CB Radio

[The Rev]

Hi guys,
For those of you who are thinking about installing a CB antenna system, there are some considerations which you may want to look into. To begin, a radio station (whether it is mobile or fixed base) is only as good as the antenna system it is connected to and the antenna system is dependent upon the frequency of operation. CB is located in the HF (high frequency) spectrum and has a wavelength of about 11 meters. Most antennas are cut to 1/4 wavelength, which is about 108" for 11 meters. That is the size you want to be at for a effecient antenna system. Now, the physical size of the antenna can be shortened by coiling the wire either in the base or somewhere along the mast. That's how manufacurers make smaller antennas, not necessarily the best for efficiency, but they work. I know, those big long ones look a bit "country" but that's the price we pay. Another issue when installing your antenna system is SWR (signal-to-wavelength ratio). This is very critical in all antenna systems and you must get and keep this ratio at a minimum throughout your installation and operating frequencies (the band or range of frequencies which you will be operating). SWR is affected by the surrounding materials around the antenna and you have to experiment to achieve the best radiated signal. Get or loan a good SWR analyzer for this job. MFJ Enterprises makes a very good unit and it is easy to operate. It's called the MFJ-259B. If you guys would like more info on antennas, drop me a line and I'll be glad to help.

The Rev