9 foot CB antenna on bumper...SWR?
#1
9 foot CB antenna on bumper...SWR?
I plan on getting a 102" foot steel whip, on a stainless steel spring with a bumper mount and 18 feet of the highest quality coax with a good cobra radio.
The radio is already in and running, I just need to know if the bumper mount will provide a good enough SWR. I'm looking for at least 1.5:1.
I've heard on a bumper mount there's not enough reflective surface of ground planes or whatever.
Anyone have a bumper mount and measured their SWR...or anyone have a bumper mount without measuring their SWR and have good reception/output?
The radio is already in and running, I just need to know if the bumper mount will provide a good enough SWR. I'm looking for at least 1.5:1.
I've heard on a bumper mount there's not enough reflective surface of ground planes or whatever.
Anyone have a bumper mount and measured their SWR...or anyone have a bumper mount without measuring their SWR and have good reception/output?
#2
I have my 102" steel whip mounted on the bumper and my SWR's are 1.3:1 Almost Perfect!
Make sure you ground it good.. and try not to coil up the extra coax! those the main things..
you shouldnt have any problems with SWR's whit that antenna and 18' of coax!
but if you are just using it on the trail it doesnt really matter!
I talk skip on mine and have a few amp for my radios ... All depends on what you want to use it for!
Make sure you ground it good.. and try not to coil up the extra coax! those the main things..
you shouldnt have any problems with SWR's whit that antenna and 18' of coax!
but if you are just using it on the trail it doesnt really matter!
I talk skip on mine and have a few amp for my radios ... All depends on what you want to use it for!
#4
The steel bumper is attached to the steel frame which is attached to the steel body. You'll have a nice ground plane in the fron-right diagonal and no ground plane around the left to the rear. It's going to give you an awkward radiation pattern. A lot of people do it and it isn't a make-or-break difference, just not optimal.
Repeat after me: I DO NOT NEED 18 FEET OF COAX. I DO NOT NEED 18 FEET OF COAX. I DO NOT NEED 18 FEET OF COAX.
This alleged "optimum" length of coax BS has been floating around for many years, spread by alleged "experts" and ends up screwing over the end user. So many people say it, the poor guy who doesn't know any better will believe it no questions asked it. The optimum length of coax is as little as possible. You want only as much coax as it takes to go from the antenna to the radio with a little bit of slack to work with in the cab. If that is 7' or 20' or 384', it doesn't matter. This of course is as it applies to single antenna installtions. When you get into co-phasing, length matters.
Repeat after me: I DO NOT NEED 18 FEET OF COAX. I DO NOT NEED 18 FEET OF COAX. I DO NOT NEED 18 FEET OF COAX.
This alleged "optimum" length of coax BS has been floating around for many years, spread by alleged "experts" and ends up screwing over the end user. So many people say it, the poor guy who doesn't know any better will believe it no questions asked it. The optimum length of coax is as little as possible. You want only as much coax as it takes to go from the antenna to the radio with a little bit of slack to work with in the cab. If that is 7' or 20' or 384', it doesn't matter. This of course is as it applies to single antenna installtions. When you get into co-phasing, length matters.
#5
Well is my range going to be messed up or anything? Is it going to mess up much? I was using a little mini radioshack cb with a 50ish inch antenna in my last vehicle, will it be at least as good as that?
And I'm only getting 18 feet of coax because that's all thats sold in that length. I hope it's enough to be honest. Will it be? From the bumper to where a manual shift **** is?
And I'm only getting 18 feet of coax because that's all thats sold in that length. I hope it's enough to be honest. Will it be? From the bumper to where a manual shift **** is?
#6
#7
I just installed a 102" from rat shack on Thursday - It grounds fine to the bumper. I've got 15' of coax and it reaches from the cab to the rear with no problems.
Don't ask what my SWR is - I haven't checked......however, I've easily gotten a good 10 mile range from it. Verified by some nice truckers who were looking to chat......
And don't forget to buy some tennis ***** unless you really hate your paint.
Don't ask what my SWR is - I haven't checked......however, I've easily gotten a good 10 mile range from it. Verified by some nice truckers who were looking to chat......
And don't forget to buy some tennis ***** unless you really hate your paint.
#9
#10
There should be a CB for dummies....i have 2 cb's....ones a 40 channel digital cobra and the other is a manual 30 channel cobra....but i couldnt ever find an antenna that would get good reception....and if i did hear anyone talking, i couldnt talk to them...i know NOTHING about cb's really so, do i just need to find a good antenna?
Rocky
Rocky
#13
If installed correctly, the 8' whip on the bumper will probably out-perform any crap-shack magnetic antenna. This will probably make up for any imperfections of the antenna being mounted on the edge of the ground plane. The only time you might notice the difference is talking to somone REALLY far away, it might work better if you point the nose of the truck in that direction. For average use though, it will be fine.
#15
Originally Posted by FireRanger
If installed correctly, the 8' whip on the bumper will probably out-perform any crap-shack magnetic antenna. This will probably make up for any imperfections of the antenna being mounted on the edge of the ground plane. The only time you might notice the difference is talking to somone REALLY far away, it might work better if you point the nose of the truck in that direction. For average use though, it will be fine.
But I do want to have that extra ability to "reach out and touch someone" just in case. Which is why I don't want a magnet.
#16
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#18
put the metal under the bumper
and they'll bend a little...the springs are needed so they dont snap in some odd event
but u wont smack the guy behind u...add a tennis ball on there, to protect u're paint, and possible protect anything else it may hit
i think alot more people on here have Firesticks...that wont bend at all....
and they'll bend a little...the springs are needed so they dont snap in some odd event
but u wont smack the guy behind u...add a tennis ball on there, to protect u're paint, and possible protect anything else it may hit
i think alot more people on here have Firesticks...that wont bend at all....
#19
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#22
I got it installed. 18 feet of coax provided 3" of slack at the end. I don't know what truck you have 01rededge...wait...nevermind haha.
SWR on Channel 1 is 1.3 and on Channel 40 is 1.5, and that's using a good meter.
Definitely acceptable. Is there any way to tune a 102" whip though?
I should've used the flash in that last pic. Got a good shot of my CB speaker :)
SWR on Channel 1 is 1.3 and on Channel 40 is 1.5, and that's using a good meter.
Definitely acceptable. Is there any way to tune a 102" whip though?
I should've used the flash in that last pic. Got a good shot of my CB speaker :)
#23
The only two reasons that your SWR is above 1.1 is that there will be a small amount of reflection of the antenna against the bed where the antenna is below the top of the bed.... and while the antenna is grounded to the bumper which attaches to the frame.... I would attach a short length of braded grounding strap directly from the antenna base to the frame rail.... The additional grounding may drop your SWR slightly....
OR 4x4
OR 4x4
#25