CB Radio Information and Installation

You should never never never try trickery of the coax. Just because you're hiding the reflected power doesn't mean it isn't there. Tune the antenna so you send out the power and not eat it in the coax.

 

You do know a screwdriver is just a giant tuning coil right? Of course it tunes 11, as it's between 10 and 12. I had one on my Nissan. Very inefficient, but a compromise antenna is better than no antenna. I liked the WARC bands mobile, less QRM.

 

I can almost guarantee that 99% of the people on here are not going to go through that kind of trouble (or money, for that matter) for a CB so they can talk to their wheeling buddies without yelling out the window.

Also, in bright red in the first post I am asking to keep it simple for the average CB user. We can fill up the HAM thread with radio theory arguments. Ha!

Funny how it's been pretty mainstream since the 60's, yet everyone still debates different aspects.

RevAdam nailed it:

 

I loved my original dave made 5 pill....with magnum s9

 

Yes but transmitting on 11 meters at a 100 watts is a no no same as modifying a Icom ham radio to TX on 11 meters. I don't think many people would buy a $400 antenna just so they could tune it on 11 meters that's what I mean be not being designed for 11 meters. I'm usually on 17 unless there is a net some where.

 

It was not directed to ham radio it was about tuning and antenna mounting. The ball mounts have been around for probably 75 years or more it is a standard 3/4 24 thread mount same size as a CB mast. RF is RF no matter what band you chose it acts exactly they same no matter what the frequency is. My antenna is remotely tuned other need to be cut that is the only difference.

 

Grounding wire not coax. Cutting coax to effect a match means some thing is wrong with the install.

 

i.e. 99% of all CB installs.

 

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That is so annoying Oh yea, I will track down CB amp users and report them to the FCC. Splattering 10 meters isn't cool. (Now if your amp is clean, I shouldn't ever see it as I stay away from 11.)

 

I worked tons of DX on 17 mobile. It and 40 were my top two screwdriver bands.

 

^ This

 

Looks like a Little Tarheel antenna. I have one myself. I just need to get an IC-7000 (or FT-100D) to go with it. I would prefer to get the IC-7000 since I can port the radio's display to my Kenwood DNN-990HD's display.

 

Well, if the length of the coax affects the SWR, then you have a problem. Most likely RF on the shield. In most cases, an common mode choke will resolve the issue.

Well, it does add a little work to it.

 

There's nothing really wrong with screwdriver antennas. But some are better than others and a lot of that comes down to the size of the coil. Supposedly, the best out there right now is Scorpion. They're very expensive (as much or more than some home/base station antennas) but well worth the money.

 

I know of someone who spent a lot of money on an FT-2000 (200 watt version) just so he could use it on CB. A lot of money wasted just so he could raise is signal strength a whopping one and a half to two s-units. He'd have been better off spending that money on a good antenna system. Sometimes, I think I'd like to have a legal limit amp but then I think to myself, "Why?" In most cases, all I'll see is about a 1 1/2 s-unit increase at the receive station. Not enough to make or break a contact in my opinion.

 

I agree. Amps are over-rated.

For the most part - I don't care what people do on 11 M. I just ask that they stay off of 10 and 12 if they don't have a license.

 

Yeah but when the band is dead he'll be able to talk to his buddy in the next town though. All that money for a 50 watt AM carrier. Do they make SSB CB's any more?

 

Yeah but you know no matter what one you buy the bottom line is you are still working QRP. It never ceases to amaze me that I can get through a pile up mobile. 72 countries now mobile and counting.