Antenna Location - What Say You?

[mmckenna]

Another note, best I can find on bare 6ga copper is $1.00/foot,

6 gauge copper isn't your only option. I believe you can run 10 gauge. It can have a jacket, doesn't need to be bare copper. You can also run copper clad steel or bronze.

RG8x coax can be had for as little as 0.59/foot (6 probably cheaper,) so if it comes down to what's going to be longer I guess I'd choose the coax.

Yeah, be careful with cheap coax. Some of the specs are questionable. Name brand, good quality is the way to go. Type/size depends on the length of run.

Went to our local recycled construction materials place, of course wire is always the first thing to go, nada available. I'm generally not a yard sale guy but 'tis the season so maybe I can find some that way. I'd have never thought the ground wire would exceed the cost of the radio + antenna combined.

Oh, man, on a commercial installation, the grounding can get extensive. It's one of the reasons why many hobbyists will skip grounding when money gets tight.

 

[slowmover]

I’ve had $200 into a mobile radio rig power cable alone. My labor.

$1.00/ft a lot less than the wire used in above (30’ total).

These days an AM/SSB Export (minimum spec, IMO) is $200 and up. Usually just to either side of $300.

My last big truck antenna system was in excess of $600/parts.

$500 is a good mobile starter system today. My big truck mobile (everything) is above $1,200. The one in the pickup is probably $900. The radio isn’t ever above $300 of that.

 

[robertwbob]

Another note, best I can find on bare 6ga copper is $1.00/foot, RG8x coax can be had for as little as 0.59/foot (6 probably cheaper,) so if it comes down to what's going to be longer I guess I'd choose the coax. Went to our local recycled construction materials place, of course wire is always the first thing to go, nada available. I'm generally not a yard sale guy but 'tis the season so maybe I can find some that way. I'd have never thought the ground wire would exceed the cost of the radio + antenna combined.

those hidden little extras add up quickly

 

[slowmover]

those hidden little extras add up quickly

Why a radio rig is a system of systems.
The actual radio (component) is the connecting junction.

1). Power system first, IMO, as it’s easiest (least complicated to outline).

2). Antenna Mount + Location as it’s the critical set of decisions. Coax Routing + Necessary.

3). Radio + Accessories as it’s easiest changed.
Least important decision.

.

 

[rocknbil]

those hidden little extras add up quickly

Little?

 

[robertwbob]

Little?

dollar 2 98 with lebenteen dollars tax

 

[robertwbob]

I’d look at SIRIO 2008 ahead of Antron/Imax as dollar value which’ll stand up to strong winds and ice. Make as comparison default as you read around.

See @robertwbob comments here on RR

Sirio 2008 (26.4 - 28.2 Mhz) 10M-HAM 3000 Watts Tunable Base Antenna [SIR-CBBA-2008] - $139.00 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

Zen Cart! Sirio 2008 (26.4 - 28.2 Mhz) 10M-HAM 3000 Watts Tunable Base Antenna [SIR-CBBA-2008] - This is a high quality base station antenna tunable from 26.4 to 28.2 Mhz. Come with high power impedance transformer. Water proof, strong and easy to install, they allow very good links! Base...

sirio.store

View attachment 179800

Good test for Sirio 2008

Major ice storm hit last night and is still raging this morning. I stepped out to check my 2008 and found that it is covered in ice (about 2+" in diameter) and bending at a 90° angle. I pulled out my cam and shot this. It was much worse than this at one point but I wasn't going to stand there...

www.worldwidedx.com

Approx 20’ tall & 4’ radials.

.must say this. yesterday,last nite very VERY harsh winds. 70 +mph gusts and that 2008 leaned but last nite the meter on my stryker955 showed a steady 1:2. and everybody i talked to never mentioned any picket fencing.

im unhappy over this dang trash mover wind. yesterday was in the big tractor working up corn ground. stopped with wind blowing away fromme to pick up a deer shed. wind must been a twister as it yanked me and door. it hit the stop and busted the bottom glass out.
i had some plastic sheeting in my pickup so i wrapped the door to keep rain out went home mad as can be

 

[rocknbil]

dollar 2 98 with lebenteen dollars tax

Rats. I was hoping I could get it for about tree-fitty.

 

[slowmover]

Dust Storm.

 

[slowmover]

I’ve had $200 into a mobile radio rig power cable alone. My labor.

$1.00/ft a lot less than the wire used in above (30’ total).

These days an AM/SSB Export (minimum spec, IMO) is $200 and up. Usually just to either side of $300.

My last big truck antenna system was in excess of $600/parts.

$500 is a good mobile starter system today. My big truck mobile (everything) is above $1,200. The one in the pickup is probably $900. The radio isn’t ever above $300 of that.

I know that sounds expensive.

Imagine being at work every day M-F and the CB determines how much you’ll make over the year if you use it well.

If you don’t, your income decreases.

300-days/year at 12-14/hrs-day.
Is more days than you work, and over a longer day.

That radio rig re-coups the cost 3-4X/year.
My annual income can go up 5-10%.

One also has to develop the skill to use what’s relayed. That’s a longer process. Doesn’t always pan out.

.

 

[robertwbob]

I know that sounds expensive.

Imagine being at work every day M-F and the CB determines how much you’ll make over the year if you use it well.

If you don’t, your income decreases.

300-days/year at 12-14/hrs-day.
Is more days than you work, and over a longer day.

That radio rig re-coups the cost 3-4X/year.
My annual income can go up 5-10%.

One also has to develop the skill to use what’s relayed. That’s a longer process. Doesn’t always pan out.

.

places i unload at tells us which bay to unload after sample via cb. when you dont have cb you pull to a lane and when employees get time they walk up ask why dont you have cb? you might be unloaded by now but go to bay 2...i rest my case rite here involving $$$ let alone safety in crash areas