on the rear inside part of the bed or on middle of my toolbox. If I was to use a mount like that would the mount itself be the ground or would I still need to run ground wires?

 

[reckless]

thats the same mount I am using on both of my trucks. If you mount it to the bed you will get enough of a ground plane to allow it to work probably guessing here as it all depends on the tuning of your radio and your SWR tuning but most likely at least 2 mile range. and remember I am guessing on the low side here. As for ground plane the more of of the truck you have tied together the more distance you will get off of it. just make sure you buy good quality RF line that is 50 ohm. Standard length for a single ant install I belive is 9 foot. if you have the ability ask a local truck stop who the local CB tuner is and have them tune your whole system it will save you money from burning up a CB in the long run. and on install dont do 90degree bends in the cable any sharp turns of the cable other then a 90 degree connector cause more resistance and cause problems.

on second though im not sure what the wavelength of the 102 whip would be that determins what length cable to use.

 

[PeeWee]

I am going to pick the cable up at a cb shop near me so they will know exactly what I need and then I am going to get them to tune it for me. I was just concerned mainly on the grounding issue. I think I should be fine mounting it to the bed, though.

 

[reckless]

yea if they are tuning it I had my radio tuned and then did my own SWR tuning and on a bad day in a verry hill covered area I tend to get 7 to 8 miles.