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CB Antenna and FM Signal

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Gunny65

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I asked this in the Audio forum but it apparently doesn't get as much traffic.

I have what I am pretty sure is a CB antenna mounted on my K5. I am also just getting around to hooking up a audio system. Will a CB antenna pull FM signals in just like a normal antenna?

I ask because I plugged it in to my head unit and am not getting anything from the tuner and I can't find any other antenna tails under the dash.

I also plan on putting my CB in after I get the audio running so...planning around this antenna is kinda important.
 
A CB antenna will not bring in FM signals, there are however some CB/stereo antenna's out there that are dual purpose (all in how they are designed).
 
A CB antenna will pick up FM. It won't be tuned for the frequency, but its not that critical, since you are not transmitting.

But, if your cable has a FM type plug on it.........Darn it, its 1:30 and I'm crashing. Can't remember the name of that connector.
Round long plug with a long pin that goes up inside the radio.
Anyway, if it has that type connector, and not a PL259, then I doubt it goes to the CB antenna.
They do make a matching network that will let you use a CB antenna for both CB and FM at the same time without the CB transmitter blowing the front end out of the FM.
In that case, you would have both plugs on two different cables.

But, those were unusual, and not used much since they cut down on the performance of the CB.
If you want, post a picture of the antenna and connector, and I can tell you what you have.
But, I suggest that you consider two antennas. I have installed several of those dual purpose units, and never really liked them.
 
Darn connector is called a Motorola connector. I had already turned off the computer and was half asleep when it hit me.
I kept clicking on an RCA connector, but that is for audio, and I knew that was not it.

Here is a picture. If your cable end looks like that, and there is not a small box maybe with some adjustment screws attached to it, then I don't think you have the right cable.
The cable you have probably was hooked to a different antenna, or maybe a windshield antenna and its not there any more.

motorola.jpg
 
If you just want to use it for FM, it will probably work as well as those windshield antennas. There were dual-purpose antennas in the 80's that came with the factory AM/FM/CB units. If you have that antenna, it will have dual connectors, like Fordum said. They aren't particularly good at either task. Somebody needs to confirm that the antenna network itself isolates the FM receiver from the CB transmitter, though.
 
Fordum said:
A CB antenna will pick up FM. It won't be tuned for the frequency, but its not that critical, since you are not transmitting.
Click to expand...

Having been a ham radio operator for over 5 years, and an electronics hobbyist for over 20 years, I can say you are exactly correct on that statement.

Andrew
 
Thanks for the help. I am not sure what the other connector goes to then. Guess it is time to trace it.

I didn't realize the CB antennas had different connections. Good to know.

I will need to get a CB antenna soon then. Thanks guys.
 
That pig tail may go to an old windshield antenna and may not actually be connected to the windsheild if it has been replaced, or the windsheild may not even have an antenna anymore.
 
DieselWarrior said:
Having been a ham radio operator for over 5 years, and an electronics hobbyist for over 20 years, I can say you are exactly correct on that statement.

Andrew
Click to expand...

Yep, as long as both signals are analog, there is no problem. The trouble comes in when you try to use an old style analog TV antenna to pick up the new digital signals...................................................:dunno::doah::doah::doah:


That is a joke by the way.

I had so many people come to me asking the best brand of digital antenna for the new stations, I actually printed up some cards saying that the antenna DOES NOT CARE what kind of signal it picks up.

Some of the people hawking replacement antenna should be thrown in jail for false advertising.

The ONLY, repeat, ONLY reason to get a new antenna for digital TV, is if your station changed frequency bands.

A lot of places that had stations on VHF, switched to UHF. And a lot of the antennas were not cut for that and lost gain.

All the local stations around here stayed on VHF except for the one UHF one that went down to VHF.
So there was no need for new antennas.
 
BTW, I forgot to post this, but this is what the CB connector looks like. Its known as a PL-259.
I already posted the Motorola connector that fits an FM radio.

31DPamC9acL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
That is much appreciated Fordum.

I ordered a Firstik single mast 4' kit for the CB. With a quick disconnect. Thieves got my old ones quite a few years back.

Now to figure out why I don't get an am/fm signal. Oh, is the little plug sticking out pf the motorolla connector supposed to be loose?
 
Most of them are, they are really cheaply made. But most of the coax that is used in car FM antennas is a single strand of copper wire for the center conductor, and it is bad about breaking when flexed a lot.

However, if you are not getting any FM signal, odds are its shorted.

Try measuring from the center pin to the outside part with an ohmmeter. There should be no reading, as there should not be a connection between them. It is shows a dead short then that is your problem.

It should also be an open circuit from the center pin to the outside of the CB connector with that Firestick.
BUT, not necessarily with all CB antennas. Some have loading coils, and some of the tower mounted type have a DC path to ground for static charges and lightning protection.
 
DieselWarrior said:
Man... you should have seen my face just before I read this... I was thinking to myself, "I thought this guy knew what he was talking about in the previous post, then THIS?!?!" :haha:
Click to expand...

Yep, I figured I would catch a few people with that one. :D
 
jekquistk5 said:
Yes mini for all the newer radios, and most older and aftermarket use the bigger one.
Click to expand...

I considered mentioning that one, but since I was dealing with the antenna cable on an older truck, I doubted that it would have one, and I didn't want to make it more complicated than it was.

But now that you mention it, I need to check into that one also. Not sure what they call it.
The few times I have run into it, I just called it the new style antenna connection.
I may run into one in the wild one if these days.
 
Fordum said:
I considered mentioning that one, but since I was dealing with the antenna cable on an older truck, I doubted that it would have one, and I didn't want to make it more complicated than it was.

But now that you mention it, I need to check into that one also. Not sure what they call it.
The few times I have run into it, I just called it the new style antenna connection.
I may run into one in the wild one if these days.
Click to expand...

They are elusive little bastards
 
Actually there are several different hookups. Like hunting leopards in tall grass, you never know what is going to popup.

I try to keep up with what is out there.

When you are pecker deep in a friend's dash trying to help him install his new radio, its not very confidence inspiring for him when I look at the connector and say, "what the heck is That??"

The things I do in my life seem to run in cycles. I have not had to help anyone install a new radio in a couple of years. So its about due.

Had to help a friend out with some gun-smithing last week, first in a year or two.

And just this morning, I heard about someone trying to restore an old Coke machine. Since I am a pretty good expert on them, I suspect I will get sucked in on that one too.

So, I'm glad you reminded me about the different style connectors. I need to refresh my memory on them.
I know Kia, Volkswagon, and several others all use different hookups. But, I have heard of a few more.
 
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