Best inexpensive base CB antenna

[Rat]

I am looking to hook up one of my CBs in the house.

I was looking at just putting a pole up along side my house and mounting an antenna to it. I have a nice two story house so it should get high enough I think.


The problem is how to go about this.

I was thinking of a 102 on top of the pole.

What is going to be my best option for a proper ground plane when doing this? Just run a ground wire to the ground with a spike and shove it in the dirt/grass or do somthing different?

I don't plan on running much more then a barefoot Cobra Stealth or my 4300 HP connex.

[djrebel236]

put a Antton 99 or iMax2000 on that pole, they both are cheap in price but they are better than the 102 whip for as a base setup goes...Dj

[Circuit Breaker]

Running a wire to the ground and attaching it to a grounding rod is not a groundplane. To make a groundplane for a 102" whip, you would need at least two more 102" whips attached to the shield side of the mount and running horizontally, spaced 180 degrees from each other. Personally, I'd suggest just getting the A-99....less hassle.

[TheTeZ]

yeah. than antron or the imax 2000 are much longer much bigger antennas. but you will see much better performance out of those 2 more than a 102" problem with the 102" is im pretty sure youll have to run more wires make a kind of radial for it or something... people are sure to chime in any time now with the details.

[Rat]

Not to sound stupid or anything but what about a marine band antenna. I used to do alot of boating and fishing and used to run marine band radios in my camper and on the boat. I still have a brand new antenna sitting here. Can't remember the length but it is longer the 8 ft for sure.

[TheTeZ]

is it 27mhz? or can it be?

[Texas Mobil 219]

A-99 is your best bet on that one.

[Rat]

Have no idea actually. I know it is a Shakspear and it is pretty long. I have three of these actually. One brand new one in the package and two used ones from my boat and camper.



I don't have the model numbers or anything here as the antennas are in storage at my parents place.

[TheTeZ]

A-99 is your best bet on that one.

actually the imax 2000 is a better antenna.

not saying the antron is bad though

[WEASEL]

I beleive marine band is in the VHF range. So no matter how long it is, I dont think your marine antenna would work very well at 27mhz. I think your best bet would be to buy a base antenna designed for CB.

[Stoneman]

Cheapest would be the Antron 99 at 49 bucks...

[Beercanman]

Check out the link to Sparky's CB Shack at the bottom of the page, he's got the A-99 in the sale items section for 49.99. If you check the reviews the A-99 is the best selling 5/8 wave antenna on the market, and it performs very well for the money.

[doctor]

As one suggested get the Antron from Sparkys on sale. Forget the whip unless you only want to communicate down the street<waste of your time>.

Now you know what to do Monday, call Sparky and you will be in business by next weekend.

DOCTOR/CBRT 908

[North Texas Mudduck]

just put up a Antron 99 and be done with it
tripod mount on roof with 10 foot pole and you will be set

['Doc]

Almost anything can be -made- to work. Some things are easier than others. How easy/cheap it is sort of depends on you, what it's 'worth' to you. The 'A99' or 'Imax' are certainly possibilities. So would that 102" whip and some kind of counterpoise for it to work with. So would making a dipole and hanging it vertically from an upper window or eave. Lots of possibilities. Even the commercially available things are going to take some effort to get up and working. So... which option you think you wanna try?
- 'Doc

[Rico]

Not to sound stupid or anything but what about a marine band antenna. I used to do alot of boating and fishing and used to run marine band radios in my camper and on the boat. I still have a brand new antenna sitting here. Can't remember the length but it is longer the 8 ft for sure.

Unless it can be tuned for the CB band, it won't work.

[TheTeZ]

Check out the link to Sparky's CB Shack at the bottom of the page, he's got the A-99 in the sale items section for 49.99. If you check the reviews the A-99 is the best selling 5/8 wave antenna on the market, and it performs very well for the money.

... i am pretty sure the a-99 is a 1/2 wave length on Citizens Band.
The imax is often marketed as a 1/2 wave length as well, but it IS 5/8

[djrebel236]

If that is the Shakespeare Big Stick, it will work, those are good antennas, but if it is a true marine then it wont work, i used to have a old Realistic Crossbow that i ran back in the old days, it also looks like a marine antanna...Dj

[BobOstro61]

Like the others said, go with an A-99 to get started. I've had one strapped to my chimney for 3 years now and it still works fine. SWR's are flat as a pancake. It does fine shooting skip too! From the south side of Chicago here I've talked to Texas, Florida, Missouri, New Brunswick Canada, and many other places.

[Part Time]

Like the others said, go with an A-99 to get started. I've had one strapped to my chimney for 3 years now and it still works fine. SWR's are flat as a pancake. It does fine shooting skip too! From the south side of Chicago here I've talked to Texas, Florida, Missouri, New Brunswick Canada, and many other places.

I'm with BobOstro61 on this one. I have talked all over the place on an A-99. The A-99 will do better than you would think, and I can promise you that it will out do that 102" mobile antenna that you had mentioned. The setup that North Texas Mudduck mentioned is exactly what I used. Tripod, 10 ft mast on the roof.