How
to Choose and Mount a CB Radio Antenna by Andrew
Youderian
The CB antenna is the most critical component
of any CB installation. An improperly installed antenna
will result in poor performance from even the most expensive
radio. Consequently, it's important to understand the different
types of antennas and available mounting options, as well
as which one is best suited for your needs.
While there are a number of different CB antennas
available, there are two types that are most commonly used
with passenger vehicles: base-loaded antennas and fiberglass
antennas.
Base-loaded CB antennas
Base-loaded CB antennas derive their name from
the location of their coil. An antenna coil is a tightly
wrapped section of wire that compensates for the short length
of most vehicle-mounted antennas. As the ideal antenna length
for use with CB frequencies is more than 8 feet, antenna
coils allow for the use of shorter, more conveniently sized
antennas.
Base-loaded antennas traditionally consist
of a plastic antenna base which houses the antenna coil
and also serves as the mounting platform. Several different
mounting applications are common, including magnetic mounts,
trunk-lip mounts and permanently installed roof-top mounts.
Base-loaded antennas usually also include a stainless steel
whip, which extends up from the base, as well as coaxial
cable for attaching the antenna to the radio.
Base-loaded antennas are popular choices for
passenger vehicles as they are easy to install and include
all the necessary antenna components in one package. Additionally,
entry-level antennas can be had for as little as $30. For
a convenient, all-in-one antenna solution, base-mounted
CB antennas can't be beat.
Fiberglass CB antennas
Fiberglass antennas are made from fiberglass
rods. Unlike most base-loaded antennas, they don't include
a mount or coaxial cable; rather, they utilize an industry-standard
bottom thread and screw into separately available mounting
devices. What fiberglass antennas lack in convenience, they
make up in versatility. A wide variety of available mounts
allow for antenna installation in significantly more places
than base-loaded antennas, including hood channels, mirror
arms, truck stake-holes and bumpers. While more versatile,
fiberglass antennas tend to be less convenient to mount
and often require drilling holes in the vehicle for a permanent
installation.
Mounting and selection considerations
So which type of antenna is right for you?
The answer depends on several variables including your vehicle,
budget, willingness to drill holes, common driving habits
and a number of other factors. While it's impossible to
categorically recommend an antenna or mounting location,
there are a number of guidelines that will help you pick
the best antenna and mounting location for your needs:
-
Longer is better.
Longer antennas work better than shorter ones, so pick
the longest antenna you can comfortably put on your vehicle.
You can purchase quick-release accessories that allow
you to quickly remove your antenna without tools, so antenna
inconvenience may not be as big an issue as you think.
-
Higher is better.
The higher you can mount your antenna on your vehicle,
the better. A vehicle's chassis can interfere with radio
frequency signals reaching or emanating from your antenna,
so you want to mount your antenna as high as possible
on the vehicle for best performance.
-
Mount the coil above
the roof. For best performance, it's important to
get the antenna coil above the roofline. This is particularly
important for fiberglass antennas - the top of the antenna
needs to clear the vehicle's roof. While not as crucial
for base-loaded antennas, roof mounts will provide better
performance than lower mount locations.
-
Make sure it's grounded.
The vehicle's frame acts as an extension of the antenna,
so it's crucial that CB antennas be well grounded. Poorly
grounded or non-grounded antennas are the biggest cause
of poor radio performance, so make sure your antenna has
a good and solid ground.
-
Get an easily "tunable"
antenna. All antennas need to be "tuned"
in an adjustment process that I'll discuss in more detail
in my next article. Basically, tuning requires lengthening
and shortening the antenna. Most modern antennas come
with a "tunable tip" or a "tunable whip,"
which makes adjustment a simple process, but some older
antennas must be physically cut to size instead. I recommend
the easily tunable antennas, which are now widely available
and not much more expensive than the older styles.
While there is no perfect antenna or mounting
locating, following these guidelines will help you get the
best performance out of the antenna you do choose. Antenna
type and mounting location are important, but the single
most crucial step you can take to ensure peak CB radio performance
is to tune your antenna. In my next article, I'll discuss
what CB antenna tuning entails, explain why it's important,
and provide step-by-step instructions.
Andrew
Youderian is the founder and manager of