Antenna
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,546
Likes: 2
From: Panorama city,Ca
Originally Posted by Rooster76
ANTENNA THEORY
The antenna makes all the difference in CB's, that are limited to 4 Watts. You want to make sure you get the mount grounded well. Then you need to tune them with a SWR meter. In theory you want antennas to be as high as possible and have 1/3 above the roof. The longer the antenna the better the range you will get. It's best not to sanwitch you antenna in between the tire and window like I have mine mounted. A better option is the Arizona Rocky Road mount that extends the mount over the spare tire.
A whip is the best in theory. I was thinking they were 102" (8.5'). If I remember right that is a 1/4" of a CB wavelength. I say best in theory because the thing is 8.5' tall (or damb close at least
) and it whips all over the place and is not very trail friendly to anyone around the Jeep and are not allowed in some places and clubs. Also it requires a beefy mount to hold it up. I do think they look cool as hell though.
Firestik FireFly Antenna
As for the best Antenna for actual off-road use I would say the Firestik FireFly Antenna. It will have FL in the name if it is a firefly. Don't confused the firefly with firestiks other models that are much more ridged and require a spring . It's very flexible (and doesn't need a spring), Light weight, More top wound than than the more common Firestick II. It also gives you about a mile better range then the super flexible Wilson Flex. The firefly comes in 3' and 4' lengths. According to "Right Channel Radio's" you can expect the range to be
3' Length: 3 to 4 miles
4' Length: 4 to 6 miles
I've got the 3' mounted to the base of the spare. It is an 1" longer then my garage clearance and it creates no problem for the antenna or door frame. It has a tune-able tip screw for adjusting the SWR that is covered with a plastic cap. It's a good idea to put some hairspray in the cap after you have adjusted the antenna. That's the same way you keep on mountain bike grips.
Here is a firefly that comes standard with a cooltech ultramount shown below
If you decided to get something else at the local truck stop I would make sure it has a tune-able tip. These dudes are only about $20 and there is no reason to have to fiddle with trimming wire to adjust the SWR.
Good Luck
The antenna makes all the difference in CB's, that are limited to 4 Watts. You want to make sure you get the mount grounded well. Then you need to tune them with a SWR meter. In theory you want antennas to be as high as possible and have 1/3 above the roof. The longer the antenna the better the range you will get. It's best not to sanwitch you antenna in between the tire and window like I have mine mounted. A better option is the Arizona Rocky Road mount that extends the mount over the spare tire.
A whip is the best in theory. I was thinking they were 102" (8.5'). If I remember right that is a 1/4" of a CB wavelength. I say best in theory because the thing is 8.5' tall (or damb close at least
) and it whips all over the place and is not very trail friendly to anyone around the Jeep and are not allowed in some places and clubs. Also it requires a beefy mount to hold it up. I do think they look cool as hell though.Firestik FireFly Antenna
As for the best Antenna for actual off-road use I would say the Firestik FireFly Antenna. It will have FL in the name if it is a firefly. Don't confused the firefly with firestiks other models that are much more ridged and require a spring . It's very flexible (and doesn't need a spring), Light weight, More top wound than than the more common Firestick II. It also gives you about a mile better range then the super flexible Wilson Flex. The firefly comes in 3' and 4' lengths. According to "Right Channel Radio's" you can expect the range to be
3' Length: 3 to 4 miles
4' Length: 4 to 6 miles
I've got the 3' mounted to the base of the spare. It is an 1" longer then my garage clearance and it creates no problem for the antenna or door frame. It has a tune-able tip screw for adjusting the SWR that is covered with a plastic cap. It's a good idea to put some hairspray in the cap after you have adjusted the antenna. That's the same way you keep on mountain bike grips.
Here is a firefly that comes standard with a cooltech ultramount shown below
If you decided to get something else at the local truck stop I would make sure it has a tune-able tip. These dudes are only about $20 and there is no reason to have to fiddle with trimming wire to adjust the SWR.
Good Luck
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 419
Likes: 2
From: Indy
Yeah, the way it works is that when your receiving your actually using the Jeeps steel body as part of the antenna. There are parts that are hot and there are parts that need to be grounded for the antenna to work. It's very important how you put on your antenna stud for all this to work out right. Most notably the white washer. You can test this with a multi-meter ($14) on the Ohm setting.
It's quite possible that when you mount your antenna it will be grounded well enough to work. To get the best performance and lower your SWR you need to have it grounded to the tub. The nylon bushings that hold the rear gate on can prevent this. The easiest solution is to run a 10 or 12 guage wire from a bolt on the mount, to a bolt in the tub. It has to have the paint removed under the bolts to work.
I did a writeup about it here that goes more into it. LINK->https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-w...2012-a-231369/
It's quite possible that when you mount your antenna it will be grounded well enough to work. To get the best performance and lower your SWR you need to have it grounded to the tub. The nylon bushings that hold the rear gate on can prevent this. The easiest solution is to run a 10 or 12 guage wire from a bolt on the mount, to a bolt in the tub. It has to have the paint removed under the bolts to work.
I did a writeup about it here that goes more into it. LINK->https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-w...2012-a-231369/
Last edited by Rooster76; Aug 9, 2012 at 09:13 PM.
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,546
Likes: 2
From: Panorama city,Ca
Originally Posted by Rooster76
Yeah, the way it works is that when your receiving your actually using the body frame as part of the antenna. There are parts that are hot and there are parts that need to be grounded for the antenna to work. It's very important how you put on your antenna stud for all this to work out right. Most notably the white washer. You can test this with a multi-meter ($14) on the Ohm setting.
It's quite possible that when you mount your antenna it will be grounded well enough to work, but to get the best performance and lower your SWR you need to have it grounded to the tub. The nylon bushings that hold the rear gate on can prevent this.
I did a writeup about it here that goes more into it. LINK->https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-w...2012-a-231369/
And to ground it what do i need?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Lake City, FL
Link>Here is another mount idea that also shows grounding. I have a 3', 4' and 5' Wilson that all work on the mount. The shorter antennas can work just fine for the trail chatter. Well tuned and grounded should get out a few miles or better. I had a cobra 29 with a whip that could talk 13 miles or better depending on conditions. On fiberglass rear of the Jeep antennas I can get 5-6 approx. This acceptable for me beccause the whip hits everything and I have a garage that I park the Jeep in.
I also agree with the Firestik Firefly but also like the Wilson Flex.
I also agree with the Firestik Firefly but also like the Wilson Flex.
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,546
Likes: 2
From: Panorama city,Ca
Originally Posted by Smitty12JKU
Link>Here is another mount idea that also shows grounding. I have a 3', 4' and 5' Wilson that all work on the mount. The shorter antennas can work just fine for the trail chatter. Well tuned and grounded should get out a few miles or better. I had a cobra 29 with a whip that could talk 13 miles or better depending on conditions. On fiberglass rear of the Jeep antennas I can get 5-6 approx. This acceptable for me beccause the whip hits everything and I have a garage that I park the Jeep in.
I also agree with the Firestik Firefly but also like the Wilson Flex.
I also agree with the Firestik Firefly but also like the Wilson Flex.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: United States
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: United States
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,546
Likes: 2
From: Panorama city,Ca
Originally Posted by CW Spook
Oh..I thought that was probably why you shut it off the first time... That usually does it for me.
