CB specifics

Thank you for the graph! I didn't realize even at .5 you begin to lose output strength! I posted a link to video on youtube, I've been in touch with that gentleman and I'll be sending him my cb to unlock the clarifier and to maximize the cb's performance. The Mckinley he had on his bench was a little under powered from the factory, I'd like to be spot on at 4w and 12w ssb. I asked him about the SWR meter in it, he all the one's he's seen so far were accurate.

 

Good stuff!

I'll probably go with a 3' Firestik, mounted on a ditch light bracket. I finally got around to watching that 45 min review vid, and now I think its time to actually buy the radio (I have a list of mods to do to the truck, but CB is pretty low on the priority list).

Have you had the radio peaked/tuned? I plan on buying from Bells and getting him to do all that before it's shipped to me.

 

I’m gonna have one loud pa...

 

Let me know how it works out because I've considered the same style set up for a PA.

 

Anyone here using a ditch light bracket for both an antenna AND ditch lights? I know some manufacturers also sell "extensions" for this purpose. I'd love to see pics and hear some reviews on reception. I'm worried having the antenna on the outside of the mount will mess up the ground plane.

Thanks!

 

I know a guy who made an extension with a steel plate from lowe’s, works fine

 

Yep. I do. Works good. Use a medium spring not heavy duty.

 

Got some pics? What is your reception like? How are you running your ground?

 

Anyone know of the best place to mount a pa speaker in a 3rd gen engine compartment?

 

Anywhere it'll fit, and I'd try and angle it somewhat downwards so you won't get standing water in it.

 

I’m not super concerned about it, I don’t have a hood scoop

 

Looking at the motor. To the right hand side back by the firewall. That's where I put mine.

 

I've reached out to the guy who made the video, he's got a couple more regarding the McKinley and a lot more in general.
I'll be sending him my radio to peak/tune and possibly have the clarifier unlocked!

 

Technically, your WHOLE vehicle chassis is a "ground plane". I would imagine the ditch light bracket is somehow going to be connected to your trucks chassis at some point? All of the ditch light brackets I've ever seen are pretty much connected to the trucks chassis/cab/frame.

 

From whatever I've read, for some reason that might make more of a difference in Ham radio antennas, not as much in CB bands.

 

Even CB antennas need some sort of a ground plane. A ground plane is simply "the other half of the antenna", in that sense. For example, a magmount style antenna... the magnet isn't just there to "hold the antenna" onto the vehicle. The magnet is actually magnetically "coupling" the vehicles chassis to be used as part of the ground plane.

Then you have "special antennas" that may or may not need an actual ground plane and that is starting to go into areas "I" don't know about or need to study more about!!! For example, the boats that are "non-metal hulls" that have marine radio mobile units need special antennas that require no ground plane!!! I wish I can go into more detail, but I cannot.

Anyways, your typical vehicle CB unit made for cars/trucks typically require that your antenna system have a ground plane.

 

3' 5/8 wave Firestick II mounted on a Relentless mount. (Nice Stuff, fits Excellent !)

I ordered my mount powder coated and of course then had NO ground. Had to scrape away some powder and some hood paint to make a good ground and also added a strap. I still can hear the wipers and some acceleration whine in the radio.

 

Ok, you're absolutely right! Not arguing otherwise, even placing mag mount close to center of whatever.... point is, extension on (grounded) ditch bracket works fine with 3 ft cb antenna. Not too sure if it would work as well on 2m ham antenna, at least according to what I read.
I tried mock up a bracket to fit behind the cab, but over rolled up tonneau cover. It was 6" high over the bed, even though I grounded it to the frame (12 ga wire) I couldn't get reasonable SWR readings. That was before I read up "ground plane"... but, we're talking 6" over soft tonneau and 5' of ground wire, not 2" (or so) over metal hood.
Hope it makes some sense.

Edit: There is a chance I misunderstood something about this whole deal, or whoever wrote the articles was wrong, subsequently I might be wrong... I think I'll stfu now, and go to sleep..

 

Is this a 2nd gen bracket?

Edit: Disregard that question... just realized you have a 2nd gen. That bracket unfortunately doesn't work on 3rd gens.

 

So your CB antenna was, more or less, "next to a structure"? Sorry for the shi**y drawing, but I think you get the point:


As an example, for the 1st picture, most of your RF signal is going to get reflected back to your radio's output. It doesn't matter WHO manuf your antenna, it is the environment, in this case the cab of the vehicle, causing the issue of a HIGH SWR!!! I know this for a fact as I have a small antenna because of the stupid car port. I know they make quick disconnects, but I just didn't want to have to deal with it day in and day out. I just wanted to have an antenna there for whatever reason. The best I could get for a "good SWR" was around 2.8-2.9!!! But, given the location and how much the antenna is being blocked due to the cab of the truck, I expected a HIGH SWR. I mainly just monitored the CB and only transmitted if anyone was in need of some sort of help, which actually happened. I was on my way to my sisters place and a trucker came on air asking if anyone could hear him? I replied back that he came in loud and clear and he then told me that he had the CB on for quite some time and no one was talking? He was wondering if something happened to his CB? When he gave me his location, he was roughly 2-3mi away. The point being, it still worked very well, but I kept my transmissions short because I didn't feel very comfortable with such a high SWR. Again, I just had it there just to have something there for the time being for parking purposes.

Anyways, for the 2nd picture, this is my normal off-roading setup. I like my 4ft Francis antenna. My SWR reading is well within reason, around 1.7ish, and I don't have to worry about ruining my radio.

I hope this helps a little?!