I was cleaning out the garage when I found this:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...rt&tab=summary
exact same as that but the box says 5-watt

It works and I like how small it is I just want to know what size antenna could I run? I plan to mount an antenna behind the cab or use the stock antenna if I can. I dont know much about cbs.

What do you recommend? I was looking at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SINGLE-2-ft-CB-A...QQcmdZViewItem

 

From the specs you linked:
That means you can run any antenna you want. You just need an adapter to go from whatever connector the antenna lead you set up has to a BNC. Radio-smack should be able to fix you right up for a couple bucks.

The specs also say it is 4-watts, which is the maximum permitted power for CB here in the States. That looks like a fine radio. Get yourself a +12VDC adapter and you'll be able to use it in the truck.. then unplug it and put the rubber whip back on and use it away from the truck.

I have a much older, but very similar RS handheld that I use myself. I rarely need a CB radio anymore, so in the rare occasions when I do I just slap a magnet mount antenna on the roof, run the lead through the sliding back window, and plug the handheld into the cig-lighter and use it like that. One handy feature mine has that yours looks to lack is a plug for an external mic. This way I can wedge the radio between the shifter and the center console and use the mic while driving. Works very well.

Regarding antennas, there are a few different kinds. CB antennas are usually classified by size compared to the wavelength of the CB radio carrier frequency. CB works in the ~27 MHz range, which has a wavelength of ~36'. A full wavelength CB antenna would therefore be ~36'. This is obviously impractical, so the most popular is 1/4 wavelength or shorter antennas. But a true quarter-wave antenna would still be 9' tall, still not practical for most of us. So most antennas are physically shorter but use a 'loading coil' to make the antenna 'look' longer, electrically speaking.

Look for a quarter-wave antenna w/ a loading coil at the base. I personally use a 'cell look-alike' magnetic mount antenna. It is probably one of the worst vehicle mount antennas possible, as it is so short (~2'). But it works for my needs most of the time.

I have always wanted a better, permanant mount antenna. But I cannot justify spending money on it for how little I use the CB. If I had my pick, I would go for a Firestik. They are fiberglass poles w/ the antenna wrapped around it. They are tunable, attractive, and fairly durable. @ ~$25 + mounting hardware and shipping, I find the price reasonable. Given your flea-bay antenna is a lot cheaper..

 

^^If i ever got a mountable i would get a francis fiberglass....they are already peaked to any radio, no tuning needed....

My lil wil is great.....magnet mounts are the way to go on the ranger...

I didnt think you could get a car antenna for those..i didnt think they made adapters....

I would just get a small cobra 19 CB radio, with a magnet mount or if you want to drill into your back bumper, get a fiberglass stick...dont pay that much for a non name brand 2ft stick....you get what you pay for when it comes to CB equipment.....

You can get a small 19cobra 40 channel from any store for under 50$ and an antenna for under 30....

Rocky

 

How the heck do they do that? Especially if I need adapters and such.. or need to mount the antenna on a non-standard location.. or on a non-standard vehicle.. What if I want to tune for my favorite channel.. maybe not the center of the band?

No thanks, I'd rather have an adjustable. I already have the SWR meter.

 

It has a hole for an external mic and speaker and is 5watts, Im thinking of getting a 15" rubber ducky instead,, would it help?

 

I swore that the US limit was 4-watts. Meh, whatever. 1-watt isn't going to make a helluva lot of difference either way. Besides, you already own it..

So you're asking if buying a larger 'rubber ducky' antenna than the one you already have would help? A little, maybe. But a handheld like that is not going to work too well INSIDE the cab regardless of how long the 'rubber ducky' atenna is. Your money would be far better spent on a mag-mount antenna for the roof.. or a permanant mount antenna like we mentioned.

 

I work for a trucking company and im around them all the time 70% of our company runs francis antenna, because you dont have to tune them...i dont know how they do it because i dont make them, but i know they work, they run about 50$ for a 6ft fiberglass

Rocky

 

I may be partial to what I own, but I highly reccommend a Wilson 1000.

Also, if you can't find an adapter to go to BNC, try finding a BNC connector, one for if one was fabricating a BNC cable. Then you can cut the old connector off the antenna cable and put the BNC connector on.

 

i would go w/ the big a$$ antenna u see on the military ones, www.walcottcb.com, they have a review that says it doesnt increase range, but it looks ba