cheap antenna for a newbie

[dshannon]

I'm looking for a cheap antenna, the smaller the better for my basic CB install. I believe the CB I have is 4watts max, I'm hoping to get maybe 10 miles out. Magnet mount, or mount to my roof rack.

I'm also planning to get a scanner, is there a way I can run both using 1 antenna?

Hopefully this is enough information, let me know if you need more. Thanks!

[Ricky]

radioshack dont sell CB Stuff anymore. you could get like a Wilson lil will from a truckstop and a cobra 19 or 29 from a truckstop too. that will get you out good.
i wouldnt go any smaller then a lil wil.

[the_junkie]

radioshack dont sell CB Stuff anymore. you could get like a Wilson lil will from a truckstop and a cobra 19 or 29 from a truckstop too. that will get you out good.
i wouldnt go any smaller then a lil wil.

Standalone Radio Shacks still carry cb gear. Only mall based stores are discontinuing radio gear. After hearing this rumor everywhere, I asked the guy running our local shack, and called corporate. They said that Mall-based radio shacks don't have enough of a customer base with cb equipment to keep their doors open, but that standalones will keep radio gear.

[Ricky]

really? cool. yea every radio shack i went to they had very little stuff. like speakers, swr meters, connectors etc. i have no luck in finding what i need ther....

[the_junkie]

if they don't have it, and you need it, they can order it, and then you don't have to pay shipping.

just an fyi...

[Ricky]

yep

[linx]

Wilson LIL Wil. About $30 depending on where ya shop. Check out our fine sponsors at the bottom of the page.

Unless you live in a really flat area, it won't get out 10 miles. Maybe 3-4 in great flat terrain. Around the hills of TN, 4 watts gets out about 1/2 mile.

[BobOstro61]

Don't buy the cheap a** RatShack antennas! They're garbage. It's been said here on the forum before... You can have a 100 watt radio and a garbage antenna and you will sound like garbage and your receive will be garbage. Spend the $$ on a decent antenna!!!!!! You will NOT regret it.

[jessejamesdallas]

A good place to find "Cheap CB Antenna's" in just about every town in the Country, is going to be your nearest Truck Stop...

TA, Pilot, Petro, are just a few that will have lot's of CB stuff to chose from...wheather or not the stuff is all that good maybe a different story thou.

But they do carry allot of Name Brand Items...You will come more finding what your looking for at a Truck Stop, vs. the neighborhood Radio Shack.

[dshannon]

well, Ive got a radio shack TRC-521, a buddy gave it to me a while back, just never installed it. I'd be happy with 5miles I guess, but I would like to be able to reach out farther than that. Also looking for something small, there ist much space in my truck as it is.

[Ricky]

just dont get a at shack ant. that was my first ant. didnt get out even a mile

[natureboy757]

well, Ive got a radio shack TRC-521, a buddy gave it to me a while back, just never installed it. I'd be happy with 5miles I guess, but I would like to be able to reach out farther than that. Also looking for something small, there ist much space in my truck as it is.

yea that's what I said in the past also( I want something small) but. I'm running a general lee and an 8pill now with my eyes on a 16pill! Once u get to 5 miles your will want 10miles, and then 20 miiles, and then ur gonna want to talk skip and on and on, some dude is going to come by and step all over ur transmision and maul u out, and when u try and complain he will say shut up mudduck big radio coming threw! U will then look at that tiny radio on ur dash and say I need somthing bigger! That's how it starts. But anyway a firestick 2 is Cheap and ok to run

[fireball894]

Well, it's hilly here but not mountainous....... i had a lil will on the roof of one of my mobiles that I talked to out to about 12 mi with a cobra 75 hooked to it from my base at the time...... your mileage may vary......

The best mobile on the cheap? Spend the money on a good antenna like the Wilson 1000, then go for a tuned up mobile such as a cobra25/29 or a uniden66/68/76/78........

even if you want to go cheap on the radio like a uniden 510/520 or cobra 19 or something like that, spend the money on the antenna..........

[dshannon]

I like the FS 2, found it on ebay for $18 shipped. Any taller and I wont be able to drive in the garage! Now I just need a mount and coax..... Thanks for the help folks, if anyone has more input, please fire away!

[Turbo-T]

If you want to get out 10 miles you'll want no less than a 5 foot whip. That means a Wilson 1000.

Natureboy hit it on the head....you'll be wanting to upgrade your radio in no time. Especially if and when a big radio comes along.

[dshannon]

Well, the radio I have now was free, so I can't complain too much, Just need to find a decent mount now. I'm sure I will be upgrading in the future, most likely with a radio for my fire dept. (I'm a vol. FF), this is just for fun since I'm brand new to personal radios.

[lifesaver68]

In regards to your scanner question, you'll really want separate antennas to get the best performance out of each radio. I also have a scanner in my car. I have my Little Wil on the roof and get out an average of 5 miles on my Cobra 29; my scanner antenna is on the trunk and receives very well. I have also used an adapter to use the AM/FM radio antenna for the scanner with fairly decent results, if you don't want to install 2 antennas. I'd leave the CB antenna just for the CB, though, regardless of what type you decide to go with.

[dshannon]

I'm curious to hear how well those splitters work, if I replaced my stock AM/FM antenna with one tuned for CB, has anyone had experience with that? Or I could run that instead to my scanner, and a dedicated antenna for my CB. I figure since both would only be receiving, it would be better to go that direction. Time to do more reading I guess!