I've been reading up on CBs and what not the past few days. I've no idea how much I have or haven't learned. I read about the ground plane, SWR and what not. I also read a few guides for installing CB antennas. (I'm still an idiot. : )

I want to install a CB radio on my car, but I don't want it to be noticeable. After researching and thinking about using the AM/FM whip antenna on my car... I came across some things to do that, but I read they had very poor reception(small, untunable, bad ground plane). I also saw some devices that would also allow you to use your CB antenna for AM/FM signals.

Now my idea is to put the orignal AM/FM antenna some where safe and some how fasten a nice CB antenna in its place (i.e. in front of the windshield to the very right of the car) I was thinking of doing a 3ft fiberglass or whip CB antenna as it's only 5 inches longer than my current AM/FM antenna. Maaaybe go for a 4 foot whip. (maybe one of those no groundplane antennas)

Probably conjure up a way to fasten it, stick the wire between the cowl grille and quarter panel. Then it would go through the door's weather stripping in to the car, under the dash, and split/couple it to the FM radio and CB radio. (use a premade device or are they reasonable/easy/cheap to manufactured by hand?)

I'm a definite left laner now and I remember riding with my grandpa. We never really agreed on our music choices, but we'd turn off the radio and turn on the cb. It had quite an atmosphere at times. Gotta love those characters. Do truckers still watch for locals / use the cb as much on the highways anymore? (I live in Texas.)

Is having an antenna mounted there with great FM reception and pretty good CB reception a reality? Or am I just gonna have to bite the bullet and mount a 4ft 6 whip on the trunk or something. I really don't want it to be noticeable.



[This message has been edited by NlCK (edited 03-03-2007).]

*tumbleweeds* ftw

Anytime you try to use a disguise type antenna it will be a compromise. My experience with them in the past was that they worked equally poorly for FM and CB.

I've been beatin' the shit out of google. From tech docs, install guides to forum archives of other sites.

I've been considering a 3 ft FireFly antenna.(a top loaded 5/8ths wave fiberglass antenna, an "FL" series Firestik)

The FireFly (http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/FL3-FL4.htm)

This mounting kit: The mounting kit (http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/MK-174.htm)

I've read that the reception direction is generally in the opposite direction that the antenna is installed on the vehicle. As it's mostly for avoiding speed traps would the passenger side of the trunk be a much better location or would that matter with a 3ft. antenna? I'm going to forgo combining them in to one antenna and I will have two.

Any chance that I'd get a good or few mile range from a 3fter on the passenger side of the trunk or hood? (it's miles of straight highway) I drive and '96 Ciera SL (Olds') if that helps any. Oldsmobile, but you blend in and are assumed elderly if you slow down around blind spots. I just don't want my car to be that memorable or that obvious that I have a CB, and I figure that a magnetic roof magnet mount would blow off at 90 or 95mph. I just can't justify a permanent roof install.



[This message has been edited by NlCK (edited 03-05-2007).]

quote:I figure that a magnetic roof magnet mount would blow off at 90 or 95mphHmmm... I don't know about that.

I have about a 3ft magnetic CB antenna that I just plopped on my roof, passenger side the other day and drove around on a pretty rough dirt road, filled with pot holes and such. I was mucking around in the snow banks too... I was CONVINCED the antenna had fallen and was just swinging around loosely after that but I found out I was wrong, it stayed put no problem.

Now, wind resistance I don't know but my magnet is pretty damn powerful and if it didn't budge on that pot hole road, I don't think wind would be much of a problem.