CB Radio antennae and mounts.

dbhosttexas · 12-01-2023, 08:22 PM

So my 4x4 club insists on CB Radio for trip communications. My van is not yet converted but my F150 was factory so.... anyway I know I am going to need a radio, ordered a President McKinley II AM / FM / SSB / WX for the van, if I am going to do it do it al the way right? Well I obviously will need an antenna and mount for this. Pretty sure the 102 I used on my Jeep that still likes in my garage won't cut it. Considering I drive the van to work in downtown, and am going to push height limits pretty hard once the 4wd conversion is done, I am thinking about going with a Wilson Electronics Lil Wil mag mount center of the roof immediately in front of the Penthouse.

Can anyone suggest a different / effective antenna / mounting system that will give me at least reasonable performance without being stupid tall?

And yes I can go ultra old school, use a ball mount on the rear corner of the van, mount the 102" and install a rain gutter clip to hold the antenna down for parking garages.... But it would be super directional due to corner mounting...

If I went with a Lil Wil what would be the best way to route the coax into the van?. My van has the overhead console I am planning on installing the radio in...

Spr · 12-02-2023, 09:13 AM

I had a hood mount on mine and I believe I had a 4ft fire stick antenna. The mount was in line with the radio antenna but on the other side. Stuck up just over the roof and worked great. I also liked it because I could see the antenna while driving.

dbhosttexas · 12-02-2023, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spr

I had a hood mount on mine and I believe I had a 4ft fire stick antenna. The mount was in line with the radio antenna but on the other side. Stuck up just over the roof and worked great. I also liked it because I could see the antenna while driving.

Not a horrible idea. I assume you mean the kind that bolts to the fender? The hood on my van, not sure if all 4th gen Econolines are like this, but my van has a fiberglass hood and it actually appears aged right along with the rest of the van. Would that be a problem?

I am having trouble finding a mount though specific to my van. Any recommendations or even a recommendation for a vendor that can assist with this?

Spr · 12-02-2023, 10:44 AM

I think this is the one I used https://www.rightchannelradios.com/p...-antenna-mount

Spr · 12-02-2023, 10:51 AM

Feel free to PM me your cell and I can send a pic. Not sure how to post pics here (eye roll)

dbhosttexas · 12-02-2023, 05:49 PM

Just PMed you. Firestik 2 in my shopping cart (tunable tip)

It has been a tremendously long time since I set up a Firestik, like 1993 was the last one I dealt with. I do not recall. Does it need the spring between the antenna and the mount stud?

dbhosttexas · 12-02-2023, 07:49 PM

Looking for a CB refresher here, again long time on this. The 102" + 6" spring is 108" making 1/4 wave, the Firestik is listed as a 5/8 wave antenna. Conventional wisdom I have always heard is your coax should be 1/2 wave, or 18', however I have never used a 5/8 wave antenna, and the friend I helped set up his firestik in 1992 is no longer a friend and even if, most likely won't remember... (long stupid story involving my ex...). I think I am ready to pull the trigger on the order just want to make sure...

**daveb** · 12-03-2023, 03:47 AM

I had a communication company replace my longer whip (that was located in the same spot) that hit a limb, flew back and broke one of my glass solar panels. They replaced it with a loaded shorter model. Sorry I don't recall the make. The van has been on a flat bed tow and the antenna cleared the lowest overpass bridges and what not.

dbhosttexas · 12-03-2023, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveb

I had a communication company replace my longer whip (that was located in the same spot) that hit a limb, flew back and broke one of my glass solar panels. They replaced it with a loaded shorter model. Sorry I don't recall the make. The van has been on a flat bed tow and the antenna cleared the lowest overpass bridges and what not.

I hadn't considered any potential damage to solar as my solar setup is portable so I can setup camp in the shade and deploy my panels in full sunlight. That thought process honestly is a mixed bag.

I have ordered what I need for my CB rig and if it were not for me wanting to keep this rig for the foreseeable future I have overspent...

Got the Van specific fender channel mount that was mentioned above, but found it on Walmarts website for a lot less. Got a 3' Firestik II in red, so the tunable tip version, got a HD spring for the whip, the coax, and of course the President McKinley II FCC so AM / FM / SSB transciever with Weather channel receiver with alerts. I still have my Realistic TRC-465, and it still works great. I actually have 3 of them but that is a long convoluted story, people kept giving me radios when they got out of CB. I have given 3 of the radios BACK to the gifters when they decided they wanted to get back into it...

One item I did not deem necessary, and this is the only radio I have ever had that I didn't consider it needed was a noise cancelling power mic. I have seen the demos / heard the differences and there really is no noticeable to me improvement over the stock mic.... I may eventually go for a Digimike just to get a beefier handset but not for sound purposes...

I am not certain, but I am HOPEFUL that the radio will fit in the upper console cubby. Not sure what else that compartment is good for other than a CB, maps things like that...

I figure IF I can mount it there, I will route the coax through a firewall penetration I need to locate still, securing it as I go along up to the fender mount, then working the other way along the kick panel, beside the dash tucked in, up the A pillar, and into the overhead console where I will loop the excess into a figure 8. Get everything to the radio, mount and power the radio, mic etc... set up the SWRs and call it good.

bec_n_em · 12-03-2023, 11:04 AM

dbhosttexas - - Perhaps of interest to add into your thinking...I used a Folding Aerial Bracket from Rhino-Rack in our HAM install...nice to be able to easily and quickly fold down the antenna in trees and brush.

https://www.rhinorack.com/en-us/prod...-bracket_43196

I mounted it like this.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hM5UkS6jnj9AD8ePA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/B9DSvyXZQgHr4ELJA

Have used it for about 2-years...sturdy...has held up well...I often run it at a 45 degree angle to keep the height down without practical signal loss close in with others...

Hope the thoughts help...best, Em -