What size antenna?
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 191
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From: Waterloo Illinois
What size antenna?
Im looking at buying the Cobra 75 kit from Right Channel Radio,im going to use the Teraflex mount and im wondering if I should get a 3 or 4 foot antenna? Also is the 5 watt extrenal speaker loud enough or should I upgrade that?
Last edited by Dedduc; Nov 26, 2009 at 08:07 AM.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 373
From: Midwest City, OK
I got a 2' antenna after busting my 3' on the trail with a homemade bracket on the spare tire rack (similar position to the TF, I think). Personally, I find the built-in speaker acceptable. Try it. If it doesn't work out, as a temporary measure (or permanent, really), you can route the speaker output to the aux input on your stereo, then use the stock stereo sound system to hear the CB. All this takes is a simple 3.5-mm audio cable similar to what you'd use to plug in a Zune (my choice of external music source, anyway).
Here's a pic of my external antenna bracket ...
Here's a pic of my external antenna bracket ...
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 199
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From: Los Angeles
2-3 Footer
I use a two footer on the trail. It works well enough. On the highway I have a three footer that works a tiny bit better. Honestly, half the time I forget to switch them and just use the two footer.
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 2
From: St. Louis MO.
I have the same issue, I broke my 3 foot on a parking garage and now I need a new one!
What is the best size to have?
Is there really much of a difference in 3 or 2 foot antennes?
Mine is also mounted in the same place.
I never used an swr meter on my last one and it was good for a couple miles, is iÞ nesassary or does it make it a lot better?
What about one of those 12 foot wire thin ones? I would think being so long it would work the best and probably hard to break.
Thanks for the info
Red
What is the best size to have?
Is there really much of a difference in 3 or 2 foot antennes?
Mine is also mounted in the same place.
I never used an swr meter on my last one and it was good for a couple miles, is iÞ nesassary or does it make it a lot better?
What about one of those 12 foot wire thin ones? I would think being so long it would work the best and probably hard to break.
Thanks for the info
Red
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 420
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From: Corona, CA
2 foot here as well. I have a 4 foot but I never use it. More important than length, particularly with low watt CB, is getting the SWR down. A 2 footer with low SWR will perform as well or better than a 4 footer with high SWR.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 6
From: St. Louis, MO
To my understanding on the 11m band with the powers that CB's run there's not a lot of diffrence between 2ft and 4ft. Especially given the crappy ground plane that our JK's have.
I had a 3ft that got torn off in a car wash. So I replaced it with a 3ft w/ a quick disconnect. That got torn off when it was JUST to tall for my garage door.
If you really want a 4 footer bro I have one that you can have sitting in my garage. 4ft FireStik. But uh, I ain't delivering it to your place.
I had a 3ft that got torn off in a car wash. So I replaced it with a 3ft w/ a quick disconnect. That got torn off when it was JUST to tall for my garage door.
If you really want a 4 footer bro I have one that you can have sitting in my garage. 4ft FireStik. But uh, I ain't delivering it to your place.
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JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 2
From: St. Louis MO.
OMG Skip you are like my long lost brother!!! 
Every time I need something you either have it or know where to get it and know how to help me put it on!!!
Where did you get your quick disconnect, I need one of those if I am gonna put on another 4 footer!!!
---- Looks like I have a new antenna at skips but just for FYI whats the deal with those long wire antenna's are they any good?
Red
Every time I need something you either have it or know where to get it and know how to help me put it on!!!
Where did you get your quick disconnect, I need one of those if I am gonna put on another 4 footer!!!
---- Looks like I have a new antenna at skips but just for FYI whats the deal with those long wire antenna's are they any good?
Red
JK Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: rhode island
.....anything less than a full wavelength in antenna height, is a compromise.
meaning you may want the smallest antenna to avoid breaking it offroad or in low height garages......but by going shorter in height you kill your distance range.
....most jeepers I know run two antenna heights, tallest for the interstate, and the shortest for trail runs.
An antenna has to radiate radio-frequency signals, something that's done best when the length of the antenna precisely matches the wavelength of the transmitted radio frequency.
You can determine the proper length of an antenna by using a formula:
Wavelength (in feet) = 984 / frequency (in megahertz)
The CB portion of the spectrum begins at 25.01 megahertz, so a full wavelength antenna would be a bit more than 39.34 feet long. That's obviously a little long to attach to your bumper, so people tend to use antennas that are a fraction of the wavelength: 1/2, 5/8, 1/4 and 1/8 are all common wavelengths for antennas. In the case of CB, the 1/4 antenna at just under 10 feet long is the common "whip" that you may see on cars and trucks
meaning you may want the smallest antenna to avoid breaking it offroad or in low height garages......but by going shorter in height you kill your distance range.
....most jeepers I know run two antenna heights, tallest for the interstate, and the shortest for trail runs.
An antenna has to radiate radio-frequency signals, something that's done best when the length of the antenna precisely matches the wavelength of the transmitted radio frequency.
You can determine the proper length of an antenna by using a formula:
Wavelength (in feet) = 984 / frequency (in megahertz)
The CB portion of the spectrum begins at 25.01 megahertz, so a full wavelength antenna would be a bit more than 39.34 feet long. That's obviously a little long to attach to your bumper, so people tend to use antennas that are a fraction of the wavelength: 1/2, 5/8, 1/4 and 1/8 are all common wavelengths for antennas. In the case of CB, the 1/4 antenna at just under 10 feet long is the common "whip" that you may see on cars and trucks
