New CB antenna mount

[lekmedm]

I've been itching to get my CB antenna mount off the roof and down by the fender. Well, this is what I've come up with:













I ran out of time to move the stud and run the cable, but you get the idea.

[pjmjr508]

Nice set up

[Matt]

Nice!!

Just a quick FYI that I found out the hard way... make sure you get a ngp (no ground plane) coax and antenna kit for that location. Since the hood is non magnetic it doesnt act as a ground plane like the roof normally would .

[lekmedm]

Nice!!

Just a quick FYI that I found out the hard way... make sure you get a ngp (no ground plane) coax and antenna kit for that location. Since the hood is non magnetic it doesnt act as a ground plane like the roof normally would .

You know what? I was just thinking about this. Magnetism has nothing to do with electrical conductivity. My whole house is wired with aluminum wiring (which I'm not a fan of, but that's another conversation). Our hoods are aluminum, not fiberglass, right? So an aluminum hood will conduct electricity and ground an antenna, no?

[Matt]

Thats true, but electrical conductivity does not correlate to making a good ground plane. Aluminum does not make a good ground plane.

I think you're confusing "ground plane" with "electric ground".... they're different things.

[Matt]

Im by no means an electrical engineer or a cb radio expert..... but this is what I do know:
http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/GP-or-NGP.htm

[lekmedm]

Nice!!

Just a quick FYI that I found out the hard way... make sure you get a ngp (no ground plane) coax and antenna kit for that location. Since the hood is non magnetic it doesnt act as a ground plane like the roof normally would .

Yeah, I'm aware of that. My current setup is ground plane. I'm going to ground the mount with an extra wire and use the same stuff.

Sent from wherever my Jeep takes me.

[Matt]

An extra ground won't help... but at the same time i haven't changed to a NGP setup because my CB has work sufficiently well at Rausch, and I don't think its bad enough to hurt anything. So you'll be good to go.

BUT, if you were going to order a new antenna and/or coax, might as well get the NGP stuff.

[The_War_Wagon]

I'm gonna try mine on the C-pillar by the top of the hatch, as some others have tried - but that's an AWESOME looking setup!

[lekmedm]

Damn it's hot out!!! Not a big job, but I sweated up a storm. (I know I shouldn't complain since someone from Texas or Arizona will put me in my place where heat is concerned, but, hey, I'm a Northerner!)

So I put the stud on and ran my wire through the firewall. Here are the results:
















I need to either spend the money for an SWR meter or find a friend with one. Any friends out there?

Next time I'm out driving, I'll see if any truckers can hear me. I still haven't grounded the mount like I said I would. One step at a time!