CB's and RV's

edbehnke wrote:
why get a long whip? just get one you can just that is a mag mount.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cb+antennas&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb

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I questioned the directionality issues with the CB shop. I used to install CB's years ago and we always used mirror mounts on trucks. I got into a heavy discussion with the shop's installer because this RV has Powder Coat on the mirror arms. He thinks we could scrape through that but the swivel of the mirror bracket would cause grounding issues. I don't know why he thinks that,
the swivel core is a large bolt.

So he suggested the 102 on the rear bumper. I think the RV body would kill most of the forward reliability of the antenna. They claim as long as three inches is above the box, I should be fine. Not from what I remember unless antenna technology has improved light years.

I would not even consider a metal plate on the roof. I already shudder when I go under some bridges. I don't want to lose the antenna before I get a chance to use it.

I used to run a 102 bumper mount on my Pickup, but it had full clearance above the tailgate. No box in the way. I personally would prefer a mirror mount setup.
i think the 102 may be more hassle than it is worth.

A 102" whip is close to the full quarter-wavelength for CB frequencies, so you probably should achieve a decent SWR.

Try to keep the base mount as high as possible on the body, so most of the whip is above the roof, even if the front tip is held down by a clip while traveling. Any portion of the whip below the roofline will have more of a directional signal pattern, and an omni-directional pattern is the ideal.

The issue with antenna mounting on many RV's is that they never develop a good ground plane.

If you're mounting a loading coil-type antenna (the short kind) on a fiberglass side or roof, you won't have much of a ground plane -- which is what creates the additional antenna length. On those vehicles, an NGP (No Ground Plane) antenna uses a specially designed coax cable to serve as the ground plane, instead of wire radials or connection to a wide metal frame.

For those advocating a metal plate on the roof for the magnet mount, make it as large a square plate as feasible around other roof openings. That plate will serve as the ground plane; for SWR, the bigger plate, the better.

Cheers,
Gerry Stoloff (WA3HDI)

why get a long whip? just get one you can just that is a mag mount.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cb+antennas&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb

rockhillmanor wrote:


It's called the Cobra Road Trip CB.

I have one of those myself, works great. I do NOT recommend the one that has controls, etc. in the mike and a small box with the works elsewhere. has a speaker the size of a nickle and is hard to hold/work with smallish hands.
bumpy

I dont have a CB in my Motor Home but I run one in my work truck daily, and I agree with Rockhillmanor. They have come a long way and you dont need the huge whips that you used to. If you have a metal plate mounted to the roof you could have a simple magnetic mount 2 ft antenna on top that would work very well. For best reception it would be best to mount it towards the top of the motorhome. On the bumper could cause some problems with interference.

They've come a long way with CB's. Years ago we had to have huge antennas kickers and the like. Not any more.

I picked up a "hand held" CB for remote and emergency purposes to have on board in the MH. Works as good as any CB I have every had.

It came with an optional use external antenna, but I never had to use it. I just threw the handheld with the attached antenna on the dash and go and receive just like the old big boys CB's. No drilling holes in my MH or mounting antennas on the roof.

And the built in weather alert in the CB that actually is for WHERE you currently are driving is priceless for safety sake.

It's called the Cobra Road Trip CB.

Done it for many years. No issues.