Uniden and Cobra are like Ford and Mercury. Same thing, maybe just a few cosmetic differences.

 

Yep, I thought so.

 

Firesticks are really good antennas, but they do have limits as to how much power you can put into them. A 108" steel whip doesn't. So if your running a good size linear, the steel whip is the way to go. Although, some firesticks can handle well over 1000 watts, but there's not very many people running that kind of power. Also keep in mind. When tuning the SWR's...A Firestick is alot easier to tune. The whip will have to be trimmed in order to tune the SWR's.

 

So what would be the best wattage rating to get for just a average user? I don't really want to spend 70 bucks on a antenna, so the 4 foot firestick is in my price range. Anythings better then the little 36" magmount Cobra antenna I have now lol.

 

I'm running an older Hustler magnet mount. Bout 36" tall. I can talk about 15 miles. Best thing to do is instead of putting all the money into a new antenna, just run a decend little magnet mount. Spend the rest of the $$ on getting the unit "peak and tuned". Stock they put out 4 watts. Mine is dead keying over 10 watts, and swinging to 21. Also...try getting a good power mike...you'll see the difference.

 

Alright. Well, the Firesticks are tuned already. Wasnt easy, had two 5' firesticks on it, one was functional, the other was not, and we couldnt get it to tune, the CB guy said there wasnt enough ground.. So we had to dounsize to the 4'.. (it may have been 4' and 3'..cant remember for sure). The way they are mounted right now is outside the box using steak whole mounts, which i really dont like. They stick out about a 1/2-1" from the bed. How do you mount them inside the bed?

 

Just FYI...I doubt that the firesticks are "pre-tuned". What yur actually doing when you set the SWR's, is that your matching the antenna to the vehicle. Well....when you run 2 antennas like that...they have to be AT LEAST 18' apart. notice when you go buy coax for dual antennas...they are always 18'. Actually thats true with any coax and any antenna. I used to have one single fiberglass antenna mounted to the inside of my bed...bedind my sliding glass, but have since moved on to my little magnet mount. It works so much better. Why are you running duals? One antenna is all you need. If you don't have the right distance between them, the will actuallt cancel each other out. Also, don't firesticks come with a ground strap?

 

well, only one is functional right now. The other i was thinkin bout hookin up a police scanner up to it, but, im not sure.

what do you mean the firesticks are pre-tuned.. We Changed the SWR's, and raised/lowerd the tips on the firesticks untill The CB guy said it was good. Although, it doesnt seem i always get reception..

 

He said that they weren't pretuned, you have to do the tuning yourself like you did. htjunkie, my CB is 4 watts right now, my uncles buddy can peak it for me, but can any CB shop peak and tune? I know they can tune but I thought anything over 4 watts was against some code or something like that.

 

Gotcha. Sorry bout that. Thanks

 

hey you can still access the airbab switch easy, once you take the switch off the dash trim you will see what I mean.

 

It's true that anything over 4 watts is against the FCC regulations. BUT...I have never heard of anyone ever getting into any trouble over it. I used to run a 1500 watt linear, and the only time I heard anything bad from the local PD, was when i was keying up and making garage doors open, and I would knock out cordless phones. Unless your using big power in a house...I wouldn't worry about it. As far as peaking your radio, it's a pretty easy process. Just open the radio, use a watt meter, and turn the right screws. I'm sure that any CB shop can do it. Remember...your DEADKEYING 4 watts, but probably swinging more like 7-9.

 

You can't use a CB radio for a scanner. Does your CB have an RF gain ****?

 

when Me and my GF's dad put my CB in my truck, He was telling me that there is a guy in town that "works" for the FCC, well he actually is what we call a snitch. He goes around with all this equipment and picks up on anyone who is running anithing over what they are supposed to and reports it to the FCC. From what i have heard all that happens is you get a letter in the mail with and you have to pay a fine.

 

I was going to buy a scanner and hook it up to the other scanner. Yes it does

 

undefined The only way that he would be able to tell how many watts your putting out was if he actually piggy-backed a meter to your radio.

 

hmmm. maybe they just told me that to scare me.... lol

 

hook it up to what scanner? what i'm saying is that I've never heard of a CB (AM) antenna working on a scanner...seen it tried, but never worked. Try using the RF gain to help your reception.

 

...or, used a commonly available apparatus known as a 'field strength meter' to determine the radiation pattern of the signal, and the relative signal strength therein.

 

That might give him an IDEA of what your running, but again, I seriously doubt that the FCC will waste time and money coming after a 7 watt radio.

 

Oh lol. I thought you said use the actuall CB as a scanner lol. Hmmm. yeah i tried. sometimes i will be able to hear the guys talk, sometimes i wont. Its wiered. I was thinkin once i get the roll bar in, (and after seeing some of the trucks on here) i might just put a whip on the back passanger side. really like the look of it.

 

True, but trust me, the few guys that mess with their radios around where i live arnt just getting it up to 7 watts. they spend ALOT of money on them. **** my gf's dads radio(although a HAM) cost more than my truck

 

Yes, it will. It will give him a better idea of what you're running than the $25 SWR/Power meter that your "cb guy" used to "tune" the radio.

You'd be surprised. Use that 7 watt radio to interfere with commercial, public safety, or broadcast radio, and see how concerned they become...

 

yeah. Well, i dont know about $25 lol. Oldgold's got some pretty expensive equipment. he's got an old snapon truck that he converted into his mobile cb shop, and he travels all over the midwest with it. Plus hes got HUGE antennas in the backyard of his house.

 

yea, I know a few guys that are the same way. It's called Overkill....lol