Try to get the best CB antenna possible to get the most out of your CB radio. A high quality antenna will enable you to both transmit and receive better.
It's key to be able to hear important things which are happening as far away as possible: emergencies, weather conditions, and traffic delays, etc.
You also want to be able to report any the above conditions to other drivers or official personnel who may be a good distance away.
In case you get stuck or stranded in an area where you can't communicate by another method (no cellular signal, etc.), you'll be wishing you had the most powerful antenna available.
You could be getting directions from a driver who's going the opposite direction on the CB, and lose contact with him halfway through the directions, just because your equipment was not as good as it could have been.
This is probably the only book of its kind on the market. It cuts through the myths and marketing hype with unquestionable accuracy. It's a must-read for any CBer that experiments with antennas or just wants to know the truth.
It also gets into propagation (the way radio signals behave), SWR (something few CBers trully understand), gain (the truth and the advertising hype), building your own antennas (with outlined projects including a four element "monster quad"), grounding, lightning protection, matching systems, TVI, coax, and even tips on soldering. And all of it is well written and easy to understand. (A full glossary is included.)
In my opinion (based on 18 years in the CB field) no other book handles this subject more completely or accurately. This book is really a cheap education for any CBer that wants to learn the ins and outs of antennas as well as many other things related to radio. And, if this wasn't enough, sprinkled throughout you'll find a number of humorous pictures and comments which makes the book just that much easier to read and learn from. After your first pass through this book you'll know more than 90% of the CBers out there, and what will seem even more amazing is how easy the learning was when you used the right tool!
Find the Lowest Prices on CB Antennas
Wilson
Tests show that Wilson Coils have the highest efficiency of all CB trucker antennas! Dr. Dwight Heim, (Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan) an independent consultant, conducted a test and comparison on the coils of some of the antennas used by truckers. The Wilson 5000 Trucker CB antenna was shown to have the highest "Q" rating of all antenna coils tested. The "Q" is the standard engineering measurement of efficiency of the antenna coil. The higher the "Q", the higher the efficiency, which means higher performance from that antenna.
Firestik
The most popular wire-wound CB antenna in the world. This is the original Firestik design, and a proven performer since 1975. Firestik Antennas can be used in a single antenna configuration when metallic ground plane is available. Or, they may be used in dual (co-phased) configuration on any vehicle made from any type of material. Remember that ALL antennas, regardless of style or manufacturer, MUST be tuned after installation on the vehicle. Transmitting antennas are not "plug-n-play" devices. See below for more information.
Monkey Made
The best selling MM-9 boasts: a 3" diameter coil, 5'6" total height, with extra heavy duty Ferrule and Stinger. Features a low SWR and 10-K plus capacity.
This antenna is made especially tough for professional drivers, who need to hear better and transmit farther, in all weather conditions.
Tuning CB Antennas and Setting the SWR
Many CB users don't even realize that their antenna is tunable. Even a wire-wound, fiberglass antenna without a mechanical tuner can be tuned. Some antennas are easier to tune than others. If the antenna has a mechanical tuning device, it is a "tunable antenna".
Wire-wound antennas without mechanical tuners, that test electrically long, can be tuned by removing wire from the top. If SWR testing indicates the antenna is electrically short, the coils at the top of the antenna can be separated and spaced further apart or accessories that increase the physical length of the antennas (springs, quick disconnects) can be added.
Solid fiberglass antennas (straight or helical wire impregnated in fiberglass resins) that are electrically too long can have the cap removed and the top can be cut off with a hacksaw. If the SWR test on one of these antennas indicates that it is electrically short, the addition of a spring or quick disconnect (or both) is the only way to correct for the short condition.
Base loaded antennas with wire whips have a set screw (or two) just below the area that the whip is inserted into the loading coil. By loosening up the set screw(s) you are able to slide the whip up or down as required.
