How tall should my CB antenna be?

Tall antennas generally work better and get a longer range than short antennas. The higher the antenna goes, the farther your message will go, and you can receive messages from farther away. The ideal length antenna for CB radios is 102 inches (about 8 and 1/2 feet!)

What is the best height for a CB antenna?

I short antenna in the middle if your car (roof) will most likely out perform a long whip mounted on the front corner (depending on your transmitting direction). With that said, a GENERAL rule of thumb with fiberglass (firesticks, etc) is that you want 2/3 of the antenna above the highest point on your car.

Is a taller CB antenna better?

Choosing the Optimal CB Antenna Length

Yes, taller/longer is better for range of distance when it comes to an antenna and the optimal antenna length is 1/4 wavelength. That translates to 102 inches (8.5 feet), too tall to be practical for most mobile applications.

What length should a CB antenna be?

Understanding Antenna Coils

The optimal antenna length for CB frequencies is 102” as this represents one-quarter of a wavelength. Unfortunately, mounting a 102” (8.5-foot) antenna to a vehicle is often not a viable option!

How do I make my CB reach further?

Are 2 CB antennas better than 1? 2 cb antennas vs 1 cb antenna.

Why is CB limited to 4 watts?

The FCC allows a maximum of 4 watts of output power for CB radios to avoid signal interference with other devices, such as TV and emergency communication radios.

Are dual CB antennas better?

With antennas on both sides of your vehicle, you're much less likely to have large dead spots because the antenna system can "see" more. This is one of the primary reasons most 18 wheelers have dual antenna setups.

How far will a 4 watt CB transmit?

Transmitter power is limited to 4 watts in the US and the EU. CB radios have a range of about 3 miles (4.8 km) to 20 miles (32 km) depending on terrain, for line of sight communication; however, various radio propagation conditions may intermittently allow communication over much greater distances.

Does coax length matter for CB?

We recommend 18 feet of coax even if you don't need that much. If you use a length that is shorter or longer, you might risk having trouble achieving good SWR readings. Properly store any excess coax in a figure 8, about one foot in length, and bound in the middle- it should look like a long, skinny 8.

What is the longest range CB radio?

Best Long Range CB - The Cobra 148 GTL

While most CB radios broadcast at 4 watts of power, SSB equipped radios can legally broadcast at 12 watts - effectively tripling the distance you can broadcast.

How do you stop static on a CB radio?

You could try wrapping your CB radio power wire in tin foil. You could try shielding your radio by using tin foil. You could also try moving your radio or redirecting your wiring. Try using a different radio to ensure that your radio isn't having issues.

How important is antenna height?

A height of 120 feet or even higher will provide even more advantages for long-distance communications. To a distant receiving station, a transmitting antenna at 120 feet will provide the effect of approximately 8 to 10 times more transmitting power than the same antenna at 35 feet.

Does coax length affect SWR?

Coaxial Cable Length Does Not Change Antenna SWR.

Where is the best place to mount a CB antenna?

Do you have to ground CB antenna?

Ground Your Antenna Mount

If you're using a standard CB antenna (i.e., anything except a no ground plane, or NGP, kit), you'll need to make sure your antenna mount is solidly grounded to the vehicle's chassis. A bad ground will result in an un-tunable antenna and sky-high SWR levels.

How do you calculate coax length?

To calculate the electrical length of the line you need to multiply the velocity factor of the line (available from the supplier of the line) by the free space length. For the length in feet, this is (983.6 / frequency in MHz) * velocity. For the length in meters, this is (299.8 / frequency in MHz) * velocity.

Can you coil CB antenna cable?

"The way to "coil" up any excess coax is to loop it and then tie it together in the center of the loop to form a kind of figure "8". That way, you minimize the effect the coil will have on the antenna.

What CB channel do most truckers use?

CB Radio Channels

Channels 17 and 19 are the two channels most commonly used by truckers; in some areas, those on north- and southbound roads use channel 19, while those on east- and westbound roads communicate on channel 17.

How far will 25 watts transmit?

For example, a 25 watt marine radio will roughly have a maximum range of 60 nautical miles (111 km) between antennas mounted on tall ships, but that same radio will only have a range of 5 nautical miles (9 km) between antennas mounted on small boats at sea level.

How far can 900 MHz travel?

The lower frequency radio waves of 900 MHz radios provide greater penetration through walls, trees and other obstacles, making it optimal for most non-line-of-sight applications. A typical AW900xTR Radio using high powered AW-15 15dbi antenna can go distances of up to 1500 feet with buildings and/or trees in the way.

What is the best CB antenna on the market?

How do I lower the SWR on my antenna?

If your antenna is mounted down low on the vehicle, like on the bumper or behind a pickup truck's cab, the signal can bounce back to the antenna, causing a high SWR. To alleviate this, keep at least the top 12 inches of the antenna above the roof line, and position the antenna as high as possible on the vehicle.

What is the most powerful CB radio on the market today?

Welcome to the most powerful CB radio available, the Ranger RCI 69FFB4. Boasting over 400 watts PeP, this Ranger CB radio puts everything else to shame in terms of sheer performance.

Is CB Channel 9 still monitored?

"We do not routinely monitor Channel 9," he added.