cb antenna question
 

Hey guys, I just purchased a 4' kw4 firestik antenna for my cb. Im using an alon mount for the antenna and was wondering if you need some sort of stud to mount the antenna?

Yes !
Get a good quality S/S Stud Mount, that uses Rings Lugs on the Antenna end.
Also IMHO a light to medium duty S/S Spring.
AND…Two more things, use only the best quality Coax available to you, Belden RG8X and good quality PL259 connector on the CB end.
AND…
Make sure to get the SWR tune to the lowest setting.

luck,

Hey thanks for the help. I was going to use a coax that was laying around my house, but Im not sure if thats the best idea. Does this stud look like a good one? Chrome Plated SO-239 Stud - $3.95. And do you need one of the pl259 connectors?

No, use a Stud mount like this one: Firestik - K4DD - Stainless Steel Disc Mount - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com

Coax: Firestik - K8 - Single 18 Foot Coax With Lug Terminals - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com ; instead of FireStik Coax I would use Belden RG-8X but you get the picture.
With coax like this you can cut off the Ring Lugs if the coax is too long and just crimp on more and then heat shrink. Even though people will say that the coax is better and easier with PL259s on both end think about fixing it if the coax snaps off the pl259 on the trail on out in the middle of no where and the Ring Lugs are closer to a 50 ohm match than the PL259 is and that means (maybe) a lower SWR.

I guess I dont get the positive and negative terminals on the end of the coax. I thought you just connected it to the antenna and the back of the cb.

+1 I cant get my ****ing cb to work with my antenna either.

At the antenna, the center of the coax goes to the center bolt of the mount and the outside braid of the coax is ground and can be mounted in a couple of ways but do it as the connector instructions says to get started.

I suggested the Ring Lugs Connectors on the Antenna End o the Coax because it helps when installing too. The holes you need to drill to get the Coax to the outside and on to the antenna will be smaller.

At the CB end there will be a standard “CB” Type Connector, a PL-259.
Hook up the PL-259 to the back of the CB, run the wire to the Alon Mount/Stud, either use the Ring Lugs that are on the Coax and mount according instructions or shorten the coax and add new Ring Lugs.

shadow, CBs are simple to hook up, connect power and connect the coax, have the antenna tuned for low "standing wave ratio" (SWR), that’s it. Each step is straight forward, the CB has a red and blk wires for power, the coax will have connectors, usually a Standard CB Type Connector (UHF) for the rear of the CB and then depending on the Antenna Stud mount the Antenna end of the coax will have a connector(s). Tuning the antenna to the system/truck will sometimes take a little longer than most people would like but it is necessary for top performance.
Then to make matters worse, even if you install the system properly and tune the antenna to the lowest SWR, it still may only give you marginal performance because of antenna location, poor grounding (a biggy), and re-tuning of the antenna. Too many differences between vehicles but if you have power and the coax/antenna is installed correctly and grounded well, the CB should at least work.

So a coax like this isnt as good? RG8X Coax Cable 18 Foot Length (Most Popular) 188X - Electronics Superstore www.WalcottCB.com

It will work if you get a stud mount with a mating connector on it (SO 239), no problem.
Also you could cut the end off and attach Ring Lugs if you had the Ring Lug Type of Stud Mount.

It all depends on your preference but DO NOT buy the Fire Ring type of Coax.

My reasons behind the Ring Lug type of Stud Mount are:
1) Ease of running the coax through the truck, smaller holes where needed.
2) Ease of hook up, doesn’t take much more to attach the two Ring Lugs than it does screwing on the PL-259.
3) Ease of repair if and when necessary - the PL-259 Connector should be soldered on, try that on the trail

After everything is said and done it will always depend on you to decide based on your experiences and what you have seen and last but not least what your friends actually use.
Any questions just ask.

ltr

I have a 10' Steel whip antenna. how do I ground it? I know on fiberglass antennas the wire coming from the bottom of the plastic coating. But a whip??:shrug:

The Steel whips grounds in the same way the fiberglass antennas do, through the antenna mount/stud/spring.
The braided outside portion of the coax is the ground, this ground can attach to the mount by the PL-259 Connector or by itself and a Ring Lug.

For all antenna, and dependent on the Antenna to Body Mount you have, you will need a Stud Mount, one end of the stud mount will have either a PL-259 connector portion or a Ring Lug Mounting portion, that secures to the antenna mount. The other end will have a ⅜ x 24 threaded hole for the antenna to screw in to; the Steel Antenna should have a ⅜ x 24 Threaded bottom and it will screw in the Stud Mount.

Again, the grounding is taken care of by the Mount, just make sure there is a good ground between the Antenna Mount and the vehicle’s body/frame.
Also, get the Antenna/CB System tuned for the lowest SWR.

Get yourself one of each of them, dont buy them on line. Head up to 94 and head over to Exit 4 and there is a TA truck stop, go there, it will be cheaper because of no shipping. I have the cheaper equipment and I have been able to send about 4 miles and ive been able to recieve from over 10 miles. 18 feet of cable seems to be the norm and its just the right length to go from the back of the truck up into the cab. Should be no more then $12-15

Yea thats the place where I bought my antenna from. Im gonna go over there sometime this week and buy them. I'm just confused on which coax and stud I should buy.

find the one that looks like the back of your CB, find one with a connector that looks like that on both ends, then buy the stud that has an end like the cable.

i think scrambler should do up a nice how-to for all those people out there new to short wave, myself included, who either have or are looking at picking up a cb. it would be much appreciated and i would buy you a beer should our paths ever cross.