As far as grounding goes is it best to go directly to the frame or the batteries? It's a diesel truck with the two battery system.That should work well.
While RF ground and DC grounds can be different, it's important to make sure everything is well grounded. That would include the aluminum topper and your antenna support. Often copper or tinned copper braid is used for this.
As far as grounding goes is it best to go directly to the frame or the batteries? It's a diesel truck with the two battery system.
My plan was to have a 2" square rack basically mounted on a plate bolted to the front corners of the truck box. 2" square welded to the plate coming up over and back down with the cross section about 2" above the cab and topper roof. However, I am open to any idea you all may have. Would grounding forward to the cab and back to the topper improve it?
don't forget the spring !
19 and 38 are what I primarily use.UHHHHH, NO! A 102" whip with a common 6" spring will put you 26.000, below channel 1. For channel 19 the antenna should be 103.3". SO, if you want to stay within the CB band and use a spring you need a 96" whip. Or for the best result you find a rod holder with set screws so you can remove the rod to trim to the length that puts your antenna system resonant on the specific frequency you operate on the most be it 19 AM or 38 LSB for example.
19 and 38 are what I primarily use.
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Bottom line is the antenna wants to be in the middle of a large flat metal surface
prcguy
Tell an SWR meter it's off...and further, you can double a 102 inch whip over without a hint of harm to anything. God knows, I hit enough stuff with mine. The only thing a spring does is allow the antenna to sail around, beat everything around within five feet of it, and be "non-vertical".No. Not unless you want to bend the crap out of your antenna and/or the sheet metal, or rip the mount out of the vehicle if you hit something with the antenna. Total correct antenna length is about 108", and you are supposed to have a spring assembly between the mount and whip to prevent damage if the antenna hits something. Typical spring assembly length is about 6" so with the whip and spring together, the total length is correct.
If you have to use 6" of allthread, you are doing it completely wrong.