CB antenna single-phase VS co-phase set up???

I want to know if there's any advantage/disadvantage of having a co-phase antenna set up for a CB. Things like increased/decreased range, clearer/unclear radio transmission, lower/higher SWR readings... etc. Stuff like that. Any input is much appreciated!!!

 

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Get a ham license instead. Will increase the range, smaller antennas, audio quality is much better.

 

Isn't ham a lot more strict on what you can talk about though? I hear it's kinda gay because you have to be more politically correct when you talk on it? like no cussing and whatnot...

 

Hahahahaha. I mainly just use mine for trail use and when I'm REALLY bored to talk to people around town. I hate when people get on and act like complete blithering idiots.

 

There are rules. You cant swear. but you can talk about anything. there are no rules about that other than the swearing.

But, believe me its well worth it. The range and audio quality is far far superior to CB. A lot of offroaders are getting their licenses for this reason. I have a friend who is a CB convert and I have sat there and listened to his CB a couple times. I just counldn't handle the immaturity and stupidity and thats just in the pathetic range that CB has.

 

when i got my cb, there was a rules and regulations booklet with it. i believe it said no swearing on cbs either.

sorry, that didn't do anything to answer your question, just thought i'd throw that out there

 

^^^ do you have any pictures, or a link to the "y" connector you used to join the two coax cables? i may get a second 4' firestik in the future

 

no real advantage on a vehicle its two ant. looks good though I prefer a big stick or whip.

 

Hahahahaha. Ya, but NOBODY follows the rules. It's not like they can take your CB away from you for swearing. With HAM, they can revoke your license...

 

oswego,
thanks for the info! I've had my cb and antenna up and running for abotu a year. I'm running a 4 foot firestik, so the second would be the same thing. do you think it would be possible to get the split made with equal lengths of cable on both sides, so i could just connect it to the existing cable i have? if not, oh well, coax is relatively cheap. as for the quick disconnects, they unfortunately will not work for me. with my lift, tires and roof rack, i don't fit in parking garages anymore

here's a picture of the current setup. i'm planning to clamp the second antenna in the same spot on tail light guard on the other side. wish i had a better picture of it

oh, i know that verry well, just throwing it out there. you hear some funny shit driving down the interstate

 

I was talking to England on my way to work this morning. With the sound quality of a telephone.

 

I put dual antennas on my old Nissan, but mainly for looks. Could be a slightly OCD thing. I wouldn't expect much gain in range or clarity. Having your antenna where it is is a pretty good spot.

I don't think I'll put one on the Taco, cell phones work in Moab now

 

Actually thats a convenient spot. behind the cab is actually a horrible place to put an antenna. the best place is smack dab in the middle of the cab roof. The roof provides a good ground plane. On the back you have a ground right next to your antenna most of the way up. Really messes with your signal. The range and clarity of CB is mainly a function of the band and mode it operates on. AM/SSB are terrible for audio quality and 11m is actually a horrible band for local communications. with the right antenna and good band conditions you can talk around the world on it, but its just not good for local communications. This is why so many offroaders are going out and getting their ham licenses where they can use VHF/UHF and all the repeaters on them. much better bands for local communications.

 

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Get rid of that CB while you're ahead and get you a good 2 meter or 2 meter/70cm dual bander to start out with. You will be MUCH more impressed, and it can all be done for a reasonable price.

 

The ham radio community is way more advanced. There are repeaters that take your signal and retransmit it from a mountain top. I can talk some serious distance on just RF. Now the repeaters are being linked through the internet and you can talk around the world. Also with ham you can run a lot more power on bands that are better for that sort of communication. The basic 2m radio will put out 50W compared to the 4w limit of CBs and at 50w will do way better than a cb with a linear amp. the antennas are smaller and more discrete. You could easily put together a simple 2m setup for under $200. The audio quality is far superior because it uses FM.

But, no ham radios cannot transmit on CB frequencies. You would need to keep your CB for that. But, its not uncommon for people to keep a CB setup as well.

The N6ICW repeater system here covers from Redding to Madera N/S and from SF to Tahoe E/W. Check out a cali map to get an idea of how much range that is. this is on 50W with a mobile. With 5w on a handheld you can still get an immense coverage on that system

 

I added some more to that post.

There is a test to get a license, but It really isnt hard. Most people can study a few hours the night before and pass. I suggest www.hamtestonline.com

 

I would suggest hamtestonline too. I used it and took my tech and general tests in the same day and passed both.