All-in-one antenna for semi
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dogman
- NEW DUCK
- Posts: 1
- Joined: March 29th, 2009, 11:13 pm
All-in-one antenna for semi
Newbie to CBs. Want to install a CB in semi that has a 45" stick-type antenna atop driver's mirror that connects to both the CB & am/fm/CD player. Coax to CB reads, "Caution 200 watts max". What does this warning refer to? Also, is it likely that one antenna will work for both the am/fm & CB? If I can't get a good SWR reading I'll see if I can tune the antenna. If not, wouldn't my next step be to get something like a Wilson FGT or Firestik & attempt to get a better SWR? There is a product out there called The Firestik AR-1A, CB Antenna to AM/FM Splitter. However, is it likely the semi is already set-up in such a way that I won't even need the Matchmaker?
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'Doc
Those combination broadcast band and CB antenna adapters have been around for some time. You don't see very many of them in use, primarily because they don't work all that well. You do not end up with the 'best' of 'both worlds', it's more like the 'worst' of 'both worlds', sort of. A decent broadcast band antenna and an 'adequate' CB antenna, are not even close to the same things.
That "Caution 200 watts max" means that 200 watts is the absolute maximum that can be fed to the thing before it is ruined. I would tend to think that 200 watts is a very optimistic figure. The likelihood of doing damage to the broadcast band radio if that adapter is over-loaded is pretty good, the CB radio too, for that matter.
I would suggest NOT getting one, if you haven't already. They would sure be a handy thingy to have if they worked well, but... they don't.
Sorry 'bout that.
- 'Doc
That "Caution 200 watts max" means that 200 watts is the absolute maximum that can be fed to the thing before it is ruined. I would tend to think that 200 watts is a very optimistic figure. The likelihood of doing damage to the broadcast band radio if that adapter is over-loaded is pretty good, the CB radio too, for that matter.
I would suggest NOT getting one, if you haven't already. They would sure be a handy thingy to have if they worked well, but... they don't.
Sorry 'bout that.
- 'Doc
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kor b
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 31
- Joined: April 2nd, 2008, 5:41 pm
I agree with Doc, the combo ants. do not work good. If you try to tune it you will probably make it worse for both am/fm and cb. I have one on the semi truck that i drive and the swr was way high. I bought a good ant. and coax and bypassed the stock ant. and coax. I just run the coax through the door at about mid window height.
That coax that comes with the combo ant. runs in the dash to a splitter box and then one coax goes to the am/fm and one goes to the cb. I don't see how they can possibly make that work right.
By the way a good ant, IMO is wilson 2000 trucker or better. Don't try to save money on the ant. or coax.
That coax that comes with the combo ant. runs in the dash to a splitter box and then one coax goes to the am/fm and one goes to the cb. I don't see how they can possibly make that work right.
By the way a good ant, IMO is wilson 2000 trucker or better. Don't try to save money on the ant. or coax.
