CB antenna mount question

[Dr Bill]

Hi folks

I've got a Fleewood gas Bounder. The stock(combo) CB antenna is iffy at best. I've searched the Forum and the recomendation in a No-ground plane antenna. I looked at Firestik . com--I noticed a mirror mount--QUESTION-could I mount an antenna using the clamp mount on the rear ladder of the MH (so that it would work--I know I cna clamp it on).

Thanks for your advice.

Bill

[Dr Bill]

Hi folks

I've got a Fleewood gas Bounder. The stock(combo) CB antenna is iffy at best. I've searched the Forum and the recomendation in a No-ground plane antenna. I looked at Firestik . com--I noticed a mirror mount--QUESTION-could I mount an antenna using the clamp mount on the rear ladder of the MH (so that it would work--I know I cna clamp it on).

Thanks for your advice.

Bill

[W8RLM]

Bill,

The radio is only 4 watts output. I tried using my ham radio antenna which was mounted on the top of my rear ladder. I tuned it to Channel 19. The loss through 50 feet of coax - a good grade of coax - was too much to transmit much of a signal. I installed the factory antenna supplied by Winnebago, and it works OK.

The through-the-glass antennas didn't work well at all.

The mirror mounts have been OK according to some of the other posts that I've seen.

Good luck

W8RLM - Bob

[hamguy]

Bob, the losses for good coax on 27 mHz is negligible. In fact, less than the same on 10 meters. Somthing doesn't wash.

[alvinc]

A couple of comments:

a) On many CB antennas the cable is part of the tuned circuit, so adding an extension or cutting the cable will hurt the system.

b) I have not had much luck with the glass mount antennas, nor have my friends.

c) If the antennas that W8RLM and hamguy are talking about is a 10 meter (29.7-30 MHz)antenna it should work. CB is at 26.9-27.4 MHz, though not well (depends on the antenna tuning). Channel 40 would give the best match. If W8RLM's antenna is a 2 meter antenna, there is no way that CB would work on it.

Suggestion: use the Firestik FireFly on a molded side mount up front to the left of the driver. Use the 4 ft antenna if possible.

[W8RLM]

The antenna that I used was a screwdriver tuned to channel 19 frequency. It was not a 2 meter antenna.

Unfortunately, there was 50 feet of coax between the antenna and the radio.

W8RLM - Bob

[hamguy]

Bob,

Coax loss for 50' of RG-58 at 50mHz is 1.7 dB
For RG-213 - 0.8 dB
For RG-8X - 1.25 dB

Hardly noticable at 50 mHz and, of course, somewhat less at 27 mHz.

[GaryKD]

This may be a bit late for the thread, but here is some additional information. alvinc has the right idea. His solution is what I have done. I purchased the Firestik no ground plane side mold mount antenna kit. I got the 4 ft. antenna. The top of the antenna is 14' 2" above the ground. SWR is about 2.5 on channel 1 and 40. SWR is 1.7 on channel 20. The radio works outstanding. I have lead a caravan for over 100 miles. We got stretched out over 2 miles. The tail gunner was always able to receive my transmissions. Go here for pictures:
No Ground Plane Antenna And Side Mount
The antenna in the picture is the 3' model. It did not work as well as I had hoped. I got the 4' and have been very satisfied.


For me, the secret is to get as much of the antenna as possible above all the stuff we have on the roof.