I've been reading up on CB topics, but one thing I'm not sure of is antenna length. From what I've been reading on Firestik's website is that you can use a shorter antenna with the proper tuning, etc. How short can you go and still get decent performance? I'd like to install an antenna and leave it on. If I go too long, I'll have to remove it to get into the garage. I'd like to mount it to the front fender (like Corey's original setup) or to the front brushguard. Is 2 or 3 feet too short? What do I lose in a properly tuned short antenna vs a longer (say 4-5 feet) one? I'd like to use the CB for general use, not just offroading groups.

The antenna specs show a reduced wattage handling ability as you go shorter. How does this relate to the CB's output capability? Are the watts the antenna can handle the same watts used to rate output?

Chris

 

Hi Chris, I have read that the top of the antenna for ideal output should be higher than the highest point on your rig.

A shorter antenna will work. Gene runs a 2' one I believe for around town, then switches to a 4' Firestik II one for off road.
The longer one is going to receive and transmit further.

If you want to run a 4' one like mine, get a quick disconnect setup like mine.



There are cheap ones out there, so make sure it's like the one in my pic, and expect to pay $20 just for it, but it's worth it.
Mine doesn't have any slop or play in it, and with one simple push/twist with one hand, it's off in one second.
That would allow you to park in the garage.

I think you will be happier with the performance of a 3' or 4' antenna.

A for the last question, I'm not sure. I think that may be in total wattage your transmitter is putting out. You can run a linear amp that puts out 1,000 watts or more, so that could be what they are relating too.

Also take into consideration what type of CB you have. With my Cobra, the CB guy was able to pull out the transmitter amp and replace it with one 4 times as powerful.
Instead of putting out 4 watts, I now put out about 24 to 25 watts when keyed up and talking.
It made a big difference as everyone says I come in plenty loud & clear.

Most Cobra's & Uniden's can be "Super Tuned" in this way.
If you put the mount on your brush guard, you will want the coax ground wire screwed in right where it exits the sheath to the guard, then I'd run a ground strap from the guard itself somewhere to the frame of your rig so you will have a good ground.

Or if you use a mount that the coax ground wire attaches to the mount, make sure the mount is properly grounded to the brush guard.
A bad ground will make the SWR reading be around 3 which is not good.
I had that happen when I moved my antenna to the ARB. I had run a wire from the coax ground to a bolt under the hood.
That was before it was clear in my mind the SWR ground has to be right at the spot where it exits the coax sheath.
My match now is 1.0 to 1.1 on al 40 channels which is very low, and great.

 

Thanks for the info. I believe I'll go with the longer, removable antenna.

Chris

 

Ace runs a 2' Firestik off his safari basket... works just fine.