i need antenna help....

[AlexF2294]

is this antenna any good? [Please login or register to view this link]

[Foxhunter]

Not really, especially if you want any range. I'd suggest looking into a better antenna. It will cost a bit more, but would give such better results and would drastically cut down on the frustration of not being able to send and receive. Just a suggestion, and I'm sure others will offer up some opinions on which antennas they'd recommend.

[AlexF2294]

i just use a cb for fun and im not looking to get the best antenna out there but i want something that is pretty good and not too expensive. anyone got any suggestions on an antenna that might be good for me?

[PA629]

Wilson 1000 or 5000. Probably more $$$ than you want to spend, but the antenna is more important to your systems' performance than the actual radio. So just bite the bullet and spend the $$$$. At least consider the Wilson 500 if not the 1000/5000.

[231]

i just use a cb for fun and im not looking to get the best antenna out there but i want something that is pretty good and not too expensive. anyone got any suggestions on an antenna that might be good for me?

I have to agree with the guys who've posted. And believe me, most of us understand exactly what you are saying. You want decent, just don't want to pay allot for it. Well look at it like this, would you rather spend $25 on something that has a 50% chance of it working at all (not to mention ability to tune it), or $35-$40 for something with a good track record in both materials and performance and just be done with it? That's what you are talking about here. You'd be much better off buying a cheaper radio and spending the money saved on the antenna. A cheaper radio with a good antenna system will always out perform a big radio with crumby antenna system. By far the antenna is the most important part of it all. Yet funny enough, it's where most new to radio folks try to cut corners.

Honestly I wouldn't look at anything smaller than a Wilson Lil-Wil, Wilson 500, or one of the other Wilson's that are going to run you $50 or so. This isn't "having the best," by the way, it's mediocre at best. So if having it work properly is worth a few more bucks (like it is most of us), you will want to stay clear of the cheaper mag mounts (especially the cell look-a-likes).

Best of luck.

[AlexF2294]

is the K30 antenna good?

[231]

is the K30 antenna good?

Alex, you said you wanted something "pretty good." That doesn't meet that criteria...at least in my view. That would fall into the category of "bare bone minimum." If that's what you are after, the have at it. Will it work? Yes, better than the one you were originally considering.

Good luck.

[AlexF2294]

which would you say is better, the K30 or the lil wil

[AlexF2294]

or would a firestik be better than those other two?

[231]

The Lil-Wil and K-30 are merely competitive models...virtually the same design. Quality wise Wilson would have my vote. Firestik is a completely different design. They are helical wound antennas that have the loading coil at the top. If you plan on getting a short one, get the Lil-Wil. Shorty Firestiks aren't that great either.

What's the maximum length you can live with?

[big boone]

Just my two cent worth and I hope it helps. The atenna has more leverage in a radio setup than any thing else. What i mean by "leverage" is you can take a good antenna system and make the average radio sound good and last a long time. You can take a cheap & poor quality antenna system and it will make a good radio setup sound bad and will destroy the radio. Personaly I don't like a magnet mount antenna. I know sometimes there is no other choice. You will allways get what you pay for with a antenna and ill say this with the real good antennas you will get more than what you paid for. I like a 5/8 wave antenna with its coil as high as possible. good luck.

[AlexF2294]

by length do you mean the size of the antenna. if so, im trying to find a good, but fairly cheap, 3-4 foot antenna.

[Beercanman]

I would'nt go with anything less than a wilson 500, it's a great antenna for the money. Anythig less and nobody will hear you.

[yMidnite]

Just a little bit of my very limited knowledge:

From my research - Wilson makes the best "pre mounted" magnet mounts. If you do not want to make a hole (like me) then go with nothing smaller than the Wilson 500. I went with Wilson 1000 (I have a linear on the way). I had a radio shack mag mount that I bought in a pinch and had it hooked up till I got my Wilson. The coax alone has a tremendous improvement over the RS. I had to run the RS through the back sliding window to keep my SWR's down under 3 (the coax must have been leaking coming down the door frame. Spend the extra money on the antenna.

[bobcat235]

i had the wilson little wil on my truck for about a year, it worked great for local use, i had a couple people hear me from about 25 miles away more then once. honestly for the 40 bucks you really cant beat it in my opinion