• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

CB antenna

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ray_Davies

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2022
Messages
22
Reaction score
21
Location
Vancouver
I grounded a mobile CB antenna to the center screw in a plug outlet in my house and got a very low match.
Does that mean it is broadcasting well? It is now on a concrete chimney with no ground plane.
 

spongella

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
1,205
Reaction score
733
Location
N2HUN, Western NJ
Need more info. What is the make and model of the antenna? Some CB antennas require a ground plane for best performance. And, all outside antennas should be installed with lightning protection. A "low match" does not necessarily equate with performance.
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
27,846
Reaction score
34,503
Location
United States
It likely indicates that it is presenting something close to a 50Ω load. That doesn't mean it's radiating well. A 50 ohm resistor will show a low match.
As spongella said, more info needed.

And using the center screw on the outlet cover is not a suitable grounding point for an outdoor antenna. The ground on an electrical outlet is intended to be a safety ground for the appliance user.
 

prcguy

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
18,124
Reaction score
13,882
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
I've used or tried to use mobile CB antennas inside a house with terrible results. Think of all the wiring running through the walls putting somewhat of a shield around the room and if the house is older with plaster walls it probably has metal lath beneath the plaster further shielding the room from radio signals.

The only time I had ok results from an indoor CB antenna was with a full size dipole placing one element across the floor and the other taped up the wall and onto the ceiling. This was in a completely wooden structure and I maybe got a mile or so in the evening when noise and skip were low. A vehicle parked outside this house worked much better with the roof mounted CB antenna on the vehicle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top