New CB radio install?

[FlyingDiver]

We're thinking about getting a CB installed in the bus. Any suggestions on models or installers? We're currently looking at this model, because it has the NOAA weather radio as well as CB:

Amazon.com: Cobra 18 WX ST II 40-Channel CB Radio with 10 NOAA Weather Channels: Electronics

joe

[Ed S]

Joe,

Take a look at the Cobra 29 wx nw st

What I like about this one with the weather bands is it as an alert if the weater service issues a warning. Would hope it would wake us up long before a major storm would hit us. To me it was worth the extra money. Now I just have to get the antenna right for better range on the cb part.
Ed

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed S Joe, Take a look at the Cobra 29 wx nw st What I like about this one with the weather bands is it as an alert if the weater service issues a warning. Would hope it would wake us up long before a major storm would hit us. To me it was worth the extra money. Now I just have to get the antenna right for better range on the cb part. Ed

That looks like a nice one, but I'll have to do some measuring to see if it'll fit in the spot I'll have for it. It's bigger than the other one.

No idea what I should be looking for in an antenna. I'm hoping to install one on the rooftop along with all the other antennas.

joe

[Ed S]

Joe, I am not expert by any means, heck I cant even get any range out of my system yet, installed for two weeks now. My understanding is since our MH's are fiberglass we need a non ground plane antenna. There are some good posts here if you seach for them. I wish you luck and today I plan to go out and move my antenna a bit higher and make some other adjustments.

[majfrizz]

Joe,

i have the one you show on the link. i like the front speaker, and the weather alerts. I had it peaked and tuned after i installed it and i get out usually about 12 miles on a good day. i have a Firstik antenna roof mount on the RV.

[StevePav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed S Joe, I am not expert by any means, heck I cant even get any range out of my system yet, installed for two weeks now. My understanding is since our MH's are fiberglass we need a non ground plane antenna. There are some good posts here if you seach for them. I wish you luck and today I plan to go out and move my antenna a bit higher and make some other adjustments.

Ed,

I just installed a Firestick antenna along with a new Midland CB. The antenna does not need a ground plane (which is good since my rig's exterior is fiberglass). I mounted as per instructions and it works great (mounted above driver's door). One thing that is important is to use the antenna without cutting anything off the antenna wire and if you need to add some extra wire, extend it in multiples of 9' as per instructions. Finishing up I set the SWR (1.2 on mine) and the unit works great!

Steve

[Ed S]

Wonder why multiples of 9 ft. Maybe that is why I have no range.?.?

Ed

[StevePav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed S Wonder why multiples of 9 ft. Maybe that is why I have no range.?.? Ed

Ed,

Here are some links to some Firestick FAQ pages that might contain an answer for you. Good luck.

Steve

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/GP-or-NGP.htm

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/BAD-INSTALLS.htm

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/ngp-inst.htm

The main page for these FAQs and more is:

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

[TXiceman]

The Firestik NGP is the best way to go on a motorhome. The antenna is th eheart of the system. A poor antenna does a good readio no good at all, but you can put a good antenna on a not so good radio and do pretty good.

You will need to check the SWR....

Ken

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed S Wonder why multiples of 9 ft. Maybe that is why I have no range.?.? Ed

Not just multiples of 9 feet but ODD multiples Unless you know a bit more than the average bloke about antennas, I do have some "Even multiple" antennas that work great, but ... I designed and built the things)

The reason is that the CB band is also called the 11 meter band, thus the signal is 11 meters long zero point to zero point. 9 feet is about 11 meters/4 so it's 1/4 wave length, Now that's only half the antenna (The frame of the vehicle is the other half)

The next multiple (18 feet) is too tall since you are limited to 13 foot high on a vehicle, but could be done in the horzontial if you work SSB a lot, there are issues with that though.

Some antennas use a sprial wire so they are physically shorter, but electrically longer, Some of these are "No ground plane" by doing some magic, which, as noted above, I understand, (it is really science and I did have to pass a test on this stuff, passed too) they make some of these so no ground plane is needed.

But what this all amounts to is this

one or two 9' whips (The 2 version you mount one on each side of the vehicle, and use a phasing harness to feed them) is your best antenna. anything else is a comprimise The bottom of the antenna needs to be close to the frame of the vehicle, the shield lead on the coax goes to frame note: Frame can = Metal body
Note 2, you need at least 9 feet of metal body/frame too.. A "West coast" mirror bolted to a fiberglass door is NOT a ground plane.for 11 meters (CB) it might be on 70cm (Ham band) but not for CB