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12-24-2018, 09:25 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: iowa
Posts: 17
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c/b antenna
What is the best antenna to use on a fiberglass coach ? Also where is the best mounting location ?
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12-24-2018, 09:35 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ & Plover, WI
Posts: 6,403
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My Bus came with a cb whip on top, but I had a loaded fiberglass one mounted above the upper driver side window and had it tuned. It is made for fiberglass a body. A CB isn't of much value anymore and I haven't turned it on in over two years. I will probably just remove it. I only used it when traveling with a friend, and he's gone now, but was only good for a mile or so.
__________________
2006 Monaco Executive 44 Denali
2013 43 QGP Allegro Bus ( SOLD )
2013 Avalanche
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12-24-2018, 10:39 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,043
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I seldom use the CB except when approaching a nasty backup (an accident or other slow-down that is frustrating). If course, it's the truckers that typically give the "colorful" information about a backup.
I write the above to say that my CB use is mostly short-range, i.e., less than 2 miles (as opposed to, say, 15 miles). So your choice of antenna might take my suggested operating condition into account when you choose an antenna. I'm using the short whip. Not to worried about the "ground plane" that dedicated CB-ers may insist upon for best reception. As to location: The whip could be on the roof's front cap, but routing the coax cable could be a challenge. So mounting it on (or near) the driver's side mirror is typically adequate.
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Robi & Dale ---- Go Navy ----
2016 Winnie TOUR 42'
Tow: '19 Buick Envision
or: '08 Buick Lucerne
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12-24-2018, 10:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,345
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I've tried a couple antenna's and of the two the Firestik works the best. I tried the through the glass set up also. The problem with that one was that reception was OK but transmission wasn't good at all. I also found that the length of the coax is important. Initially I had a cable that was about 12 feet long. With that one my SWR was extremely high. I then went the an 18foot length of cable and the SWR was well within an acceptable range which overall should permit a better transmission.
https://smile.amazon.com/Distributin...nna+side+mount
This system isn't cheap but I can assure you that the 12 foot coax cables will make you quite unhappy. Check around as you may find the system for less.
Good luck.
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Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club
2009 Fleetwood Bounder 35H
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12-24-2018, 12:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 1,343
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Fire Stick No Ground Plane(the longer of the two) and don't Alter the coax and try to spread it out as much as you can as it is providing your ground plane.
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2000 Allegro Bus 35R 3126 Cat 300 Allison 3060MD 6 speed
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12-25-2018, 09:34 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rkesselus
Fire Stick No Ground Plane(the longer of the two) and don't Alter the coax and try to spread it out as much as you can as it is providing your ground plane.
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ditto
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Ron & Katie / N6CUS (Extra Class) Ham Monitor 146.520
2018 Entegra Anthem 44F - Toad 2014 Chevy Silverado and 2006 Jeep Liberty
2008 Discovery 40X - 1999 Bounder 34v -- US Navy USS Courtney DE1021
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12-25-2018, 01:58 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,722
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rkesselus
Fire Stick No Ground Plane(the longer of the two) and don't Alter the coax and try to spread it out as much as you can as it is providing your ground plane.
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Another Ditto. I have the 4' Firestik #FG4648-B. Mine is mounted on the side just aft of the drivers window and extending 15" above the roof. Very good performance on my stock (not modded or peaked) radio. In the flatlands I can typically have a understandable conversation 6-8 miles away, Rolling Hills about 2-5 miles. The 4' version lists for about $75 but I have seen it in numerous places for under $50
You won't use the radio as much as you think you will. Not that many RV'ers on, and some of the truckers will curse you. It does come in handy for finding out what is going on in traffic jams and when caravaning with other RV'ers. I mainly use the weather service channels that came with my radio to keep track of weather forecasts and conditions.
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2019 Forest River Sunseeker 2850
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01-06-2019, 05:47 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 11
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I just installed this and seems to be working good. 
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Rex Cass
2004 Coachmen Santana
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01-06-2019, 10:07 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,898
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LSC9901
I've tried a couple antenna's and of the two the Firestik works the best. I tried the through the glass set up also. The problem with that one was that reception was OK but transmission wasn't good at all. I also found that the length of the coax is important. Initially I had a cable that was about 12 feet long. With that one my SWR was extremely high. I then went the an 18foot length of cable and the SWR was well within an acceptable range which overall should permit a better transmission.
https://smile.amazon.com/Distributin...nna+side+mount
This system isn't cheap but I can assure you that the 12 foot coax cables will make you quite unhappy. Check around as you may find the system for less.
Good luck. |
You may find this website interesting: Exposing the 18' coax myth
I also use a Firestik NGP antenna.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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01-07-2019, 12:21 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,937
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That is the same one I use too, nice sleek modern looking mount through the fiberglass end cap side wall by the front of drivers window.
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2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
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