Antennas for CB & Cell Phone May 09, 2006, 07:29:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66543Today I went to a highly recommended place to see about purchasing and having installed a CB and also a cell phone booster antenna. They suggested that I get window mounted antennas and place each one on the side windows of the upper cab. Has anyone done this? Would you recommend these? Thank you for any advice or suggestions.Monica NE 10
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #1 – May 10, 2006, 11:38:57 am Yahoo Message Number: 66556Quote Today I went to a highly recommended place to see about purchasing and having installed a CB and also a cell phone booster antenna. They suggested that I get window mounted antennas and place each one on the side windows of the upper cab. Has anyone done this? Would you recommend these? Thank you for any advice or suggestions.Monica NE 10 Monica, I'm not sure you got the best advice at this shop. Check the link below from Firestik. They are the leading cb antenna supplier. http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/on-glass.htmJoe Hamm
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #2 – May 10, 2006, 09:04:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66576"They suggested that I get window mounted antennas and place each one on the side windows of the upper cab." You'll lose signal strength that way. Glass-mount antennas are not a desirable way to go. Check the Firestik page Joe recommended for the reasons:http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/on-glass.htm>Andy BairdPercha Dam State Park, NM
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #3 – May 11, 2006, 09:15:01 am Yahoo Message Number: 66591QuoteAndy Baird Percha Dam State Park, NM Hi Andy, Interested in this thread also since I don't know the breed of antenna LD is using on the 2006 model. I see that it swings down but the leads are hard-wired into the antenna. (no coupling) Pretty hard to attach a SWR meter that way! At best it recieves ok, but I don't know about the output. (looks like a two person job anyway) I like the K-40 myself, but it may be a little too tall for my rig. Best, Jim Pappas Tacoma, WA
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #4 – May 11, 2006, 12:33:38 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66597QuoteHi Andy, Interested in this thread also since I don't know the breed of antenna LD is using on the 2006 model. I see that it swings down but the leads are hard-wired into the antenna. (no coupling) Pretty hard to attach a SWR meter that way! At best it recieves ok, but I don't know about the output. (looks like a two person job anyway) For SWR, everything I've read indicates you want to connect the meter close to the CB. I don't know where they mount the newer Cobra 75WXST junction box, so I don't know how accessible it is. Our rig was one of the last years they mounted a CB between the visors. On our antenna, the SWR is adjusted using a pair of locking metal rings at the base of the antenna (probably around a base loading coil).At the antenna on our rig, the center conductor insulation was becoming brittle and breaking away. It seemed just a matter of time before the feedline shorted out, so I changed the connection to use a PL-259 plug on the end of the coax. There was very little exposed coax above the roof sealant and Steve Newton indicated that there may be very little slack in the cable inside the rig. After putting the PL-259 on the coax, I had to use a 6" coax jumper from Radio Shack to complete the connection and still allow the antenna to be swiveled between horizontal and vertical. I have to drop both AM/FM radio and CB antennas to get into the garage.Hope this is useful to someone, Art
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #5 – May 11, 2006, 01:06:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66602Joe and Andy, Thank you for the info and link. I read a lot on the Firestic link and am now more confused than ever. I will definitely not get the glass mounted antennas. Do you have any suggestions where I could get the CB and cell phone antennas and have them installed properly? Andy, you're from NJ, do you happen to know of any place around here? If I can't get this done before I leave for Cheyenne, I'll try to find a place out West. Obviously, the place I went to that was highly recommended didn't give me good advice. Thanks again."Glass-mount antennas are not a desirable way to go. Check the Firestik page Joe recommended for the reasons: http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/on-glass.htm>"
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #6 – May 11, 2006, 06:44:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66632"Do you have any suggestions where I could get the CB and cell phone antennas and have them installed properly? Andy, you're from NJ, do you happen to know of any place around here?" Wish I did, Monica, but I've done all my own antenna mounts, so I never went looking for an installer. Maybe somebody else knows of one...?Andy BairdPercha Dam State Park, NM
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #7 – May 11, 2006, 07:32:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66642If there are any large truck stops near you, I'd suggest going to one and looking for ads for installers or seeing if they install antennas that they sell. Almost all the truck stops sell both CB and Wilson cell antennas and they may have facilities for installation.-- Jonna in Tortuga, 2001 Teal RB Find us MAPhttp://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=1013> Follow the BLOG herehttp://www.baddog.com/blog/blog.html>
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #8 – May 11, 2006, 11:10:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66651"If there are any large truck stops near you, I'd suggest going to one and looking for ads for installers or seeing if they install antennas that they sell. Almost all the truck stops sell both CB and Wilson cell antennas and they may have facilities for installation." Great suggestion, Jonna! In fact, I have seen several truckstops that have a full-service CB shop in an adjacent building.Andy BairdPercha Dam State Park, NM
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #9 – May 12, 2006, 02:09:31 am Yahoo Message Number: 66659Hi Monica, Try some of the CB outfits below. Otherwise, as you make your way across country, you'll find that there is usually a CB Shop near major truck stops, like Flying "J", Pilot, Petro, and Love's. Sometimes, if you are monitoring channel 19 as you approach truck stops, you'll hear the CB Shop operator announcing special sales or service at his location. Nowadays, a lot of them operate out of old motor homes parked at the truck stop or nearby. 4 Speed's CB Shop Highway 411 South Greenback, TN Phone (865) 856-6710 Fax (865) 856-6709Bob's CB Shop 21232 Route 322 Strattanville, PA 16258 E-mail: Info Line: 814-379-3003 http://bobscb.com/bobs_cb.htmThe CB Shop 512 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13204 315/466-2604, fax 315/424-1526 http://www.thecbshop.com/ Happy Trails, Rubin in San Diego
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #10 – May 12, 2006, 09:57:41 am Yahoo Message Number: 66663"rvhiker22" wrote: Do you have any suggestions where I could get the CB and cell phone antennas and have them installed properly? ----- Monica, are you coming to Cheyenne over I-80? If so, you could check out this place:http://www.walcottcb.com/The place is in Walcott, IA, just south off 80 (just west of Davenport). The website offers contact (and other) information.Josn
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #11 – May 13, 2006, 10:22:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 66691After putting the PL-259 on the coax, I had to use a 6" coax jumper from Radio Shack to complete the connection and still allow the antenna to be swiveled between horizontal and vertical. Hope this is useful to someone, ArtThanks Art, Just two insulated wires hanging out of the coax by 2-3 inches, just says to me it's the weakest link. I'll install some uv rated shrink tubing over the wires, silver solder the PL-259, and get the 6" jumper installed. Thanks for the tip. Best, Jim & Alane Tacoma, WA SKP93629
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #12 – May 14, 2006, 03:09:29 am Yahoo Message Number: 66719Hey Art & Jim, How about posting some nice close-up digital pictures in the picture section of our Yahoo Group. When I was at the "MotherShip" a couple of Saturday's ago, I asked to see what antenna that was currently being installed on the LDs. I was shown a 4' steel whip, which looked like it had a loading coil at the base. Most importantly, the antenna used the standard screw-in 3/8-24 stud. I did not climb up on Old Blue in the showroom, so I assumed the 3/8-24 screws into a flexible spring or swivel mount. So I would love to see your pictures. Personally, I would rather have a 4 foot fiberglass Firestik whip, which is much more efficient than a base loaded whip. However, if the antenna mount is too flimsy or if it's not well supported inside the frame of the LD, then the Firestik is out of the question because of wind loading. Thanks,Rubin in cold overcast San Diego. Where is the Sun???
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #13 – May 15, 2006, 06:15:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66772QuoteHey Art & Jim, How about posting some nice close-up digital pictures in the picture section of our Yahoo Group. When I was at the "MotherShip" a couple of Saturday's ago, I asked to see what antenna that was currently being installed on the LDs. I was shown a 4' steel whip, which looked like it had a loading coil at the base. Most importantly, the antenna used the standard screw-in 3/8-24 stud. I did not climb up on Old Blue in the showroom, so I assumed the 3/8-24 screws into a flexible spring or swivel mount. So I would love to see your pictures. Personally, I would rather have a 4 foot fiberglass Firestik whip, which is much more efficient than a base loaded whip. However, if the antenna mount is too flimsy or if it's not well supported inside the frame of the LD, then the Firestik is out of the question because of wind loading. There is a picture of our CB antenna connection at:I used the right-angle PL-259 adapter to make sure that things cleared the roof when swinging the antenna between vertical and horizontal. Since there was almost no slack in the factory installed coax, I used a 6" coax jumper cable to complete the wiring. Since I run our antennas against low hanging branches often enough, I don't think I would want something too fragile up there. I have a 4' Firestik on our Jeep, but I wouldn't put on on the top of the LD. We seem to get decent range out of our existing setup. The metal rings around the base are used to tune the SWR.Art
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #14 – May 16, 2006, 08:48:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 66781"I used the right-angle PL-259 adapter to make sure that things cleared the roof when swinging the antenna between vertical and horizontal." Thanks for the photos Art. I like the way you used the angled PL-259 adapter. I'll be retro-fitting mine soon. How does one set the SWR using the rings on the antenna? Thanks, Jim Pappas Tacoma, WA
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #15 – May 16, 2006, 11:56:09 am Yahoo Message Number: 66785Quote "I used the right-angle PL-259 adapter to make sure that things cleared the roof when swinging the antenna between vertical and horizontal." Thanks for the photos Art. I like the way you used the angled PL-259 adapter. I'll be retro-fitting mine soon. How does one set the SWR using the rings on the antenna? Jim,The SWR is adjusted by moving those metal rings up or down (and watching an SWR meter of course). The rings lock by screwing against each other (like jam nuts). You hold one and loosen the other, then move them both up or down. Once tuned, you tighten them against each other and recheck the SWR. I think I peaked the SWR in between CH 30 (Caravan channel) and CH 19 (Trucker channel).We tend to keep the CB on CH 30 and turned on. Since we are often towing, we have "CH 30" up high on the rear of our LD. I've heard more than one story of truckers alerting MH drivers of a problem with their toad (mostly tires going flat).Art
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #16 – May 16, 2006, 02:43:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66795Hi Art, Wow! Thanks for shooting the picture. First of all, if that is the antenna and antenna mount the factory is using, then that $300 factory option for a CB/Weather Radio is a waste of money. I had one of those antennas with the metal rings around the base on my last coach. I could never get the antenna to tune to an SWR lower than 3:1. We all know having an SWR of less than 1.5:1 is the ideal situation. Most certainly, having an SWR of 3:1 is like having no antenna at all. Firestik sells a 4 foot base loaded steel whip antenna. The Firestik antenna, mounted on one of their flexible springs, I think would be 200 percent better than the factory antenna installation. By the way, I noticed some corrosion around the antenna base and the coax connectors. There are several products on the market that will prevent corrosion. Coax-Seal- a hand moldable plastic wrap. Cross Devices has a dielectric water-proof connector filler, which seals out moisture. Penetrox - a conductive grease. Do a Google search to find where these products are available. To keep the antenna mount from rusting, spray it with clear plastic. Take care not to cover the electrical part of the antenna contact and ground. When I was
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #17 – May 17, 2006, 11:14:35 am Yahoo Message Number: 66827The SWR is adjusted by moving those metal rings up or down (and watching an SWR meter of course). Thanks Art, I have no idea where the main unit is mounted for this all in hand Cobra unit. Probably somewhere really hard to get at! Did you find that the SWR calibrations were off from the factory pre- sets? Just curious. Best, Jim Pappas Tacoma, WA
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #18 – May 17, 2006, 11:29:59 am Yahoo Message Number: 66828QuoteThe SWR is adjusted by moving those metal rings up or down (and watching an SWR meter of course). Thanks Art, I have no idea where the main unit is mounted for this all in hand Cobra unit. Probably somewhere really hard to get at! Did you find that the SWR calibrations were off from the factory pre- sets? Just curious. I don't recall that the factory setting was all that bad. I have no idea if the factory actually tunes the SWR. I'd guess that most of the factory CB installations are never tuned after delivery and work ok. I can't remember just how close I could tune it. Maybe I should recheck it if I get a chance before Cheyenne.Art
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #19 – May 18, 2006, 12:42:21 am Yahoo Message Number: 66851Hi Jim, I am assuming, but I think the main unit is located under the dash close to the end of the hand-held unit's coiled cord. Check out the setup in at the following two sites: http://jeepin.com/features/cobra75/index.asp http://www.ronsplace.net/cb_radio.htmAlso, I understand a remote speaker will allow better sounding audio than that which comes from the hand-held unit. By the way, I did a check on Firestik's web page (http://www.firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm), I found their "VENICE" CB ANTENNA KIT 5/8 WAVE BASE-LOAD WITH FOLD-DOWN MOUNT, Model E36, price $49.99. If you look closely at the installation details, the antenna appears to be designed for a surface mount. However if you look even closer, you'll see that the antenna uses the standard 3/8-24 stud. To me this would indicate that you could use a standard double-male 3/8-24 stud. Screw one end into the antenna and the other into a normal CB mount which accepts a 3/8-24 stud. I think something like this could easily replace the factory antenna and be more efficient. Plus you get fold-down capability.Happy Trails,Rubin in San Diego
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #20 – May 18, 2006, 12:00:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66856"I have no idea where the main unit is mounted for this all in hand Cobra unit. Probably somewhere really hard to get at!" Not very far away, unless they used an extension cable--probably within a foot of the connector on the handset cable. In the Cobra 75WXST, the "main unit" actually is the handset--all the guts are in there. But to check SWR you'll need access to the junction box that the antenna cable, mike and 12V power lines connect to. It's a small, nondescript aluminum box only about 2" x 2" x 3", and is probably located under the dash somewhere near the handset unit's plug. By the way, there's a minijack (3.5mm, 2-conductor) on the j-box that you can plug an external speaker into. I mounted a small speaker enclosure on the ceiling behind my head, a setup that has better intelligibility than the tiny speaker built into the handset unit.Andy Baird Tijeras, NM
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #21 – May 18, 2006, 12:57:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 66858On my 2004 MB the junction box is located under the dash just ahead of the driver's LEFT knee in a spot that makes it easy to see but hard to reach. To get to it you need to remove the lower plastic dash panel located below the steering column. Be careful, I managed to break one of the clips off when removing this panel. Instructions for getting to it are in the LD Manual. I added an external speaker to our unit and mounted it on the ceiling above my head by the door. It really does sound better. The only way I could get to the minijack for the speaker was to disconnect the antenna cable. There just wasn't enough room to reach around it.Quote"I have no idea where the main unit is mounted for this all in hand Cobra unit. Probably somewhere really hard to get at!" In the Cobra 75WXST, the "main unit" actually is the handset--all the guts are in there. But to check SWR you'll need access to the junction box that the antenna cable, mike and 12V power lines connect to. It's a small, nondescript aluminum box only about 2" x >2" x 3", and is probably located under the dash somewhere near the handset unit's plug.Monti
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #22 – May 19, 2006, 10:49:04 am Yahoo Message Number: 66877Thanks for the links Rubin, I'll have to get under the dash and see what's set-up. While I'm there I'll have to see if the dog house is insulated or not also. Seems the CD player get's cranky after some hours of driving, I think this may be heat related. Best, Jim Pappas Tacoma, WA
Re: Antennas for CB & Cell Phone Reply #23 – May 19, 2006, 10:54:33 am Yahoo Message Number: 66878Thanks Andy & Monti, At least now I know where to start. I don't like being upside down in the drivers seat, it makes the blood rush to my head! (grin) Best, Jim Pappas Tacoma, WA
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