Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

[CamaroDude]

I bought a CB radio the other week and I'm having some problems getting it to work well. I had an old magnetic antenna lying around in the garage so I tested it out and made sure it worked correctly and then I kind've jerry-rigged a mount using the old AM/FM antenna location and created this lovely work of art




I really like this location because from the outside, it looks like the regular AM/FM antenna and the vehicle's appearance isn't changed.


However, as anybody who knows anything about CB radios has probably already figured out (And is more than likely laughing), I get pretty bad reception and I can not get my SWR below 3.

When I move the antenna's base to any place outside of the vehicle i get much better reception and I am able to achieve an SWR reading inbetween 2 and 1.

I read that atleast 60% of the antenna must be above the vehicle for a decent set up and in my setup the entire antenna is ouside the vehicle. So from that I'm assuming there is a major issue with having the base of the antenna inside the vehicle? Is there a certain aspect of the antenna setup that needs be outside of the vehicle? Or am i completely missing it and there is something else causing the problems?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Feel free to laugh as well, I realize that my setup is more than likely very ridiculous. Just kinda learning as I go

[vanbibber]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

people still use those things?

[nightrider2]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

only rednecks that listen to C.W. McCaw WAY to much (The guy that wrote convoy for you non-rednecks)

[savagecamaro96]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

wait why did you buy one?
what are you gonna use it for?
if its for jokes i suggest you go watch the movie joyride.

[kala]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

if its for jokes i suggest you go watch the movie joyride.

CANDY CANE ....



:)

[cam98aro]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

wait why did you buy one?
what are you gonna use it for?
if its for jokes i suggest you go watch the movie joyride.

cb's are great for long road trips, and if you have one you will always know where every cop is

i will take a cb over a radar ANY day, you will know the exact spot of a cop 5 miles before you see him

the reason you are not getting good reception is because the magnetic base needs to be on metal, what you have there is just not good enough

i feel your pain though, our cars would look stupid with a cb antenna sticking on the roof, and i was even thinking of doing the same thing you did

you are also not getting good reception because of the height.. the higher it is on your car, the better it works.

try to get a better ground on that antenna, when you stick it to the roof, it basically turns your whole car into a huge antenna, this is what you also want to do here.. remember though, you are never going to achieve the same signal down there as you would with it on the roof, think about it, the top of the antenna will be 3' higher up there as it is on your car right now

[CamaroDude]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

I do a lot of highway driving and it would come in handy. It seems that where ever i ask for help all i get how much of a redneck i must be or how ridiculous it would be to have one. Thanks for the help though.

I got it all sorted out now though, can't hardly tell its a cb antenna even

[zpwn06]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

yeh truckers talk about where all the cops are. My grandpa has one, pretty cool. Seems a little out of place in the camaro though...

[cam98aro]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

looks good man.. if you need any help, send me a pm

i see this is going in an ls1.. nice!

[youngsc]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

This is the bandit...

[95astrovan]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

hey, Bandit, you got a Texas bubblegum machine on your backdoor, 10-4?

[Kleenax]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

i dont know why you guys are laughing, my friend had a cb in an old Town car and man the convo's you'll have witha trucker are funny and you know exactly where the cops are (as mentioned before)

[youngsc]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

i dont know why you guys are laughing...

Probably has something to do with the first image people get in their heads when they hear a CB + F body = the bandit.

Yes I know how valuable they can be. My brother had one in his truck and it saved his *** multiple times.

[tonloc22]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

CANDY CANE ....



:)

XXXX2

[savagecamaro96]

Re: Any body that knows anything about CB Radios

from joyride:
[after installing the CB]
Fuller(Steve zahn) : This is like some kinda prehistoric Internet.
lol

camarodude you got a handle yet?