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cb magnetic antenna
- Thread starter doolidoo
- Start date
slowmover
Active Member
SIRIO 5000 Performer.
or
PRESIDENT Texas 1800
.
or
PRESIDENT Texas 1800
.
GadgetGeek
Member
Sirio Performer 5000 antenna & Sirio Mag 145 mag mount.
Been using it a couple of years now. Works well for local and dx.
Been using it a couple of years now. Works well for local and dx.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Larsen NMO-27 on a Larsen NMO-MM. I only use mag mounts for testing and very temporary installs. But you won't find a better magnetic mount. As for the NMO-27, I have one that's 30 years old and still works like new.
Nice thing about the NMO mounts is that you can easily swap out antennas if your interests change.
Nice thing about the NMO mounts is that you can easily swap out antennas if your interests change.
In other words, as attested by mmckenna, the use of a magnetic-based antenna mount should only be TEMPORARY. Consider having a professional/experienced technician install the NMO mount on your vehicle. And, as far as the devaluation of your car when you trade it in or sell it outright, in the 54 years I have been driving and owning 20+ vehicles, I have NEVER, and I repeat NEVER had any complaints, or car devalued because it had NMO mounts on it. Matter of fact, I have sold my vehicles with antennas AND radio still installed. They were thrilled to have everything already installed and could change what they wanted because NMO mounts are so universally accepted as the normal permanent antenna mount for many ham, CB, and scanner applications. Here is my current car with 12 NMO mounts, and two trunk-lip temporary antenna mounts. Not only do magnetic mounts give limited performance, but you will also severely damage your car's paint by leaving a magnetic mount on the vehicle's surface for extended periods of time.
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slowmover
Active Member
An installed first class antenna system is a vehicle upgrade unlike many aftermarket enthusiast additions.
Still, when highest performance in CB is wanted, rely on longest antenna by reliable brands (President & SIRIO among those; Larsen NMO30 + WD640 whip another).
5’ as a performance minimum “works”. (2.5-miles with a Wilson 5000 center roof permanent mount & stock radio moving away from me on Interstate).
And the difference from 5’ to 6’ to 7’ is noticeable on the big truck I drive. Distant Early Warning has a direct effect on my safety & income on the road. 7’ is where I stay despite nearly 14’ clearance.
7’ on the roof of my 6’ tall pickup with a flexible antenna choice is easily accommodated around town given barest awareness of hard sub-13’ obstacles.
NMO really is the easiest way to change things around. From the antennas I mentioned above, to shorties for around town. And then other radio services.
Ease of Use. No more storing away of antenna system. No damage to that or vehicle. Greater likelihood of daily radio use thereby.
Still, when highest performance in CB is wanted, rely on longest antenna by reliable brands (President & SIRIO among those; Larsen NMO30 + WD640 whip another).
5’ as a performance minimum “works”. (2.5-miles with a Wilson 5000 center roof permanent mount & stock radio moving away from me on Interstate).
And the difference from 5’ to 6’ to 7’ is noticeable on the big truck I drive. Distant Early Warning has a direct effect on my safety & income on the road. 7’ is where I stay despite nearly 14’ clearance.
7’ on the roof of my 6’ tall pickup with a flexible antenna choice is easily accommodated around town given barest awareness of hard sub-13’ obstacles.
NMO really is the easiest way to change things around. From the antennas I mentioned above, to shorties for around town. And then other radio services.
Ease of Use. No more storing away of antenna system. No damage to that or vehicle. Greater likelihood of daily radio use thereby.
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slowmover
Active Member
A WORKMANN Triple-Mag Starpad Launcher is what I’ve used for years to mount pretty much any antenna used for 11-Meter.
Shown above with a quarter-wave on a HUSTLER Quick Disconnect.
Not easy to dismount. Nor store.
But it won’t move at 90-MPH, either (70-MPH into headwind).
Your choice of antenna with high wind load:
SIGNAL ENGINEERING Golden Rod 45
COWTOWN ANTENNAS Predator K-1-27
These two change the, “all antennas of a similar height perform about the same”, rule-of-thumb as they’re both “better” than a quarter-wave at highway speed.
Which is why I opted to replicate & enhance that ability once I installed a permanent mount.
A base-load is less conspicuous, but the mid-coil (or top hat) is higher Q.
Antenna Q Factor
You’ve probably heard the term “Q factor” tossed around in describing antennas, but maybe you haven’t quite yet picked up on exactly what it means from a practical standpoint. Let’s see if we can get at Q, or quality factor, as it relates to antenna circuits and amateur radio operations without...
www.hamradioschool.com
When one wants to chase, what’s possible?, in mobile.
You’ve heard it said, the antenna system is what matters most, then it’s the big mag mounts which allow experiments not otherwise possible for mobile.
The match of RX/TX to greatest distance has been my interest. I encounter radio rigs which fall short in their RX vs TX. “Get out”, farther than they can hear. That’s wasted money & effort.
(Why an integrated NRC radio is the only choice).
— You’ll know success with your highest optimization of the antenna system against a cooperative base station operator.
.
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I have owned many K40 antennas. I have owned several Wilson 1000 magnetic antennas.
However, the game-changer was the Tram 3500 with a 5-inch magnetic base and rubber boot.
I have all sorts of smack from folks who disagree with me.
The rubber boot on this antenna works!! It DOES NOT scratch the paint, based on my experiences.
I have photographs of the trunk and roof of my Toyota.
I also use the Tram NMO monitor antenna with the same size of magnet and boot. I make sure I buy the 58U, not 58AU coax. I top this with a Larsen Tri-band monitor antenna.
https://www.amazon.com/TRAM-3500-Heavy-duty-Magnet-Mount-Antenna/dp/B008S5N09M
PS: I was nearing a prison unit in Texas with the K40 on top. This was near Rosharon, Texas. There was a nearby tornado that hit the pig sty of the unit. I don't know if straight winds were responsible or other wind types, but the damn wind blew it off.
The K40 was very hard to remove due to the magnet strength. The recommended antenna is just as strong, but much easier to remove.
One odd thing happened when I was using my Classic Cobra 25. At the time, I was using a Passport Max II, unshielded. When I keyed the microphone, it would set off the laser alert. I asked a radio technician why and he told me it was likely a ground issue. So, I attached the mounting screw to the body of the car, problem solved.
Now, I am using an Anytone 500-M. I am now using a Passport Max 360 (not C) with proper shielding.
About two weeks ago, the Max 360 succumbed to the Texas heat. It took a hard fall. Now, there are some false signals. I am pretty certain the fall affected the shielding. Soon, I will be sending the radar detector back to Cedar for repair.
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niceguy71
Active Member
so what did you finally decide to get and how is it working for you?
niceguy71
Active Member
I know all the professionals say to drill a hole... I know anyone serious about radios drills a hole... I know the best antenna's are drilled in the roof.... I know magnet mounts are just temporary and don't hold a candle to a permeant hole drilled roof mounted antenna.
with that said I have the Tram 3500 and it is the best antenna I've ever had... I've tried EVERY antenna in the 80's and 90's and nothing has ever worked like that Tram 3500. it hasn't hurt my paint in the last 6 months... it stays on at speeds up to 90 ( forgive me Massachusetts state police I was keeping up with traffic) my Tram 3500 talks a long long long way on AM, several towns away on a daily basis... at least to base stations... talking to other vehicles they can generally hear me 15 to 20 miles away ....but I lose them in less than 5 to 10 miles... I blame their antenna's not my Tram 3500
on SSB I can do skip all across the country and to other countries...... if someone is looking just to try a magnet mount, I highly suggest it..... but if SlowMover say's the Siro Performer 5000 is a great antenna... than I'm sure he's right and someday I will try one... but for the price give the Tram 3500 a try I bought a spare one here.. it's $42 bucks with free shipping and if I remember I got it in about a week
massiveseller.com
with that said I have the Tram 3500 and it is the best antenna I've ever had... I've tried EVERY antenna in the 80's and 90's and nothing has ever worked like that Tram 3500. it hasn't hurt my paint in the last 6 months... it stays on at speeds up to 90 ( forgive me Massachusetts state police I was keeping up with traffic) my Tram 3500 talks a long long long way on AM, several towns away on a daily basis... at least to base stations... talking to other vehicles they can generally hear me 15 to 20 miles away ....but I lose them in less than 5 to 10 miles... I blame their antenna's not my Tram 3500
on SSB I can do skip all across the country and to other countries...... if someone is looking just to try a magnet mount, I highly suggest it..... but if SlowMover say's the Siro Performer 5000 is a great antenna... than I'm sure he's right and someday I will try one... but for the price give the Tram 3500 a try I bought a spare one here.. it's $42 bucks with free shipping and if I remember I got it in about a week
3,500-Watt 26 MHz to 30 MHz Heavy-Duty Trucker CB Magnet Antenna Kit - 727932012276
Order outdoor & electronic products online from Massive Seller. Luxury shopping experience with affordable prices. Wide range & exceptional customer service.
massiveseller.com
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Comparing like for like antennas, one permanently mounted and one magnetic, there's only a small difference in performance, and usually not enough for most to notice.
Where it makes a difference:
If you have a poorly tuned/bad antenna that puts a lot of energy on the coaxial cable, it can impact performance.
Routing the coax cable is the other challenge. Pinching coax in the door/window will change its shape, and that will change its impedance, that can impact tuning/performance.
Coax that is repeatedly slammed in a door/pinched in a window can damage the jacket. Damaged jacket can let water in. Water + copper can cause corrosion.
Leaving a window cracked/open to pass coax can be a security risk for some.
But, it works fine for many, and sounds like it works fine for you.
In pro installs, I don't want to deal with damaged coax, someone pulling the antenna off, windows left open, or any possibility of sub-par performance, even if it's minor.
For hobby use, find what works for you and go with it.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I still have my NMO-27 from 30 years ago. Still works, when I use it.
niceguy71
Active Member
great to know.... I know anyone serious about the hobby when I mention a magnet mount makes a face like I insulted their mother. I also know it is so scorned at that I thought the magnet mounts didn't work as well.... thanks for the info. I also couldn't imagine shutting a door or window on the coax..... I drilled a hole in the plastic drain cover inside my bed and drilled a hole in the back of my cab put in 1 inch grommets then put silicone on the grommets to keep the coax from moving and to water proof them.... I was very lucky to find a hole in each corner of the bed with a plastic cover inserted in them that I could drill through. as always thanks for the info Mmckenna
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I tend to hang on to my trucks for a while, so it's worth it for me to do the install right when the truck is new. Then I don't have to worry about it later on. I've been putting permanent mounts on all my trucks since the late 1980's. I prefer the look. Never once had an issue wtih selling it, either private party or trade in. Don't let anyone give you that B.S. line.
Plus, the last few trucks have been Ford's, so magnet mounts won't work, even if I wanted that.
As for scorn, I'm sure people do. I try not to, but do attempt to make a good case for doing it. There are some installs where it's not an option (Jeeps, pretty much just jeeps).
My scorn is usually reserved for the fender brackets. (Well, maybe kidding there a bit).
I tend to be cautious with recommendations from hobbyists, as they tend to not work with enough gear to actually have real world hands on experience. Most of what you hear is passed on from person to person. I have consistently heard good things about K40's. Not that I've ever owned one.
Plus, the last few trucks have been Ford's, so magnet mounts won't work, even if I wanted that.
As for scorn, I'm sure people do. I try not to, but do attempt to make a good case for doing it. There are some installs where it's not an option (Jeeps, pretty much just jeeps).
My scorn is usually reserved for the fender brackets. (Well, maybe kidding there a bit).
I tend to be cautious with recommendations from hobbyists, as they tend to not work with enough gear to actually have real world hands on experience. Most of what you hear is passed on from person to person. I have consistently heard good things about K40's. Not that I've ever owned one.
niceguy71
Active Member
jeeps... not to start a new topic.... anytime someone mentions Jeeps and antenna's I always pay attention to see if anyone has come up with something that works..... but I have never talked to a jeep that got more than a couple miles range.. is there anything that works on them? I guess the 102" Stainless Steel whip must work on them?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
It's a challenge for CB due to the poor ground plane and limited mounting locations.
I had a co-worker that had an old M-38 military Jeep, swapped in Buick motor, used to take it up the Rubicon trail. He was also a ham. He had a VHF antenna mounted smack in the middle of the hood. It worked well since the ground plane was there.
To this day I've never seen another Jeep with an antenna mounted in the middle of the hood.
