CB Preference-which is the best?

I know alot of people here use the firestik antennas and are happy with them. I never had very good performance with my 4'. I've been using the little Wilson for about a year now and love it, although I'm about to upgrade to a Wilson 1000. The good thing about them is they are easy to install, tune and remove if you want to. Any antenna you decide to go with will need to be tuned to the radio. Either get yourself an SWR meter or borrow one or have a CB shop or truck stop tune it for you. Keep in mind though that the amount you pay to have someone tune it for you, you could have bought the meter. Then if you ever decide to switch radios or antennas you have the meter to do so. And fwiw it's really not that hard to use. As far as "boosters" go................they are illegal and you run the risk of getting it seized and/or fines if you get caught by the FCC, although the chances of that are very slim. Good luck and let us know how the install goes!

 

I have a few questions:
I know which radio I am getting, only thing is which antenna.
I want a Firestik, but don't want something to tall. Can I get good reception with a 3ft Firestik to clear the cab if mounted in the bed, or would I need a 4ft one?? I know I would probably get better reception with a 4ft one, but will a 3ft one work just as well?

thanks

 

The taller the antenna the better the performance. Depends on how far you want to get out, but I would go with the 4 footer.

 

sub'd

 

I'll go with the 4ft--thanks for the help.

last question, 9ft coax or 18ft coax??--
I plan to ground the antenna.

 

Go with the 18 feet. Better to have too much than not enough.

 

This is my 2002 with the Dual Antennas. I had my CB peaked and tuned and the antennas tuned. Works really well

 

I have a General Lee with a whip in my 1st gen. LOVE the radio. Plenty of power and every single channel out there. The only down fall is the size of it. It's like mounting a vcr in your truck.

 

HAM FTMFW!

 

subd

 

Im looking for one to go in the bottom den of the radio den any suggestions?

 

I'm assuming you're looking for a single din to fit under your stereo? The only one I know of that size is the cobra 18 but they are not great radios. There are smaller radios: cobra 19 and uniden 520xl that will fit in the dash as well.

 

Cobra 19 DX IV fits under mine pretty snug. Some modifying had to happen to make it fit in the back but overall, I like it.

 

Yes one that one fit in the single din thanks

 

I did this in my tacoma. I haver the cobra 18 and regardless of what people say its a damn good radio for what i need it for. I got the antennas tuned and the radio peacked and tuned then i did the install myself. with a little drilling, some bending and a 90 degree angle coax adapter it skides right in.

 

Does this look like a good set up?

Galaxy D 979, Wilson Silverload FGT 4' antennna, heavy duty spring, 18' wilson coax, & an astatic 636L microphone.

 

Looks good to me. I've been curious about those 979's, being as they are a smaller radio. Wilson silver loads are good and I'm using a 636 astatic now and it's good for a non powered mic.

 

what powered mic would you suggest?

 

Is there still much CB traffic on the highways? I figure with the iPhones, Sat Radio, etc, the truck traffic has dried up

 

You can't go wrong with a D104 handheld. Although you really don't need a power mic on a decent set-up.