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Good Antenna Location?

eclipse

eclipse

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Sparks, NV
I want to install my old uniden cb from my truck into my suburban before I make my road trip to Reno. Last time I used this radio I had it mounted in my truck with two 4" fiberglass antennas on the tool box. I could never get squat for a signal, but when I installed it I didn't have a clue what a SWR meter was.

I want to install an antenna on the burb with minimal modifing to the burb. Also I dont want to spend an arm and a leg on one. What is a good location on the rig? Along the side of the hood, front bumper rear bumper, or roof? If I mount on the roof I'm gonna have to drill for the wire which I'm not fond of. :rolleyes:

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Ain't no big deal to drill the hole , you can cap it when not using it , or when you sell it .

Mag mount will be fine too , but use a nice strong magnet mount , some won't hold a piece of paper :thumb:
 
my only other thought about a roof mag mount was overhead clearance vs. an antenna on a spring.

What is a good small radio? I used to think my uniden was small but it seems rather large to me sitting infront of my console.

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Cobra 19 DX IV

Looks like a good small radio.

Which would be better? Wilson 1000, Wilson 5000, or K40

Cbbr, Its been a while since I've seen a pic of your burb, do you have an aftermarket roof rack? How hard is it to put on a factory roof racks on a burb that didn't come equipped with them. I could get some used out of them and also mount one of those antennas to it on a hinge so I could lay it down if I need to.
 
lay down mount, you mean a mount that is bendable to lay down?

Where is a good place to buy Radios and antennas? The only places I've seen with decent stuff are truckstops. Radioshack has junk in my opinion.

Online websites?
 
Buy a Wilson 1000 on Ebay . Then go to some ham radio sites online ( universal-radio comes to mind off the bat ) and buy a mount with a "UHF" on it , that is the Wilson 1000 threaded part . You can even buy the mounts with a bare hole and add whatever you want .

Simply turn the knob to lay the antenna down . Comes in different arrangements from mirrors , to lip mount , to luggage racks , to rails .

The mount won't care if you use a CB antenna on it :thumb:

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nice those mounts look cool.

I'm gonna be my best reception all the way around with the antenna centered on the roof right?
 
And I thought that it was just so they could use "Gorilla Tower" in their ads. You just never know what you will learn...:D
 
If you want a minimum of cutting, get one of those flat stainless mounts, bolt it to the existing holes in the fender, and depending on clearance between fender and hood, you won't have to cut a thing.

There is a pic here: http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215001 of where the existing holes are, if my hood clearance was better, I could run a cable without a problem, and no cutting.

I hate adding holes, I like getting creative with how to mount things. :) The antenna mount is pretty much out of the way (haven't ripped it off yet) and the long metal whips IMO are pretty nice. Plus easily removeable if you don't want to run around with it on.
 
What about those CB antennas that are just a box of some sort that mount inline with your regular radio antenna? Basically, you use your radio antenna for the CB. I'm looking for something low key.
 
For trail use sure , it will get out to the rigs around you , maybe a few miles out , but for long distance it doesn't do shat .

A box for an FM antenna just makes the radio see a safe load , the antenna itself is still the wrong wavelength long .
 
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