- CB: Cobra 29 LTD Classic
- Antenna: Sirio Boomerang A
- Mount: 18" offset for boom on hand OR direct to balcony post in option 2.
- Usage: Hobbyist chat up, SHTF contingencies (Cobra can run off a 12VDC car battery) I don't need to talk to China.
Precursor: I know it's not the best antenna or CB. I am just starting out, but have read more than I care to about setup of a home based antenna.
Environment: We are about halfway up on a gentle slope from the valley. Suburban subdivision. Mountains at least 10 miles North, 20+ miles South. Nearly all of the subdiv is single story homes so we're above most buildings.
Physical Setup Goals: Path of least resistance (pun intended) and not pulling a swan dive from the roof. Rigging the ground wire is going to be the most challenging part.
Which of these three would you suggest as the "best" mounting option for my first stab at it?
Option 1: South face of the house, as close to the peak as I can reach standing on the garage slope (looks to be about 4' from peak.)
Pros:
- Probably best location as it faces south with at least 20 miles to any mountains.
- Well away from trees or other obstructions
- Second highest point access (see option 2)
- Note the red arrow. If you visualize following the garage, the house ground is at the front corner. This would be the closest location to the house ground.
Cons:
- Have to drill through the attic space, then through the ceiling in the upper floor of the room where the CB will be located
- Roof climbing, attic crawling, ladder wobbling
- Antenna will be more difficult to access for tweaks or adjustments
- No "good" location to pound in the primary ground stake (All concrete walkways around house/garage)
- I may get a call from the HOA due to visibility (probably not, but it's a consideration)
Option 2: North face of the house, right at the peak
Pros:
- Note the red arrow in the second pic and look close, you will see the security camera wires. They go over the peak and enter the house at the spare room on the other side. I can use this same entry point for the coax (length of coax wired well away from these wires except entry point)
- Closest location to where the CB will be located (less wire length)
- Less likely to get a call from HOA, less visible from street
- I can mount a shorter boom from the wall right at the peak with 18" standoff brackets, higher than south side
Cons:
- As above, more difficult to access for antenna adjustments
- Will require the most amount of ground wire to get to the primary stake, THEN have to join house ground wire, almost all the way around house
- Mountains still over 10 miles to the North, some trees just out of view but this is still above them
Option 3: Straight up balcony post
In between these two in the rear of the house is the balcony off the master bedroom. I can secure a telescoped boom (heavier bottom, thinner near top) right from this post. In the below pics, the red lines show intent - it will be close to the corner of the post but can be secured from the back side as well.
Pros
- Can take the boom and antenna down for adjustments without risking breaking my neck
- Boom can likely go high enough to get over the house with light guy cables attached to house and balcony (non-metallic)
- Hidden from street view, no calls from HOA (or decreased probabilities anyway)
- I had planned to put spark arrestors on the coax, I can disconnect them at standing height during electrical storms (we get spectacular ones here) so strikes can't travel into the house
- Coax can take the same route as option 2, over the peak and into the second spare room (I'm sure wife would be opposed to a base station in the bedroom )
Cons:
- Will definitely not get the height I would get out of #1 and #2
- Primary stake can go in the ground very near the boom but will have to join the house ground all the way around the front, either all the way around concrete or under the house
- Will require longer coax wire to go along the balcony and over the house peak to enter the house
- Trees within 30' behind the house if you're looking off the balcony to the East, no buildings
At this point I'm thinking I should try option 3 simply because if it doesn't work out I can move it later and the setup cost will be far less (how much coax, how much ground wire, how lucky am I to not pull a Humpty-Dumpty.) What say you?
Friendly reminder, I know it's not the best antenna so . . . TIA.
- Antenna: Sirio Boomerang A
- Mount: 18" offset for boom on hand OR direct to balcony post in option 2.
- Usage: Hobbyist chat up, SHTF contingencies (Cobra can run off a 12VDC car battery) I don't need to talk to China.
Precursor: I know it's not the best antenna or CB. I am just starting out, but have read more than I care to about setup of a home based antenna.
Environment: We are about halfway up on a gentle slope from the valley. Suburban subdivision. Mountains at least 10 miles North, 20+ miles South. Nearly all of the subdiv is single story homes so we're above most buildings.
Physical Setup Goals: Path of least resistance (pun intended) and not pulling a swan dive from the roof. Rigging the ground wire is going to be the most challenging part.
Which of these three would you suggest as the "best" mounting option for my first stab at it?
Option 1: South face of the house, as close to the peak as I can reach standing on the garage slope (looks to be about 4' from peak.)
Pros:
- Probably best location as it faces south with at least 20 miles to any mountains.
- Well away from trees or other obstructions
- Second highest point access (see option 2)
- Note the red arrow. If you visualize following the garage, the house ground is at the front corner. This would be the closest location to the house ground.
Cons:
- Have to drill through the attic space, then through the ceiling in the upper floor of the room where the CB will be located
- Roof climbing, attic crawling, ladder wobbling
- Antenna will be more difficult to access for tweaks or adjustments
- No "good" location to pound in the primary ground stake (All concrete walkways around house/garage)
- I may get a call from the HOA due to visibility (probably not, but it's a consideration)
Option 2: North face of the house, right at the peak
Pros:
- Note the red arrow in the second pic and look close, you will see the security camera wires. They go over the peak and enter the house at the spare room on the other side. I can use this same entry point for the coax (length of coax wired well away from these wires except entry point)
- Closest location to where the CB will be located (less wire length)
- Less likely to get a call from HOA, less visible from street
- I can mount a shorter boom from the wall right at the peak with 18" standoff brackets, higher than south side
Cons:
- As above, more difficult to access for antenna adjustments
- Will require the most amount of ground wire to get to the primary stake, THEN have to join house ground wire, almost all the way around house
- Mountains still over 10 miles to the North, some trees just out of view but this is still above them
Option 3: Straight up balcony post
In between these two in the rear of the house is the balcony off the master bedroom. I can secure a telescoped boom (heavier bottom, thinner near top) right from this post. In the below pics, the red lines show intent - it will be close to the corner of the post but can be secured from the back side as well.
Pros
- Can take the boom and antenna down for adjustments without risking breaking my neck
- Boom can likely go high enough to get over the house with light guy cables attached to house and balcony (non-metallic)
- Hidden from street view, no calls from HOA (or decreased probabilities anyway)
- I had planned to put spark arrestors on the coax, I can disconnect them at standing height during electrical storms (we get spectacular ones here) so strikes can't travel into the house
- Coax can take the same route as option 2, over the peak and into the second spare room (I'm sure wife would be opposed to a base station in the bedroom
)Cons:
- Will definitely not get the height I would get out of #1 and #2
- Primary stake can go in the ground very near the boom but will have to join the house ground all the way around the front, either all the way around concrete or under the house
- Will require longer coax wire to go along the balcony and over the house peak to enter the house
- Trees within 30' behind the house if you're looking off the balcony to the East, no buildings
At this point I'm thinking I should try option 3 simply because if it doesn't work out I can move it later and the setup cost will be far less (how much coax, how much ground wire, how lucky am I to not pull a Humpty-Dumpty.) What say you?
Friendly reminder, I know it's not the best antenna so . . . TIA.
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