anyone able to get a CB antenna to work on a Jeep TJ it's like the old CJ's??

[slowmover]

“. . I'm giving all this to my friend.... so far I have over $700 into his Jeep..
a good friend is worth a 100 times that “

I’ve got more than that sitting here in bags & chests. Stuff that didn’t work out (that time), and some questionable acquisitions. Figured I might make some friends if I started to detail my experience.

A good man — on the road, and all of us far from home — is worth 100X my expense if he and some of the rest of us have High Q radio rigs.

I speak for many of us in admiration of your determination to kick Jeep in the hiney and make it work.

Gonna be a bookmarked thread in the future if not already.

In SoCal one needs a trained two-way radio pro.

In New England, hand it off to The Plumber.
.

 

[niceguy71]

I was looking at the tail light bracket... if installed correctly it should ground plane as good as a ball mount???? ....but there is still no flat metal on the jeep to reflect as a ground plane...... but if you look at this guy using a larger than suggested bolt.... I would think that big tail light bracket would work pretty good compared to the Ball mount.

seeing that link didn't work I'll try again
this guy drills a larger hole in the tub to get the tail light mount to work

 

[niceguy71]

I speak for many of us in admiration of your determination to kick Jeep in the hiney and make it work.

I'm trying..... I think I've had Success with that Styker SAR-10 on the hood... even on the corner of the hood...it worked no matter what direction he was travelling in.... that 63 inch whip was in the clouds!! I'm sure it will hit every drive thru .... ( just like mine does)

he was happy on the way home watching the little blue light and thought it was cool as hell and told me over the air.....( damn I forgot to look so I've never even seen my own antenna's blue light)

he went to sleep happy until his hot school teacher wife woke him with "what the heck is that ridiculous thing on your jeep hood?"
he had to agree.... and so do I.

so I'm still pushing for the Larsen CB-27 as now I'm sure it will work in that same location.... but he wants to try everything possible for the tail light mount first....

I've heard good things about the 74" Red Devil antenna I'm planning on using... and we used it before we had a ground plane and got 9 miles to my base station
( if he was facing the correct direction... ) facing the wrong direction only got us 2.5 miles

so I'm looking at other Antenna's to try on the Tail light mount ... I even bought the dreaded 5' Firestick... ( I almost hate myself now) which will arrive from Walcott's in April.

I'm willing to try this Sirio 5000 performer 3/8" but with the base load being right against the back of the jeep??? will it perform ok????? I like the 77" height as it will get 4 feet 6 inches above the jeep.... I know they have a shaft that can raise it... but we're not going any higher.. it's already too high.
I also think the whip will be better for the trails he goes on compared to anything fiberglass.

SlowMover.... this is your expertise, what do you think? should I try it?

also I see the Sirio 5000 performer can be mounted on a flat surface with a 1/2" hole.... so I guess we could put a Sirio on the hood instead of the Larsen CB27...... I like the not in your face look of the Larsen........ if I have my pick.

 

[niceguy71]

on a side note,
I downloaded the Sirio Catalog looking to get a fitting that would let my Sirio mount on his tail light bracket...... Sirio keeps warning and talking about knock off's..... so I'm looking in the catalog ... I don't see my antenna????? what the heck???? did I get something they don't make??? damn Amazon..... this sure looks like a Sirio my Sirio Antenna at Amazon

 

[slowmover]

I'm trying..... I think I've had Success with that Styker SAR-10 on the hood... even on the corner of the hood...it worked no matter what direction he was travelling in.... that 63 inch whip was in the clouds!! I'm sure it will hit every drive thru .... ( just like mine does)

he was happy on the way home watching the little blue light and thought it was cool as hell and told me over the air.....( damn I forgot to look so I've never even seen my own antenna's blue light)

he went to sleep happy until his hot school teacher wife woke him with "what the heck is that ridiculous thing on your jeep hood?"
he had to agree.... and so do I.

so I'm still pushing for the Larsen CB-27 as now I'm sure it will work in that same location.... but he wants to try everything possible for the tail light mount first....

I've heard good things about the 74" Red Devil antenna I'm planning on using... and we used it before we had a ground plane and got 9 miles to my base station
( if he was facing the correct direction... ) facing the wrong direction only got us 2.5 miles

so I'm looking at other Antenna's to try on the Tail light mount ... I even bought the dreaded 5' Firestick... ( I almost hate myself now) which will arrive from Walcott's in April.

I'm willing to try this Sirio 5000 performer 3/8" but with the base load being right against the back of the jeep??? will it perform ok????? I like the 77" height as it will get 4 feet 6 inches above the jeep.... I know they have a shaft that can raise it... but we're not going any higher.. it's already too high.
I also think the whip will be better for the trails he goes on compared to anything fiberglass.

SlowMover.... this is your expertise, what do you think? should I try it?

also I see the Sirio 5000 performer can be mounted on a flat surface with a 1/2" hole.... so I guess we could put a Sirio on the hood instead of the Larsen CB27...... I like the not in your face look of the Larsen........ if I have my pick.

On the FREIGHTLINER Cascadia Evo I had to buy several sets of $$ SS shafts to get the coil away from the A-pillar to be able to run the S5K 3/8 near vertical. The 44” was what worked.



With whip bottomed at 43” they were 93” tall (7.75’, or over a foot taller than start point even after whip cuts from 71’) a height that doesn’t count the stud shown (measured just now); or, just above 14’ stationary as shown above (height of trailer was 13’2”).

Best big truck antenna system I’ve had, but it was quite expensive by the end when every single part of antenna & coax system accounted. I also paid a tech to install coax as I knew his work. Right at $600 given (3) RF Filters plus a number to represent my 3/4” RF Bonds.

I never ran out of antenna.

The SS shaft adds weight once one extends them. I’d have a genuine HD mount as it’s a heavy antenna by any definition.

This was an almost exclusively Great Plains truck job, so height impediments weren’t a concern.

I’m always glad to recommend this antenna. And a mid-coil definitely the performer vs other types. Quote from review:

“ I am a OVERSIZED pilot car driver and I was catching another team coming in the opposite direction a good 10-15 miles away.

No one else in my crew could hear them, but I was able to, and we found a wide spot on the narrow road we were on to allow them to go by.”

(That’s an ordinary day when you Do It Right).

But on the back of a Jeep?
.

 

[slowmover]

on a side note,
I downloaded the Sirio Catalog looking to get a fitting that would let my Sirio mount on his tail light bracket...... Sirio keeps warning and talking about knock off's..... so I'm looking in the catalog ... I don't see my antenna????? what the heck???? did I get something they don't make??? damn Amazon..... this sure looks like a Sirio my Sirio Antenna at Amazon

DNJ Radio is the American distributor.

 

[niceguy71]

On the FREIGHTLINER Cascadia Evo I had to buy several sets of $$ SS shafts to get the coil away from the A-pillar to be able to run the S5K 3/8 near vertical. The 44” was what worked.

View attachment 180338

With whip bottomed at 43” they were 93” tall (7.75’, or over a foot taller than start point even after whip cuts from 71’) a height that doesn’t count the stud shown (measured just now); or, just above 14’ stationary as shown above (height of trailer was 13’2”).

Best big truck antenna system I’ve had, but it was quite expensive by the end when every single part of antenna & coax system accounted. I also paid a tech to install coax as I knew his work. Right at $600 given (3) RF Filters plus a number to represent my 3/4” RF Bonds.

I never ran out of antenna.

The SS shaft adds weight once one extends them. I’d have a genuine HD mount as it’s a heavy antenna by any definition.

This was an almost exclusively Great Plains truck job, so height impediments weren’t a concern.

I’m always glad to recommend this antenna. And a mid-coil definitely the performer vs other types. Quote from review:

“ I am a OVERSIZED pilot car driver and I was catching another team coming in the opposite direction a good 10-15 miles away.

No one else in my crew could hear them, but I was able to, and we found a wide spot on the narrow road we were on to allow them to go by.”

(That’s an ordinary day when you Do It Right).

But on the back of a Jeep?
.

well I thought if I could screw the 3/8 into the tail light bracket.. it would only be up 77 inches off the tail light.... but it sounds like having the coil next to the back of the jeep will be an issue.

nice looking truck and set up!

thanks SlowMover

 

[niceguy71]

I knew it!
I have a group of 10 friends, my friend with the jeep was visiting one of our other friends showing off his new CB... our other friend now wants the same Radioddity CS-47 and he loves the look and performance of the Stryker SAR-10.... so I have another truck to do!
so I just looked up the cheapest place to get the Stryker SAR-10..... Walmart has it for $98.86 I will not be recommending my Tram anymore now that you can get the Stryker for such cheap money. Stryker for $98.86
and he can get the Radioddity CS-47 for $75.99 at Amazon so for under $200.00 bucks he will have a pretty decent set up..... I'll have to talk my friend into all the other Gizmos to go with it...

we used to all live in the same town and all 10 of us had a CB.... these two friends now live 18.50 miles from me... too far for AM but they live less than two miles apart from each other.... so they will have a ball! I'm sure every time one of them is going to a bar or restaurant, which they do daily, they will be calling out on the CB's like the old day's

hey, it's 1985 AGAIN!!!!!

 

[slowmover]

I knew it!
I have a group of 10 friends, my friend with the jeep was visiting one of our other friends showing off his new CB... our other friend now wants the same Radioddity CS-47 and he loves the look and performance of the Stryker SAR-10.... so I have another truck to do!
so I just looked up the cheapest place to get the Stryker SAR-10..... Walmart has it for $98.86 I will not be recommending my Tram anymore now that you can get the Stryker for such cheap money. Stryker for $98.86
and he can get the Radioddity CS-47 for $75.99 at Amazon so for under $200.00 bucks he will have a pretty decent set up..... I'll have to talk my friend into all the other Gizmos to go with it...

we used to all live in the same town and all 10 of us had a CB.... these two friends now live 18.50 miles from me... too far for AM but they live less than two miles apart from each other.... so they will have a ball! I'm sure every time one of them is going to a bar or restaurant, which they do daily, they will be calling out on the CB's like the old day's

hey, it's 1985 AGAIN!!!!!

Then it’s oneupsmanship as to who’s the first to sneak an RM ITALY KL203 & 27/586 into the coax.

He’s upgraded his radio rig performance with this, he says. And this.

“Radials, baby!”

“Static control”!




.

 

[slowmover]

Next week he can turn up the heat AGAIN with the same coax they use in Air Force One he got from a friend of a friend at L3 Communications!



A few more weeks, and with a chrome-cased alternator “puts out more with sine-wave stability” (subtly deepens voice pitch):

Keep up this game . . and it really will be 1985 AGAIN!

.

 

[niceguy71]

Question for the group if anyone is following this.
I think that Stryker SAR-10 on the corner of the Jeep hood did fantastic for getting 14.90 miles from my base...

we have been playing with fiberglass whips on the tail light mount and not getting much range at all... so I think I have my friend convinced to drill the hole

this is kind of directed at mmckenna but I'd love to hear from anyone.... will the Larsen CB--NMO27 work as well if not better than the Stryker SAR-10?
that Stryker has a 63 inch whip and probably a 5 inch tall base... so it must be 68 inches tall!!!! compared to the 52.50 inch CB-27

also if I use a 3/8 NMO hole mount will it still work as well???

and where should I buy it? I don't want to get a Chinese knock off? I was looking here
CB World or here... this one may not be a larsen??? but it can be bought with a spring.... seeing he goes on the trails would you all suggest a spring? the cut chart has it with and without spring. Arcadian antenna

last question.... does length of coax make any difference going to a NMO mount? they have them from 12' 15' 16' and 18'

thank you

 

[WSAC829]

Length of coax doesn’t really matter all that much. However i think 18’ would be overkill for a small Jeep. You’d end up with a few feet left over that you’d have to coil up and hide somewhere. I’d measure from where you’re drilling the hole for the NMO mount to where the radio is located and try to get as close as you can. I’d think the 12’ should do it.

 

[mmckenna]

will the Larsen CB--NMO27 work as well if not better than the Stryker SAR-10?
that Stryker has a 63 inch whip and probably a 5 inch tall base... so it must be 68 inches tall!!!! compared to the 52.50 inch CB-27

I've never used a Stryker, the Larsen was my go to antenna after I got tired of the cheap fiberglass antennas. No way I could compare them.

Seems that there are a lot of people that like the Larsen NMO-34 coil with the 64" whip. Never tried it myself, but I think if I ever wanted to install a CB, that's the route I'd take.

Never had a Larsen antenna let me down in the 30+ years I've been using them.

also if I use a 3/8 NMO hole mount will it still work as well???

Compared to a 3/4" mount? Should be identical. Just make sure you seal things really well on the underside. NMO mounts are designed to go through the roof/trunklid of a vehicle and have the underside protected inside the vehicle. Mounting through a vehicle hood would expose it to some amount of moisture and heat. Seems like prcguy has done well with his trunk lip mounts.

and where should I buy it? I don't want to get a Chinese knock off? I was looking here
CB World or here... this one may not be a larsen??? but it can be bought with a spring.... seeing he goes on the trails would you all suggest a spring? the cut chart has it with and without spring. Arcadian antenna

Cheaper here if you want the NMO-27: Larsen NMO27C CB & 10 Meter Amateur Radio Antenna NMO Mount 27-30 MHz Ham

Or:

Pulse Larsen NMO34BCO

34-40 MHz NMO Loading Coil, Black

theantennafarm.com

and

Larsen W640 64" x .100 Chrome Replacement Antenna Whip

Manufacturer: Radiall Larsen; Model #: W640; 64" x .100 Chrome Whip; Replacement whip for most VHF High Gain and low band Antennas. "Kulrod" plated; Length:

theantennafarm.com

I've found the whips on the Larsen antennas to be flexible enough that the spring may not be necessary, but it wouldn't hurt to add one. A bit cheaper here:

Larsen SPRING - Springs

Radiall Larsen Chrome spring

theantennafarm.com

Challenge with the NMO-34 and the 64" whip/spring is that you are basically using it 'off label' as the cutting chart for that NMO-34 coil is going to be for a shorter whip and the 34-40MHz portion of the band. The longer whip will bring the resonance point way down to 27MHz, but you'll want to use an antenna analyzer to zero in on the correct length.

last question.... does length of coax make any difference going to a NMO mount? they have them from 12' 15' 16' and 18'

thank you

The correct length of coaxial cable is the amount you need to get from the antenna mount to the radio with a bit of slack. Specific lengths of cable can be used to hide high SWR if it is the right length, but that doesn't do you any good, just tricks the SWR meter into showing you what you want to see, not reality. Some 1/2 wave type antennas will use a specific length of coax to act as a counterpoise, but these are not 1/2 wave antennas.

Make sure you get the name brand NMO mounts, like Larsen, Laird, etc. Avoid the Tram/Browning/Ham brands.

 

[jcrmadden]

they have them from 12' 15' 16' and 18'

Still looking to mount on the hood?

Where's the radio mounted?

Route a length of cheap rope first.

I know it's an extra step, but you'll find the hiccups you may not have anticipated.

 

[niceguy71]

I've never used a Stryker, the Larsen was my go to antenna after I got tired of the cheap fiberglass antennas. No way I could compare them.

Seems that there are a lot of people that like the Larsen NMO-34 coil with the 64" whip. Never tried it myself, but I think if I ever wanted to install a CB, that's the route I'd take.

Never had a Larsen antenna let me down in the 30+ years I've been using them.



Compared to a 3/4" mount? Should be identical. Just make sure you seal things really well on the underside. NMO mounts are designed to go through the roof/trunklid of a vehicle and have the underside protected inside the vehicle. Mounting through a vehicle hood would expose it to some amount of moisture and heat. Seems like prcguy has done well with his trunk lip mounts.



Cheaper here if you want the NMO-27: Larsen NMO27C CB & 10 Meter Amateur Radio Antenna NMO Mount 27-30 MHz Ham

Or:

Pulse Larsen NMO34BCO

34-40 MHz NMO Loading Coil, Black

theantennafarm.com

and

Larsen W640 64" x .100 Chrome Replacement Antenna Whip

Manufacturer: Radiall Larsen; Model #: W640; 64" x .100 Chrome Whip; Replacement whip for most VHF High Gain and low band Antennas. "Kulrod" plated; Length:

theantennafarm.com

I've found the whips on the Larsen antennas to be flexible enough that the spring may not be necessary, but it wouldn't hurt to add one. A bit cheaper here:

Larsen SPRING - Springs

Radiall Larsen Chrome spring

theantennafarm.com

Challenge with the NMO-34 and the 64" whip/spring is that you are basically using it 'off label' as the cutting chart for that NMO-34 coil is going to be for a shorter whip and the 34-40MHz portion of the band. The longer whip will bring the resonance point way down to 27MHz, but you'll want to use an antenna analyzer to zero in on the correct length.



The correct length of coaxial cable is the amount you need to get from the antenna mount to the radio with a bit of slack. Specific lengths of cable can be used to hide high SWR if it is the right length, but that doesn't do you any good, just tricks the SWR meter into showing you what you want to see, not reality. Some 1/2 wave type antennas will use a specific length of coax to act as a counterpoise, but these are not 1/2 wave antennas.

Make sure you get the name brand NMO mounts, like Larsen, Laird, etc. Avoid the Tram/Browning/Ham brands.

thanks mmckenna

you certainly put some work into it, greatly appreciated.
you also saved me from buying the wrong base.... I was going to buy the NMO27 and just thought I could add the longer whip to it? guess not.

I know my Tram is a very whippy antenna that even if you could put a spring on it... it would be unnecessary.
I worked for the Gas and Electric company for the last 15 years, all the trucks had Larsen's on the roof... never had a problem going through the woods with them. so I'll skip the spring

my friend is not looking for maximum range ( that would be my thing) he just wants to talk to me when were meeting up someplace or out on the trails.... I'm thinking he really doesn't need that huge tall antenna..... so I "might" get the 52 inch stock NMOCB27 unit and cross my fingers it works well..... I'm thinking as long as it beats those crappy fiberglass antenna's on the back of the jeep and looks better than the monstrous Styker on the hood, were way ahead....

I'm guessing, where so many guys like the Larsen it must do ok for Range.
but of course, if I finally talk him into putting the hole in the hood and we put it on and it should only do 5 miles VS the Stryker's 14 miles.... I'm going to be getting an hear full.

49 inch whip VS 64 inch whip.....15 inches doesn't sound like much... but looking at the picture you can see it's already in the clouds.

I'll have to see if PRCGUY brings his great experience to the post.

thanks again Mmckenna

 

[K6GBW]

The stock NMO-27 is a damn good antenna. I had one on my Colorado and it worked fantastic.

 

[jcrmadden]

Antenna Farm discount code anyone?

Asking for a friend...

 

[mmckenna]

thanks mmckenna

you certainly put some work into it, greatly appreciated.
you also saved me from buying the wrong base.... I was going to buy the NMO27 and just thought I could add the longer whip to it? guess not.

Right. Coil + whip length dictate the resonance. Adding the longer whip to an NMO27 would put that way below CB frequencies. You would need the higher frequency whip to make it all work out right.

I know my Tram is a very whippy antenna that even if you could put a spring on it... it would be unnecessary.
I worked for the Gas and Electric company for the last 15 years, all the trucks had Larsen's on the roof... never had a problem going through the woods with them. so I'll skip the spring

I ran an NMO27 on the roof of a full size 3/4 ton 4x4 truck back in the day and never had any issues with it off road, even without the spring. Mounted down on the hood of a Jeep, I doubt you would need it.

I'm guessing, where so many guys like the Larsen it must do ok for Range.
but of course, if I finally talk him into putting the hole in the hood and we put it on and it should only do 5 miles VS the Stryker's 14 miles.... I'm going to be getting an hear full.

It did well for me. I never really tested range beyond a few miles, as that was all I ever needed. But the antenna, mounted on the roof, did what I needed.

 

[niceguy71]

The stock NMO-27 is a damn good antenna. I had one on my Colorado and it worked fantastic.

everyone seems to love them.... hopefully a 4 foot tall antenna will do the job

 

[niceguy71]

my friend is coming over next Monday to try to see if we can get the Taillight mount working... I'm going to drill a huge 1/2" hole through the taillight mount into the tub with star washers after grinding off the paint, and ground straps... "if" we can make a groundplane on that mount, maybe we can get an antenna to work.

I have a few more tricks I'm going to try to get the taillight antenna to work.. if we can get decent range out of the taillight mount and 6 foot tall antenna Tarrus Red Warrior we will probably call it a day...

BUT if I have to put the antenna on the hood.... ( as I'm SURE we will )

I wonder if I bought this for $30 bucks Magnetic NMO mount and placed it in the same spot I plan on drilling the hole on the hood.. then screw the Larsen on it, if it would show me how well the Larsen would work before we drill the hole.... $30 bucks is cheap VS saying damn it that Larsen wasn't worth it.