CB Radio questions

[billiardspintail]

Hey all, I'm writing up my wishlist for comms for my 1989 Grand Wagoneer and I had some questions that hopefully y'all could help with.

I definitely want a CB radio, but I'm not sure where to put the antenna. Now, here are a few things:

- For CB, I'm not expecting much range, maybe 2-3 miles at the most.
- I'm mostly aiming to keep the truck roughly looking stock -- that is to say, I don't really want a 4' antenna.

1. I've seen devices like this splitter which purports to let you replace your vehicles AM/FM antenna with a CB antenna, be able to still use your AM/FM radio, and Rx/Tx over CB. I've read that it's also difficult to tune those setups because of the antenna placement on the rig. Does anyone have any experience with this?
2. My other idea was to get a handheld antenna, and find a magnetic roof mount for it, and route the cable inside permanently (not through the door jam).
3. Lastly, I thought that I might just grab a handheld CB. Less cool, but is certainly the easiest setup.

Any advice? Thanks all in advance!

 

[M Rose]

Look at the Lill Will II by Wilson . Cheap antenna that gets surprisingly good results paired with a Uniden 510pro. I have made some good DX skip contacts on this setup in a 1967 GW.

 

[billiardspintail]

That looks like a good antenna, however my main problem is more aesthetics, rather than function. I'm looking for a much shorter antenna, something that wouldn't interfere with a generally stock look. I'm not fully against 3' antennas, but my preference is to go small and sleek

 

[M Rose]

That looks like a good antenna, however my main problem is more aesthetics, rather than function. I'm looking for a much shorter antenna, something that wouldn't interfere with a generally stock look. I'm not fully against 3' antennas, but my preference is to go small and sleek

That’s about as small as you can go... but that’s also why I suggested it... appropriate for the age of your rig, and it’s magnet mount, so it’s not there when you don’t need it.

 

[billiardspintail]

That looks like a good antenna, however my main problem is more aesthetics, rather than function. I'm looking for a much shorter antenna, something that wouldn't interfere with a generally stock look. I'm not fully against 3' antennas, but my preference is to go small and sleek

That’s about as small as you can go... but that’s also why I suggested it... appropriate for the age of your rig, and it’s magnet mount, so it’s not there when you don’t need it.

Ahhh, I see where you were going with that. Fair enough. I was leaning towards not having to put out or take down an antenna, out of sheer laziness, but I hadn't given it much thought. Thanks!

 

[M Rose]

the CB wave length is apx 11 meters long (433 inches). An antenna needs to be at least 1/4 wave length long which equals 108” long... you can make a compromise antenna by making a 1/8 wave antenna that is loaded. Which then would be 30” long (lil will)

 

[billiardspintail]

the CB wave length is apx 11 meters long (433 inches). An antenna needs to be at least 1/4 wave length long which equals 108” long... you can make a compromise antenna by making a 1/8 wave antenna that is loaded. Which then would be 30” long (lil will)

How are handheld CB antenna's around 9" then? Are they 30" long and just coiled up?

 

[OTH Overland]

Bryce, first thing - Awesome Jeep, Love the old AMC line up, have a grand Wagoneer (not the new ugly one they plan on releasing) on my bucket vehicle list. I have used the Wilson antennas on magnetic mounts and they work reasonably well, however I have had some issues with tree branches knocking them over while off road, and occasionally had ice build up and cause the mount to come loose. I keep a small CB with a cigarette plug and mag antenna for use on our highway jeep on long trips. for my truck and our Cherokee I much prefer fixed mounts. Most of them are NMO antenna mounts drilled thru the roof (3/4" hole, which may be a bit sacrilegious for a classic rig) Never had one leak, for the CB I use the Browning BR-140 antenna which is all black and a bit more hard to see than a standard stainless whip. The antenna has proved to be very forgiving of rough use, and seems to tune well for a low SWR giving good range (center of roof is best place for all around reception). I also have NMO style mounts for my Ham, GMRS, and Scanners also with all black antennas. The nice thing is you can unscrew the antenna from the mount and install a weather cap that is almost flush with the roof when you are not using the radios or have to go in a short parking garage. The NMO mounts are available in many different types including trunk/hood lip mounts like the Comet CP-5NMO which clamp over the edge of hoods, hatches, trunks etc. to provide a good mount without holes, in addition the antenna can be folded down for car wash or parking. They may or may not fit the Wagoneer as they need a lip to anchor to. They also make mounts that clamp to roof racks as well as the magnetic ones. Going with a NMO mounting base does allow for pretty much any type of antenna to be mounted so you can use the one coax and mount for several radios (assuming you only use one at a time), in my case I have a radio problem and most of my vehicles look like porcupines..lol. One issue with mag mounts, is they do not have a direct connection to the ground plan (vehicle roof or other mounting surface) as they are insulated by a plastic protector on the magnet, and the vehicle paint. While they still work ok, the radiation pattern is not as good as it could be. not an issue if you are talking car to car in a convoy, but may be an issue if your broken and trying to reach out with maximum range, CB only has 5 watts and a lot of that gets lost. GMRS or Ham have 10 times or more the power.

The rubber duck portable antennas (and most antennas less than 1/4 wavelength use a loading (inductive) coil usually at the base or midpoint of the antenna, and some winding of the antenna wire around a central core then covering it in protective coating. A lot easier to lug around and less likely to break than the old telescopic antennas. most good quality portable radios and scanner will allow the rubber duck to be removed and a regular antenna cable to be connected (with an adapter).

I don't use full size CB radios in my rigs anymore, there just is not that many people using CB on the highway anymore to have the old trucker radios. I have switched to the Uniden CMX760 which has all the controls in the mic so the radio box can be installed behind the dash or in a console, just unplug the mic and put it away when not being used. (they make a GMRS version also)

The Grand Wagoneer is from end of the CB heyday so it would not be out of character to have a big ole antenna and radio .. lol

 

[Wandering_Wolverine]

I recently purchased a Wilson Lil Wil. The short answer is that it wasn’t too expensive, is reasonably small for a CB antenna, and tuned up easily. I’ve made several contacts with truckers around my area and get good voice reports.

There is a lot of RFI in my local area. Sometimes as I’m driving around in town the radio acts like it is desensed. Still working out whether the antenna has anything to do with it. I’m going to try putting some ferrite beads on the power cable and maybe a band pass filter on the antenna feed line. Overkill for the average person as the setup is working fine out in rural areas. I mention all this only because I last used a CB about 20 years ago out in the country and wasn’t sure my setup was working initially. If you get setup and find you’re hearing mostly noise or dead air try driving outside of town, it may clear up.

Gary

 

[billiardspintail]

Bryce, first thing - Awesome Jeep, Love the old AMC line up, have a grand Wagoneer (not the new ugly one they plan on releasing) on my bucket vehicle list. I have used the Wilson antennas on magnetic mounts and they work reasonably well, however I have had some issues with tree branches knocking them over while off road, and occasionally had ice build up and cause the mount to come loose. I keep a small CB with a cigarette plug and mag antenna for use on our highway jeep on long trips. for my truck and our Cherokee I much prefer fixed mounts. Most of them are NMO antenna mounts drilled thru the roof (3/4" hole, which may be a bit sacrilegious for a classic rig) Never had one leak, for the CB I use the Browning BR-140 antenna which is all black and a bit more hard to see than a standard stainless whip. The antenna has proved to be very forgiving of rough use, and seems to tune well for a low SWR giving good range (center of roof is best place for all around reception). I also have NMO style mounts for my Ham, GMRS, and Scanners also with all black antennas. The nice thing is you can unscrew the antenna from the mount and install a weather cap that is almost flush with the roof when you are not using the radios or have to go in a short parking garage. The NMO mounts are available in many different types including trunk/hood lip mounts like the Comet CP-5NMO which clamp over the edge of hoods, hatches, trunks etc. to provide a good mount without holes, in addition the antenna can be folded down for car wash or parking. They may or may not fit the Wagoneer as they need a lip to anchor to. They also make mounts that clamp to roof racks as well as the magnetic ones. Going with a NMO mounting base does allow for pretty much any type of antenna to be mounted so you can use the one coax and mount for several radios (assuming you only use one at a time), in my case I have a radio problem and most of my vehicles look like porcupines..lol. One issue with mag mounts, is they do not have a direct connection to the ground plan (vehicle roof or other mounting surface) as they are insulated by a plastic protector on the magnet, and the vehicle paint. While they still work ok, the radiation pattern is not as good as it could be. not an issue if you are talking car to car in a convoy, but may be an issue if your broken and trying to reach out with maximum range, CB only has 5 watts and a lot of that gets lost. GMRS or Ham have 10 times or more the power.

The rubber duck portable antennas (and most antennas less than 1/4 wavelength use a loading (inductive) coil usually at the base or midpoint of the antenna, and some winding of the antenna wire around a central core then covering it in protective coating. A lot easier to lug around and less likely to break than the old telescopic antennas. most good quality portable radios and scanner will allow the rubber duck to be removed and a regular antenna cable to be connected (with an adapter).

I don't use full size CB radios in my rigs anymore, there just is not that many people using CB on the highway anymore to have the old trucker radios. I have switched to the Uniden CMX760 which has all the controls in the mic so the radio box can be installed behind the dash or in a console, just unplug the mic and put it away when not being used. (they make a GMRS version also)

The Grand Wagoneer is from end of the CB heyday so it would not be out of character to have a big ole antenna and radio .. lol

Thank you for all of this info! I have a whole plan with radios, definitely going overboard, but I also have found through-roof NMO mounts, which I will be using. My plan was to get a Midland 75-822, which is all inclusive (no base station to install behind the dash). I've also got NMO caps for when I want to pull off the antennas. For me, the CB is for convoy comms, or sometimes listening to truckers -- I know it's a dying radio. I was going to replace my FM antenna with a CB antenna, and splice it to my radio and my CB radio to try and maintain a stock look. The BR-140 was my original idea, but 49" is so much longer than the original antenna I am replacing and since this is mostly for fun, not for performance, I was trying to keep a more-stock look, like a sleeper, but instead of fast it can communicate :D

Perhaps, instead of combining the CB/FM antenna, I can put an NMO mount on the driver side hood, opposite the FM antenna, and only put up the antenna when I want to use it.

 

[OTH Overland]

Thank you for all of this info! I have a whole plan with radios, definitely going overboard, but I also have found through-roof NMO mounts, which I will be using. My plan was to get a Midland 75-822, which is all inclusive (no base station to install behind the dash). I've also got NMO caps for when I want to pull off the antennas. For me, the CB is for convoy comms, or sometimes listening to truckers -- I know it's a dying radio. I was going to replace my FM antenna with a CB antenna, and splice it to my radio and my CB radio to try and maintain a stock look. The BR-140 was my original idea, but 49" is so much longer than the original antenna I am replacing and since this is mostly for fun, not for performance, I was trying to keep a more-stock look, like a sleeper, but instead of fast it can communicate :D

Perhaps, instead of combining the CB/FM antenna, I can put an NMO mount on the driver side hood, opposite the FM antenna, and only put up the antenna when I want to use it.

Ham Radio Outlet has a pretty good selection of mounts and antennas, They have a store in Oakland, not to far from you. Sometimes it is nice to be able actually look at things in person before you buy, and it helps keep the brick and mortar stores alive.

If you are going with the thru roof and have a headliner, make sure you know where the roof braces are before drilling, The older rigs have better steel and are less likely to distort when drilling, but a sharp hole saw makes quick work. I don't like pulling down the headliner, and do lots of antennas so I bought an antenna hole saw that has a stop that prevents the saw from going thru the headliner after punching thru the roof (there are cheaper saws that don't have the stop but still have a short pilot drill that work also if you are careful, after the hole is drilled I use a shop vac over the hole to suck up the metal shavings so they don't cause rust stains on the headliner later. then I remove a piece of trim at the edge of the headliner and use a fish tape to pull the coax over to one of the pillars near the radio location (mount and coax can install from the outside through its own hole.)

 

[billiardspintail]

Thank you for all of this info! I have a whole plan with radios, definitely going overboard, but I also have found through-roof NMO mounts, which I will be using. My plan was to get a Midland 75-822, which is all inclusive (no base station to install behind the dash). I've also got NMO caps for when I want to pull off the antennas. For me, the CB is for convoy comms, or sometimes listening to truckers -- I know it's a dying radio. I was going to replace my FM antenna with a CB antenna, and splice it to my radio and my CB radio to try and maintain a stock look. The BR-140 was my original idea, but 49" is so much longer than the original antenna I am replacing and since this is mostly for fun, not for performance, I was trying to keep a more-stock look, like a sleeper, but instead of fast it can communicate :D

Perhaps, instead of combining the CB/FM antenna, I can put an NMO mount on the driver side hood, opposite the FM antenna, and only put up the antenna when I want to use it.

Ham Radio Outlet has a pretty good selection of mounts and antennas, They have a store in Oakland, not to far from you. Sometimes it is nice to be able actually look at things in person before you buy, and it helps keep the brick and mortar stores alive.

If you are going with the thru roof and have a headliner, make sure you know where the roof braces are before drilling, The older rigs have better steel and are less likely to distort when drilling, but a sharp hole saw makes quick work. I don't like pulling down the headliner, and do lots of antennas so I bought an antenna hole saw that has a stop that prevents the saw from going thru the headliner after punching thru the roof (there are cheaper saws that don't have the stop but still have a short pilot drill that work also if you are careful, after the hole is drilled I use a shop vac over the hole to suck up the metal shavings so they don't cause rust stains on the headliner later. then I remove a piece of trim at the edge of the headliner and use a fish tape to pull the coax over to one of the pillars near the radio location (mount and coax can install from the outside through its own hole.)


View attachment 179023 View attachment 179024

I do prefer supporting small businesses, and I'm lucky that the rig has no headliner yet, so I'll be putting up antennas before the headliner goes in.

 

[Sparksalot]

How are handheld CB antenna's around 9" then? Are they 30" long and just coiled up?

The small size is the main reason a handheld has extremely limited range.

 

[M Rose]

Ham Radio Outlet has a pretty good selection of mounts and antennas, They have a store in Oakland, not to far from you. Sometimes it is nice to be able actually look at things in person before you buy, and it helps keep the brick and mortar stores alive.

If you are going with the thru roof and have a headliner, make sure you know where the roof braces are before drilling, The older rigs have better steel and are less likely to distort when drilling, but a sharp hole saw makes quick work. I don't like pulling down the headliner, and do lots of antennas so I bought an antenna hole saw that has a stop that prevents the saw from going thru the headliner after punching thru the roof (there are cheaper saws that don't have the stop but still have a short pilot drill that work also if you are careful, after the hole is drilled I use a shop vac over the hole to suck up the metal shavings so they don't cause rust stains on the headliner later. then I remove a piece of trim at the edge of the headliner and use a fish tape to pull the coax over to one of the pillars near the radio location (mount and coax can install from the outside through its own hole.)


View attachment 179023 View attachment 179024

I love HRO. I have one 4 hours from me... customer service is excellent and so is their shipping

 

[billiardspintail]

How are handheld CB antenna's around 9" then? Are they 30" long and just coiled up?

The small size is the main reason a handheld has extremely limited range.

Yeah, I knew that. Since my use case is only vehicle to vehicle comms in a convoy, I would guess a rubber duck antenna would be fine.

 

[OTH Overland]

I love HRO. I have one 4 hours from me... customer service is excellent and so is their shipping

Agreed, awesome service, its 4 hours away for me too, Michelle and I often make a weekend pilgrimage down, Hit up HRO, Lolo Overland, Charles Day tool store, Woodcraft and of course Voodoo Donut. Getting to buy big boy toys and other shiny objects with no tax usually saves us enough for an overnight in the Dalles with a nice drive up the east side of WA on the way back home.

 

[M Rose]

Agreed, awesome service, its 4 hours away for me too, Michelle and I often make a weekend pilgrimage down, Hit up HRO, Lolo Overland, Charles Day tool store, Woodcraft and of course Voodoo Donut. Getting to buy big boy toys and other shiny objects with no tax usually saves us enough for an overnight in the Dalles with a nice drive up the east side of WA on the way back home.

My SIL loves Voodoo Doughnuts... she will force my brother to sit out side for 4 hours waiting for them to open.

 

[Prerunner1982]

You can get NMO connectors with a 3/8" center so you don't have to drill such a large hole.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I've been using a Midland portable unit with a mag mount center load antenna, it has al the range I need for convoys off road and the antenna is movable when on tight trails. I have a rubber whip I can use outside the vehicle for spotting other rigs.

 

[M Chattanooga]

Anyone know of a place in North Carolina or Tennessee where I can buy a CB radio and get it installed? I know nothing about CB radios other than some stuff I've read on the internet and feel like it would be easier if I could walk into a shop and ask someone what I need. Seems not easy to find brick and mortar CB shops. Found one excellent one but it's up in Montana which is kind of far. Might end up going there or might order one from them but would anyway need to find someone who can install it & would be excellent ifbthere was someone near where I am in Chattanooga.