CB hookup

[niceguy71]

Yep, these folks (my neighbors) have given me verbal blowback just for washing my little Tacoma in the parking lot. Someone even asked if I was running a commercial car wash service! Fortunately, permission to wash personal vehicles is granted in the by-laws which I politely shared with several individuals… (Car wash is about the only thing allowed besides parking.)

And some of these Karens are definitelyWATCHING. They have even “ratted-out” units where the occupants have had the audacity to hang some small flower arrangements on the outside of their balcony railings instead of the inside of the rail.

But, I digress…

A lot to be said for my poor hearing – wind noise when I’m driving does a good job of masking sounds. BUT, I have been testing lately when parked.

Just came back from running errands while safely driving in the snowstorm. I got confirmation that my mobile signal was working. Made contact with Joplin, Missouri and northwest Florida during congested radio conditions. That’s 1000 and 1100 miles, respectively.

Both stations said I had a strong signal! I was parked so no road noise. The engine was running and no hint of any fuel pump or other electrical interference. Excess coax is jumbled but not looped.

My plans/thoughts regarding a home antenna for what I assume would be viable for local use (two 9’ legs using transparent insulated speaker wire)

It would have to be something stealthy, to be deployed nightly in a hybrid “inverted V” vertical fashion from the 3rd floor balcony – wouldn’t dare to have wires visible during the day, especially showing a thick black coax feed.

Then there is the question of feeding and terminating the two legs – It can’t be as simple as just wiring each conductor wire of the coax (braid to one leg and center conductor to the other leg), can it? (I miss my ARRL antenna book – it disappeared in my divorce, haha) I’m sure this paragraph will elicit much scorn and/or laughter but hoping for some thoughtful suggestions regarding wiring and NOT the divorce.

glad to hear of a couple DX contacts.......ABOUT TIME!!!!!
so I guess the antenna and radio is working... good to hear

it's amazing how people in HOA's behave... I wouldn't even risk doing anything with a dipole... most people put them away from the house to make sure they don't interfere with electronics in the home..... if you ever caused interference in that HOA... they will be coming after you with torches and pitch forks.

 

[Chris155]

Yep, these folks (my neighbors) have given me verbal blowback just for washing my little Tacoma in the parking lot. Someone even asked if I was running a commercial car wash service! Fortunately, permission to wash personal vehicles is granted in the by-laws which I politely shared with several individuals… (Car wash is about the only thing allowed besides parking.)

And some of these Karens are definitelyWATCHING. They have even “ratted-out” units where the occupants have had the audacity to hang some small flower arrangements on the outside of their balcony railings instead of the inside of the rail.

But, I digress…

A lot to be said for my poor hearing – wind noise when I’m driving does a good job of masking sounds. BUT, I have been testing lately when parked.

Just came back from running errands while safely driving in the snowstorm. I got confirmation that my mobile signal was working. Made contact with Joplin, Missouri and northwest Florida during congested radio conditions. That’s 1000 and 1100 miles, respectively.

Both stations said I had a strong signal! I was parked so no road noise. The engine was running and no hint of any fuel pump or other electrical interference. Excess coax is jumbled but not looped.

My plans/thoughts regarding a home antenna for what I assume would be viable for local use (two 9’ legs using transparent insulated speaker wire)

It would have to be something stealthy, to be deployed nightly in a hybrid “inverted V” vertical fashion from the 3rd floor balcony – wouldn’t dare to have wires visible during the day, especially showing a thick black coax feed.

Then there is the question of feeding and terminating the two legs – It can’t be as simple as just wiring each conductor wire of the coax (braid to one leg and center conductor to the other leg), can it? (I miss my ARRL antenna book – it disappeared in my divorce, haha) I’m sure this paragraph will elicit much scorn and/or laughter but hoping for some thoughtful suggestions regarding wiring and NOT the divorce.

The dipole is pretty much a simpl as you describe. 1/4 wave to the shield & 1/4 wave to the center. I bought some cheap panel mount s0239 jacks and mookerf rg58 off amazon. You can even get the coax in white. I already had wire to make the 1/4 wave elements. Mounted inverted v the Swr was better than vertical. Vertical was still under 2 and performed better locally, I never tried horizontal.

 

[niceguy71]

if I lived in a HOA and was up on the third floor I would try this dipole Amazon Dipole and paint it the same color as the bricks on the building.... if you can camouflage it and it works... you could have a lot of fun.

I know nothing about Dipoles.... can it just hang on the side of a building or does that have to have a ground rod type thing in the ground to work?

 

[prcguy]

I can't believe anyone would complain about a CB antenna on the roof of a truck in a HOA parking lot!... that is just completely unbelievable
to me.... you said they look... I'm sure no one would complain.

I would put on whatever CB antenna you want on your vehicle in your HOA parking lot. If they complain say ok, but only if every car in the parking lot removes all their antennas. Then ask them if they wanna get sued. Well, do ya PUNK?

 

[W8KIC]

I take it flagpoles (I am of course talking about a "flagpole antenna" but that's strictly between you and this group) are unacceptable to the powers that be within the HOA? If not, that would be extremely cool. Plus, you can bury the radials at the base of the pole and no one will ever know of their existence. Just be sure to make it known to those difficult souls who sit on the board that you are indeed a patriotic American and in no way embarrassed to show it.......and leave it at that!

 

[slowmover]

I would put on whatever CB antenna you want on your vehicle in your HOA parking lot. If they complain say ok, but only if every car in the parking lot removes all their antennas. Then ask them if they wanna get sued. Well, do ya PUNK?

102” quarter-wave whip on a 6” CHROME spring — roof center — on a CHROME Triple Mag Mount.

And air horns that play, La Cucaracha.

.

 

[prcguy]

102” quarter-wave whip on a 6” CHROME spring — roof center — on a CHROME Triple Mag Mount.

And air horns that play, La Cucaracha.

.

That would need a set of Texas longhorns for a hood ornament. And after La Cucaracha is done playing a raspy voice that comes on and announces "Hey HOA, want a piece of this you Jackass! I'm back quiet".

 

[niceguy71]

I take it flagpoles (I am of course talking about a "flagpole antenna" but that's strictly between you and this group) are unacceptable to the powers that be within the HOA? If not, that would be extremely cool. Plus, you can bury the radials at the base of the pole and no one will ever know of their existence. Just be sure to make it known to those difficult souls who sit on the board that you are indeed a patriotic American and in no way embarrassed to show it.......and leave it at that!

I believe the HOA wx2watch is living in is a large 4 story condo complex with multiple condos in each building and several buildings with a parking lot not attached to the buildings..... so no way to run a coax into the building.....
for the rest of us.... we need to be thankful for what we have.... in other countries that's all they have is government owned apartment complex after government owned apartment complex.... the people have nothing and can do nothing.... we forget how lucky we are until we hear of some dingbat putting up condo building after condo building and making rules like some dictator.
I know Fort Lauderdale along the beach is 10 to 14 story condo complex after condo complex... the whole city is filled with them!!!
all of them looking out at the ocean.... they have security so unless you live there no one gets in... they each have a parking garage.. and most of them have beautiful pools..... but how they got people to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for basically a nice apartment AND a monthly rent bill..... I MEAN CONDO FEE will always baffle me.

 

[WSAC829]

from the 3rd floor balcony

Do you happen to have metal railings on the balcony? If so this handy vice grip w/so239 attached could be quickly deployed and would have a semi decent ground. Just attach your preferred whip on it and you’re all set.

 

[niceguy71]

Do you happen to have metal railings on the balcony? If so this handy vice grip w/so239 attached could be quickly deployed and would have a semi decent ground. Just attach your preferred whip on it and you’re all set.

A metal railing has zero ground plane... That will work on a 18 wheeler mirror only if the mirror is bonded with large straps to the rest of the truck ... A 18 wheeler has about 10,000 pounds of metal ( engine and frame).... A railing has about 5 pounds..... Every HOA tenant has tried it and no one has ever gotten anything to work..... It's amazing all the things HOA tenants try to make a base station.... And if someone makes a small easy antenna that would work out of a window they could make a fortune..... But no one has figured it out yet

 

[WSAC829]

A metal railing has zero ground plane.

Incorrect. Anything metal can be a ground plane. Don’t believe me? Even one of the guys you trust around here even said the same thing about a metal railing on a balcony. That post is here. Second paragraph.

 

[niceguy71]

Incorrect. Anything metal can be a ground plane. Don’t believe me? Even one of the guys you trust around here even said the same thing about a metal railing on a balcony. That post is here. Second paragraph.

View attachment 177702

PRCGUY is one of the smartest guys I know.... So I won't debate it..... But I will never believe a metal railing (typically an inch wide) will ever work as a ground plane for a CB ... He may have some tin foil tricks ..... But you need wide FLAT metal for a ground plane.... Even wrapping tin foil around the spindles will not be flat

I have loved this forum for learning all I can about CB communication... it's nice to see someone come into the forum needing help and get real answers to problems.... and not see people tell them things that are just under nonsense like in most of the on line forums... I was very happy to be a member here

Far too much nonsense here lately
WSAC829 I'm going to let you teach the new people from now on..... It will be a world filled with LiL WiL antennas on vehicles and rooftops
And 3 foot FireSticks clamped to metal railings

I wish you all well

 

[WSAC829]

Take it as you will. We are all here to learn, experiment and pass on our results for others. That’s what radio is all about. Trying different things, sharing our findings, giving different viewpoints, etc. Is that so hard to grasp? Not everybody is going to bow down to the so called “elite” here. This isn’t high school. It’s a forum.

BTW, i’m not going anywhere. I retired at 50 5 weeks ago. I have ALL the time in the world to post whatever i want here. Get use to it.

 

[707ways2Sunday]

I know nothing about Dipoles.... can it just hang on the side of a building or does that have to have a ground rod type thing in the ground to work?

They are very popular antennas. One of my favorites!!! You could hang one on the side of a building but probably 4’ away or so from the building would be best. Even if you run one vertically on a metallic mast 4’ away works fine. The mast might even act as a reflector. For DX horizontal is best. Oh and no ground rod.

In a mobile the vehicle is half the antenna. Or the counter poise. A dipole is a complete antenna one leg being the counter poise. Can be built and deployed in no time. A roll of speaker wire and you don’t even need coax. 18’ AGL. Or there abouts Right conditions for me they have at times close to or equal to my Sirio 2016.

Talked everywhere I’ve talked on my 4 element on dipoles at one time or another. UK Wales Italy Jamaica Columbia Hawaii etc. Q5N2 barefoot. Even made one from 2-4’ Firestiks when I first got back into radio 2+ years ago. Ran them horizontal and vertical at different times. Performed incredibly well. Guess that would be considered a 1.25 wavelength dipole. Match was great albeit fairly narrow banded.

Here is one of my favorites. 2-$10 telescopic fishing poles with 16awg speaker wire inside. Fed with rg8x

 

[KI4ZNG]

Do you happen to have metal railings on the balcony? If so this handy vice grip w/so239 attached could be quickly deployed and would have a semi decent ground. Just attach your preferred whip on it and you’re all set.

When I was stationed in Germany in the early 80's I lived in government leased housing. It was a 8 floor building and I was lucky enough to live on the top floor. So one weekend I was wondering how I could hook up my 148gtl up in the house. So I had an old battery that I could use as a power supply. For a antenna I had a 106" ss whip and a old mirror mount bracket. So I clamped the vise grips to the railing and attached the antenna mount and antenna. Much to my surprise it worked! I did not dare transmit on it because Germany was very strict on radio in those days. Your post sure brought back a old memory.

 

[W8KIC]

Take it as you will. We are all here to learn, experiment and pass on our results for others. That’s what radio is all about. Trying different things, sharing our findings, giving different viewpoints, etc. Is that so hard to grasp? Not everybody is going to bow down to the so called “elite” here. This isn’t high school. It’s a forum.

BTW, i’m not going anywhere. I retired at 50 5 weeks ago. I have ALL the time in the world to post whatever i want here. Get use to it.

Just chill, if that's something that's in any way possible for you to achieve! The so called "elite" who you refer to on this forum (I refer to them as fellow forum members) aren't interested in figuratively drawing their weapons and engaging in a game of "spray and pray" in the mistaken belief that after pissing through all their ammo that they MAY have hit their target. They've been working with this stuff for a long time and have firsthand experience with what actually works, and what doesn't. Now, they'll be the first to admit that they don't know everything in this world because as all of us are fully aware, no one does! However, if my interest is in picking their collective brains on subjects that I know they're extremely knowledgeable about, the one thing I'm NOT going to do is to apply warpaint, grab a bow, along with a few arrows and commence a battle that ultimately goes no place fast! What I'm most appreciative of is gaining the knowledge i'll need to tackle a particular project from individuals who've "been there, done that" without having to simultaneously be concerned about potentially dubious info being provided, along with having my feelings hurt in the process. There are a multitude of forums on the web that cater to those that by choice are always on the hunt for anyone who's willing to stroke the thinnest skin. Thankfully, this isn't one of them.

 

[WSAC829]

Just chill

I am chill.

Just because i may correct some incorrect statements (like that a metal railing can’t be a ground plane posted above), or post about MY first hand experience with various antennas and radios, or link to other posts or videos to back up my statements etc, some of you think i’m firing guns? How does that work? So you’re saying i should sit back and watch people rip on my suggestions or experiences? Pffffft. I don’t think so. If people can’t handle a little banter, or the fact they may be wrong, or god forbid you don’t agree with them, then they are in the wrong hobby. I’ve been around radios for 35 years and did side work for a now “silent key” tech, but apparently according to the “click” here, i know nothing.

Have a good day.

 

[W8KIC]

I am chill.

Just because i may correct some incorrect statements (like that a metal railing can’t be a ground plane posted above), or post about MY first hand experience with various antennas and radios, or link to other posts or videos to back up my statements etc, some of you think i’m firing guns? How does that work? So you’re saying i should sit back and watch people rip on my suggestions or experiences? Pffffft. I don’t think so. If people can’t handle a little banter, or the fact they may be wrong, or god forbid you don’t agree with them, then they are in the wrong hobby. I’ve been around radios for 35 years and did side work for a now “silent key” tech, but apparently according to the “click” here, i know nothing.

Have a good day.

Apparently, you missed the word "FIGURATIVELY" in my post. Slowdown and make sure you absorb each word as it makes a huge difference when it comes to reading comprehension. Have a lovely weekend! At least what's left of it.