Own a Pickup or Jeep? You may want to jump directly to our vehicle specific antenna guides here for Jeeps and Pickup Trucks. Fiberglass antennas range in length from 2' to 7'. They're built from a fiberglass rod, with the antenna wire wound along the outside underneath a plastic wrap. The antenna coil for fiberglass antennas is usually located at the top of the antenna. Transmit and receive range will vary dramatically based on conditions and the mounting location of the antenna. But for a rough approximation, you can expect the following range from these lengths of fiberglass antennas.
Fiberglass antennas are usually the best choice for 4x4 and off-road drivers. They're the most durable type of antenna and hold up best to the rigors and abuse of off-road use.
Because they can utilize any one of hundreds of different mounts, they can be mounted just about anywhere on your vehicle - often being paired with vehicle specific mounts for factory-looking installs.
Even if the mounting location you choose is in the middle of the vehicle, you can usually pick a long enough antenna to get the coil the most important part above the roofline to ensure acceptable performance. They're not quite as powerful as a similar length magnetic or center-load antenna. And you do need to buy the mount and coax separately unlike a magnet antenna that is an all-in-one package.
But that's about it. It's beefy, works extremely well and is made right here in the USA. You can't go wrong picking it for just about any use - especially for pickup truck and off-road applications. See the Firestik FS here. Magnet mount antennas, like you'd probably guess from the name, utilize a magnet base to secure the antenna to the vehicle. They come with everything you'll need in one package as the coax, magnetic mount and whip antenna are all included.
For a rough approximation, you can expect the following range from these lengths of magnetic antennas. If you have a vehicle with a metal roof, it's hard to beat the performance of a tall magnet mount antenna on your roof. The central mounting location and height of the antenna at the highest point on the vehicle will result in the best performance you'll be able to get in any single antenna install apart from a " whip.
In addition, it is super easy to install. Unlike other antennas that require special mounts that often require drilling into your vehicle, a magnetic mount antenna installs simply and cleanly to your rooftop.
Just set it in place and you're done! While you'll enjoy impressive performance, you're more likely to have clearance issues with a magnetic mount antenna given its high mount location. If, however, the antenna is mounted in the back, the signal toward the front will be more efficient than those toward the back due to the larger ground plane. Standard antennas should not be used for applications that do not have an adequate ground plane.
Ground plane dependent antennas require a metallic counterpoise to perform properly. They are not suited for use on non-metallic composite vehicles or those with insufficient metal. They can be used as a base station antenna if an adequate ground plane is provided.
Before transmitting with a radio, these antennas should be tested and tuned across the radios operating frequency. Ground plane dependent antennas require mounting brackets and antenna stud mounts that are electrically grounded to a chassis ground point.
Powder coating, paint, and or anodized surfaces are insulating coatings and may need to be removed down to the metal surface where a ground is required. Another option can be to attach a grounding strap or wire to electrically ground the mount to a grounding point.
The required ground is built into the coax cable to use without an external ground. If you application does not have a metal ground plane, you should consider utilizing a NGP No Ground Plane antenna system OR create a ground plane that is at least 2 feet by 2 feet.
An additional caution is that NGP antennas are not interchangeable with ground-based equipment. If you're having trouble finding a mounting location, Procomm makes a nifty window mount NGP antenna.
Also, standard antennas require that the antenna mount is electrically grounded. NGP antennas do not require the antenna mount to be electrically grounded. That translates to inches 8. So, antenna designers have devised solutions such as coils. If you want a tall antenna, but are concerned about clearances for parking structures, garages and other barrier clearances, you might consider getting a tool-free quick disconnect for the antenna you select.
If it's practical for your application, this antenna will provide the best transmit range. A ball mount and heavy spring are suggested to mount it. A good whip tie down will secure it for travel. For a standard CB antenna, you can typically expect miles of range for every one foot of antenna. In one widely used antenna solution to compensate for height, antenna makers wrap wire closely around the main shaft of the antenna to form a coil.
That allows the antenna to be shorter and more practical, but the tradeoff is that the antenna loses some efficiency. To counteract that, load position and antenna placement become even more important. The electrical length of a CB antenna includes everything from the back of the CB radio to the tip of the antenna, such as the cable, coil and whip.
The electrical length is how manufacturers compensate for lack of height. Using coils, they can make an antenna that matches the ideal electrical length.
Where the coil is placed in the antenna is the "load position. Load positions include: base-loaded, center-loaded, top-loaded and no ground plane. When deciding on a load position, keep in mind that the coil and about two-thirds of the antenna need to be above the roof line of the vehicle for the best operation.
A base loaded antenna has a coil wrapped around the antenna body at the base bottom. Often all-in-one magnetic mount and room antennas are base loaded. They provide simple mounting and can use thicker coil, which provides a higher Watt capacity. The drawback is that there are fewer effective mounting positions, as the coil has to be above the vehicle.
Advantages are that they are less vulnerable to damage when struck and they can handle higher power outputs. Wilson also makes a popular base-loaded antenna. In the center-loaded antenna, the coil is above the base on top of a thick shaft base and usually is covered with a plastic housing of some type. The rest of the antenna is a long whip.
Many professional trucking CBs have this type of antenna. It is more efficient than the base-loaded antenna type, but less efficient than a top loaded fiberglass antenna.
Often when people look for center-loaded antennas, they consider the higher quality Hustler antennas. By taking the following factors into consideration, you can do just that:. Why should you consider using a CB antenna? The reason is obvious: it improves your range. By using a CB antenna, you can drastically improve the performance of your CB radio.
All of the options listed in our review are very durably constructed, easy to install, offer a significant improvement in range capabilities, and are affordably priced. How Stuff Works. Right Channel Radios. Entitle Books. Related Posts. FireStik 4ft Black Firefly. Some antennas have a pair of rings to loosen and move up or down to control the length of the antenna. Recheck the standing wave by repeating Step 2. If the standing wave is correct, you are finished.
If the CB standing wave is still out of range, repeat Step 4. Then hook up the antenna to the SWR meter where it reads "Antenna. Move the switch on the meter to "FWD. Then flip the switch to '"SWR" while holding down the microphone key.
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