DRanger024
Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Solid Axle Swap
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2007
- Messages
- 856
- Reaction score
- 487
- Points
- 63
- Location
- Dale, WI
- Vehicle Year
- 1994
- Make / Model
- Ranger
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- Solid Axle Swap 4x4
- Total Lift
- 6-7” front maybe 3” rear
- Total Drop
- 0
- Tire Size
- 33x12.50-15
How is that CB antenna mount working out? It looks great. Any water leaks?
I mounted mine on the rear corner of the cab behind the driver. But I'm having ground plane issues (I assume) making the SWR read high as if the antenna system is too short. Couldn't use the full length 1/4 wave whip. I got an older style 5' Firestik (the kind that you have to trim the wire to tune it.) and that plus a spring bring the SWR almost to perfection since the antenna is manufatured "long"so it can be tuned. Just wondering if I should move the antenna to the roof or leave it as it is. I'm new to radio technology. So a lot of reading and learning is going on here. Radio is the Uniden Bearcat 980SSB.
No leaks so far. I ran a small bead of black silicone around the top and sides before I tightened it down. I did end up bending the tab the antenna mounts to up to clear my topper.
DISCLAIMER: I am by no means an expert in CB’s, but I have fiddled with them enough to make mine work fairly well.
My biggest suggestion is to make sure you have a good ground plane before you monkey with moving your antenna. Make sure your doors and hood have a sufficient ground to the cab and make sure you have good grounds from the bed and cab to the frame. Some people have gone as far as adding a ground strap from the exhaust to the frame. If any of your factory ground straps are broken or heavily corroded, replace them. This is generally the most common antenna tuning issue. If your ground plane sucks, your SWR will too. Location of your antenna can play into it to an extent but if your antenna is mounted up on the corner of the cab, it should be decent. The problem comes in when a good portion of the antenna is bellow the roof line and close to the cab. Now, having your antenna off to one side WILL affect how well you transmit and receive 360° around the truck. I believe you will transmit farther out to the left rear of your truck with your setup. That’s the secondary reason I moved mine to the center of the cab. CB antennas transmit in kind of a cone shape. Anything obstructing that cone won’t completely block the signal but will kind of deflect it making it weak in that direction. If that makes any sense lol.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk