CB info

[GA Runner]

alright i just got a cobra 19 ULTRA III for my truck. does anyone know if this is a good cb? and im new to this cb stuff but if i get like a 35" antenna or something around there how far will i be able to talk to my buddies?  just wonderin

[DTB]

thats the same one i have. 34.95 from wally world 

[Tallchevy]

Cobra C.B.'s are good. You should get about a 4 mile range with no obstructions in the way.

[GA Runner]

i got mine for the same price there. and if you get a bigger antenna will you get more range out of them?

[DTB]

buy a good co-ax and antenna too...these are just as important as the cb itself...

usually yes, the larger the antenna the better the range..proper tuning with an SRW meter helps range too

[Tallchevy]

I had a 63" whip antenna on my Runner & I just changed it to a 36" fiberglass. The fiberglass is wound with wire to make up the difference.

[79coyotefrg]

some parks  dont like the longer antenna's

[DTB]

some parks  dont like the longer antenna's

why? 

[GA Runner]

so basically what you are saying is that the 36" is just the same as the 63" cause the wire is wound around?

[Tallchevy]

so basically what you are saying is that the 36" is just the same as the 63" cause the wire is wound around?

Yup

some parks  dont like the longer antenna's

why? 

Most trail runs require that you tie down you whip antennas. The long antennas hit trees (damage vegitation) & start whipping around. Just driving down the street my 63" antenna would catch a branch, whip back & smack the top of my 4Runner. With the top off, my kids almost got hit once & that was enough for me. I put on the 36" fiberglass.

[Caboose]

I had a 63" whip antenna on my Runner & I just changed it to a 36" fiberglass. The fiberglass is wound with wire to make up the difference.

i ran a 8' whip and now i have a 4' fiberglass with wound wire.  No where near the preformance of the whip. (but my whip worked so well, i couldnt talk to my friend if there were within a block from me.  i would squeltch their radio so bad it would shut off.)

[CrawlerBrennan]

i ran a 8' whip and now i have a 4' fiberglass with wound wire.  No where near the preformance of the whip. (but my whip worked so well, i couldnt talk to my friend if there were within a block from me.  i would squeltch their radio so bad it would shut off.)

you never shut me down

[Tallchevy]

I would only run a whip antenna you plan on running an amp.

[DTB]

Yup
Most trail runs require that you tie down you whip antennas. The long antennas hit trees (damage vegitation) & start whipping around. Just driving down the street my 63" antenna would catch a branch, whip back & smack the top of my 4Runner. With the top off, my kids almost got hit once & that was enough for me. I put on the 36" fiberglass.

one time my whip hit a tree driving down the street and whipped back into a car window

[Caboose]

thats why they call em whips      even the 4' fiberglass ones can hit vegitation.  it depends where you place them.  Mine is on top of my roll bar and that is almost as high as where i had my 8'er.  just my 

[dt]

put your antenna on top of your rig,if you put it low on your truck you will get reflected radiation which can give you high swr standing wave reflection that can and will eventualy do damage to your cb,and effect performance,always set up your cb antenna with a swr meter

[844x4]

Where do you get an SWR meter?

[jimbo74]

Where do you get an SWR meter?

radio shack has them... also fry's electronics and truck stops

word of caution, they are not just plug in and play, you will need extra short length wires and it needs to be setup as if it werent there... its wierd how to actually do it....

[844x4]

Are any of the non-magnetic style antennas already "calibrated" or do I need to have this done to any antennae I install?  I would like to upgrade mine.

[jimbo74]

Are any of the non-magnetic style antennas already "calibrated" or do I need to have this done to any antennae I install?  I would like to upgrade mine.

none of them are plug and play... all antennas need to be tuned.... some are pre-tuned and that may be good enough, but tune changes per vehicle and mounting locations

check out the tutorials on www.firestik.com it will explain a lot

[844x4]

I've just started reading that!  Great site!  I guess I'll have to head to Fry's and get a meter and an extra wire to test with. thanks! 

[BigMike]

I am not an expert on this, but from my experience, remember that the good antennas are designed for a predetermined or set cable length. For instance, I run a Wilson Silver load Flex http://www.wilsonantenna.com/fg.htm#flex 4-foot antenna that is designed for a 12' cable. I currently am using only a 10' cable, and I have the tip adjusted all the way out in an attempt to lengthen the distance from the CB in order to get the best SWR (which isn't really so good with this cable), which is evidence I need a longer cable with this antenna.

If your SWRs are not low enough, then it could either be the antenna environment -- where is it mounted and what is it mounted near -- or it could be an incorrect cable length, amongst other problems.

BigMike

[jimbo74]

yup... mike is right

[GA Runner]

if i mount a 5' antenna on my back bumper will that be ok?

[79coyotefrg]

if i mount a 5' antenna on my back bumper will that be ok?

um NO

[GA Runner]

why not?

[Rocksurfer]

The best location for an antenna is in the center of the highest point of the vehicle. Doesn't mean it won't work in another location it just won't work as good. I used to have whips (duals) mounted to the rear of my bed, tuned my Uniden to the max at about 22 watts. On a good night I could hit central Arizona on skip, and I was in the Victorville area.

[BigMike]

Just make sure it has a good ground. It will work, but it will be blocked by part of your trucks body. Ideally, the highest point on your truck is the best place to mount.

[GA Runner]

how can it be blocked if the top is about 1.5 or 2 feet above the top of my truck?

[V-Man]

Are any of the non-magnetic style antennas already "calibrated" or do I need to have this done to any antennae I install?  I would like to upgrade mine.

ever antenna has to have it match set...IE if you have two 85 pickups and set the match with the antenna on the first truck then move it to the second truck you have to set the match again...
You can't "PRE-calibrate" an antenna..you have to set the match when you install it.  Once your match is set you just have to "check it" ever so often.
  So Cb's have an SWR meter( or VSWR if you wanted to use it real name) built into them...Cobra 29's 148, Uniden 76,78 etc.