Mounting antenna suggestions

[Ed's06h3]

Very soon I'm installing my Cb radio and I just want some suggestions to where some of you guys mounted your (firestik) antennas........thanks

 

[06 H3]

Check out cbetts setup...it's really clean looking

 

[alrock]

Depends on what you want from the CB. Generally you want at least 2/3 of the antenna above the roof. Lower mounting locations are nice but do affect range. Less range can be fine for the trail but can also be inconvenient on the trail. If you have a roof rack that's the easiest place to mount - lots of brackets available and the rack is well grounded. Cbetts installation is clean but requires drilling. Others mount to the rear door using the tire carrier studs but a separate ground wire has to be run to the frame as the door is not grounded.

 

[Major Tom]

I used the side mount by firestick. It looks like a factory mount

 

[Portager]

I also copied the Firestick side mount idea from Cbetts. It emulates the stock antenna mount of the passengers side and looks like it belongs there. It is also low enough that I can pull into my garage with banging the top of the garage door.

 

[Chook]

Not sure if you have a brushguard/bullbar up front but I mounted mine there and I chose a higher antenna so I can use it as my feeler gauge for carparks etc. clearance for my racks/lights/awnings (ANT is spring mounted so if she bends back I know its too low to enter)

 

[3Hummers]

Doc Olds was selling a pretty simple spare tire carrier CB mounting bracket.

 

[H32NV]

I used the "spare tire carrier and run a dedicated ground wire" method. and its got great range. I did the cobra WX40 or something, its the one that you can fold up into your glove box. Remote handset.

 

[skippy]

I have to agree with chook a front mount gains better height and is a good gauge for low objects

 

[ReconH3]

I'm with Skip and Chook the front being the best spot. Especially you ARB bumper guys. Great front mounting options. I plan to mount a spring loaded large whip style one on rear ARB since I have slant back.

 

[MTUH3]

I have mine mounted on the back. Under the tail lights is a small cap you can pop off and a small 10mm screw. Bent up a bracket and ran the wire through the cab. Been there for 5 years straight. Not a problem

 

[Ed's06h3]

Thanks everyone for all your advice..

 

[Flash]

Carl's (MTUH3) mount is pretty slick. Mine is mounted to my center roof rack cross bar with U clamps.

 

[cbetts]

I like mine mounted on the fender but as everyone has said, it does cut down on my range. If you want to talk to other people on the highway, I recommend a higher position like a roof rack or spare tire mount. If you park in a garage, you can add a quick-disconnect for easy removal.

 

[08H3]

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I have a basic CB question. I have next to no CB knowledge, but can an antenna be mounted upside down? I've been trying to think of a way to make it work well for both highway and trail. IF it would work upside down, I think a mount at the top edge of the rear (cargo) door with a mount that would rotate 180 degrees would work great. I could turn it "up" for highway and the antenna would be almost completely above the roofline for range. For trail, I could turn it 180 degrees (upside down) to protect it from trees, etc. Would this work?

 

[alrock]

The CB antenna is line of sight, meaning it should see directly to the other radio's antenna. Blocking it with the vehicle's body will greatly reduce the effective range.

Typically people get flexible antennas and/or spring mounts to help minimize damage on the trail

 

[Mb30sdl]

I have been running 2 - 5ft firesticks with spring and quick disconnects for years. Truck is ~7/8 ft at roof level +5 ft antennas and I never had any issues in the bush. I take it off when I don't use CB.

H3s CB and HAM are mounted to the rack with spring and rotational mount, when I don't use them I just totate 90* and that are parralel to roof rack.

 

[frumaker]

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I have a basic CB question. I have next to no CB knowledge, but can an antenna be mounted upside down? I've been trying to think of a way to make it work well for both highway and trail. IF it would work upside down, I think a mount at the top edge of the rear (cargo) door with a mount that would rotate 180 degrees would work great. I could turn it "up" for highway and the antenna would be almost completely above the roofline for range. For trail, I could turn it 180 degrees (upside down) to protect it from trees, etc. Would this work?

I have used my cb on the trail with no antenna and it was fine as long as the other vehicles were fair close. I think the terrain you are on could also be a factor as to how well it would work rotated down.


FRU

 

[Big Mike]

I have used my cb on the trail with no antenna and it was fine as long as the other vehicles were fair close. I think the terrain you are on could also be a factor as to how well it would work rotated down.


FRU

your SWR's will be insanely high running no antenna and eventually will kill the radio..

 

[Big Mike]

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I have a basic CB question. I have next to no CB knowledge, but can an antenna be mounted upside down? I've been trying to think of a way to make it work well for both highway and trail. IF it would work upside down, I think a mount at the top edge of the rear (cargo) door with a mount that would rotate 180 degrees would work great. I could turn it "up" for highway and the antenna would be almost completely above the roofline for range. For trail, I could turn it 180 degrees (upside down) to protect it from trees, etc. Would this work?

short answer, yes..




long anwser, yes but you will be somewhat directional and not have much in the way of reflection...I see no problem if you're running with a bunch of rigs on the trail but as was posted up above you won't get much for distance which is a not really a problem in a group..Use a spring and just let it flop around you're not likely to hurt the stinger any...If you do add a spring just re-adjust your SWR's to compensate for the extra metal that the spring adds to the equation..

For cb help join here... www.cbradioforum.com they are a great group over there and are very tolerant of noob questions.. :thumbs:

Stay away from www.mauldroppers.com they are just the opposite of the above forum I listed they are more like pirate4x4 if ya know what I mean.. :whaa:

 

[SolidusJ]

My setup.

 

[08H3]

I have been running 2 - 5ft firesticks with spring and quick disconnects for years. Truck is ~7/8 ft at roof level +5 ft antennas and I never had any issues in the bush. I take it off when I don't use CB.

H3s CB and HAM are mounted to the rack with spring and rotational mount, when I don't use them I just totate 90* and that are parralel to roof rack.

Cool....I was planning on going with a Firstik II. I guess maybe they are more durable than I thought so as long as I use a spring, roof (rack) mount may not be an issue even on the trail.

 

[Big Mike]

my setup

My thoughts so far are..

A) a simple Wilson mag mount maybe a 1000 stuck on center roof..

http://www.wilsonantenna.com/produc...et-mount-mobile-cb-antenna-kit-with-625-whip/

B) man up and drill the hole center roof for a Wilson 5000 roof mount..

http://www.wilsonantenna.com/produc...-series-roof-top-mount-mobile-cb-antenna-kit/

C) bolt a short flat piece of maybe .25 inch thick steel to the bottom of the rear bumper drivers side and mount a 102" stainless whip..

D) make some sort of mount where the spare tire is bolted on like I had for my JK and maybe put a 102" whip or a Firestick on that..Just left of the Hi Lift you can sorta see the 102....

 

[Big Mike]

My setup.

I like your rig wish I could have found one local when I was shopping Hummers...

I see a PA tag on the back, where ya from originally ?

 

[digglesworth]

I got a spare tire mount from AirDoc. ran the cable and a ground through the vent behind the spare tire carrier then fished the cable up the drivers side up to where the stock radio is. I swapped the double din head unit for a single din kenwood and stacked it on top of my cobra cb and it fit in the double slot... I thimk mines a 3' firestik II and it sticks up about a foot or so above the roof. I don't have a spring on the base and it seems to be ok. I think the worst ive ever beat it up was when I forgot I still had it on and pulled into a parking garage. it smacked every cross brace in that garage. now I make sure to take it off when I don't need to use the cb.