hood channel mounted cb antenna problem(s)

[EAFrizzle]

Easiest out-of-the-box solution is the Stryker SAR-10. Drop the whip all the way to the bottom, tighten the screws, and you're resonant on CB, no muss no fuss. The big washer is exactly for using the mag mount on aluminum (very good ground plane) or fiberglass (non-existent ground plane).

I'm using one on a Nissan SUV, and it does a great job for me, especially on DX.

A black sharpie works well to block out the "blue-light special".

 

[niceguy71]

Easiest out-of-the-box solution is the Stryker SAR-10. Drop the whip all the way to the bottom, tighten the screws, and you're resonant on CB, no muss no fuss. The big washer is exactly for using the mag mount on aluminum (very good ground plane) or fiberglass (non-existent ground plane).

I'm using one on a Nissan SUV, and it does a great job for me, especially on DX.

A black sharpie works well to block out the "blue-light special".

I agree probably the best magnetic antenna you can buy only a $100 bucks.

... but I would put it on the hood so he can drive in and out of the garage

 

[damion2492]

Easiest out-of-the-box solution is the Stryker SAR-10. Drop the whip all the way to the bottom, tighten the screws, and you're resonant on CB, no muss no fuss. The big washer is exactly for using the mag mount on aluminum (very good ground plane) or fiberglass (non-existent ground plane).

I'm using one on a Nissan SUV, and it does a great job for me, especially on DX.

A black sharpie works well to block out the "blue-light special".

are you talking about the stryker SR-A10MM antenna???

I agree probably the best magnetic antenna you can buy only a $100 bucks.

... but I would put it on the hood so he can drive in and out of the garage

my hood is aluminum. only aluminum panel on the whole truck, besides the fiberglass topper.

 

[EAFrizzle]

Yeah, whatever the model # is, it's what pops up in a search for stryker CB antenna. Great performer, and literally plug and play on the mag mount.

 

[niceguy71]

are you talking about the stryker SR-A10MM antenna???

he is talking about that antenna.
MM stands for magnetic mount
if you look at post #13 I gave you a link to the Stryker to get it for a $100 bucks after shipping

 

[damion2492]

Yeah, whatever the model # is, it's what pops up in a search for stryker CB antenna. Great performer, and literally plug and play on the mag mount.

ok. doesn't look like Amazon has them. i found them on ebay, any where from $129-150!

he is talking about that antenna.
MM stands for magnetic mount
if you look at post #13 I gave you a link to the Stryker to get it for a $100 bucks after shipping

ok sorry. so many replies and suggestions I cant keep up.

he is talking about that antenna.
MM stands for magnetic mount
if you look at post #13 I gave you a link to the Stryker to get it for a $100 bucks after shipping

ok I found your post. thanks!! gonna look into it.

 

[EAFrizzle]

When conditions are good, I've worked Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Germany and Algeria on that antenna with 20 watts on SSB. I don't see how I can get better performance aside from a 102" whip or a split feed setup. Neither of those is easy to setup quickly, and a split-feed looks silly unless you're in a big rig or out in the boonies.

 

[damion2492]

When conditions are good, I've worked Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Germany and Algeria on that antenna with 20 watts on SSB. I don't see how I can get better performance aside from a 102" whip or a split feed setup. Neither of those is easy to setup quickly, and a split-feed looks silly unless you're in a big rig or out in the boonies.

yeah im just wanting something for "alternative communication"! its obvious, at least to me, we're in trouble, especially in this country! to many issues with cell phones and digital crap! I was ok with cb's 35yrs ago. but after that much time away from that stuff and a nasty car accident then a nasty fall at work, my memory is shot, especially when it comes to stuff I haven't messed with in decades! im trying to "re-educate" myself to the wonderful world of cb radios! I have a brand spankin new cobra 29ltdnw am/fm and a cobra 29lx radios that are bone stock. the antenna kit i bought wasn't researched enough so thats my fault! last cb setup i had was on a 1982 F250, in 1991! all I had back then was a 29ltd classic and a 102" whip mounted on the side of the box! I remember talking to a guy all the way in Florida, and im in the thumb area of Michigan! unfortunately I was in a bad car accident in 94, the I got knocked off a 2nd story of a house in 2010! I was a union carpenter. took me 10yrs to recover from the fall! cant remember much about the "old days" of cb's so im desperately tryin to get back into it cause, I know when the power goes out, so dose the internet, and cell phones!!! I greatly appreciate you and everyone else who's helping me through this frustrating situation!!

 

[niceguy71]

yeah im just wanting something for "alternative communication"! its obvious, at least to me, we're in trouble, especially in this country! to many issues with cell phones and digital crap! I was ok with cb's 35yrs ago. but after that much time away from that stuff and a nasty car accident then a nasty fall at work, my memory is shot, especially when it comes to stuff I haven't messed with in decades! im trying to "re-educate" myself to the wonderful world of cb radios! I have a brand spankin new cobra 29ltdnw am/fm and a cobra 29lx radios that are bone stock. the antenna kit i bought wasn't researched enough so thats my fault! last cb setup i had was on a 1982 F250, in 1991! all I had back then was a 29ltd classic and a 102" whip mounted on the side of the box! I remember talking to a guy all the way in Florida, and im in the thumb area of Michigan! unfortunately I was in a bad car accident in 94, the I got knocked off a 2nd story of a house in 2010! I was a union carpenter. took me 10yrs to recover from the fall! cant remember much about the "old days" of cb's so im desperately tryin to get back into it cause, I know when the power goes out, so dose the internet, and cell phones!!! I greatly appreciate you and everyone else who's helping me through this frustrating situation!!

here is where I would buy the Stryker SR-A10 MM .. click this link ..Stryker SR-A10 MM or Magnetic Mount it's $79.99 and $20.00 shipping so a $100 bucks... it say's refurbished but that is only because of the box.. you will get a torn up box... but the antenna is perfect.

taking it on and off the roof would be a royal pain and get VERY OLD VERY QUICKLY.... put it on the back corner of the hood ... that way you can drive in and out of your garage everyday... that way your CB is always ready to be used anytime you come up on an accident or a traffic jam... and it's nice to have it on to listen too... but if you have to keep getting up on the roof... most times you will not have it when you need it.... so think about using the washer that comes with it to use it on your aluminum hood.

here is what it will look like... I just put it on my truck and it goes in and out of a 7 foot garage ( if the steel washer can hold it good... I did not try the washer. but I bent it down and it stays bent at 7 feet and will go in and out of the garage just fine.

 

[niceguy71]

A 36" tall CB antenna is not going to be a good performer. And $50 is way too much for that.

If I was in your shoes, and drilling a hole was off the table, I'd get a Larsen NMO27 and a suitable NMO magnetic mount. That'll give you some decent performance at a reasonable cost.

that Larsen NMO27 on a 5 inch magnetic mount looks awesome... love the look of it and the size of it and the quality of it
but I could not get it to work very far compared to the other antennas with 5 inch mag mounts.

 

[damion2492]

here is where I would buy the Stryker SR-A10 MM .. click this link ..Stryker SR-A10 MM or Magnetic Mount it's $79.99 and $20.00 shipping so a $100 bucks... it say's refurbished but that is only because of the box.. you will get a torn up box... but the antenna is perfect.

taking it on and off the roof would be a royal pain and get VERY OLD VERY QUICKLY.... put it on the back corner of the hood ... that way you can drive in and out of your garage everyday... that way your CB is always ready to be used anytime you come up on an accident or a traffic jam... and it's nice to have it on to listen too... but if you have to keep getting up on the roof... most times you will not have it when you need it.... so think about using the washer that comes with it to use it on your aluminum hood.

here is what it will look like... I just put it on my truck and it goes in and out of a 7 foot garage ( if the steel washer can hold it good... I did not try the washer. but I bent it down and it stays bent at 7 feet and will go in and out of the garage just fine.

does that work? do you get reception and transmission with just the steel washer between the hood and antenna? that seems like it'd be similar to the issues I had!! and i was under the assumption that you couldn't, or weren't supposed to mount a cb antenna around the antenna for the vehicle's radio? looks good anyhow!! I got the link for the stryker antenna. gotta see if I can sell this firestik kit 1st. my wife wouldn't be very thrilled if I spent another penny on ANOTHER antenna!!

 

[EAFrizzle]

Put the washer on the underside of the hood with some 2-sided tape or something to hold it in place, then just put the mag mount right over it. Aluminum makes a great ground plane, and the magnetic field helps it work better.

 

[WSAC829]

i was under the assumption that you couldn't, or weren't supposed to mount a cb antenna around the antenna for the vehicle's radio?

Some people say so, but it works fine. Here’s mine.

 

[damion2492]

Put the washer on the underside of the hood with some 2-sided tape or something to hold it in place, then just put the mag mount right over it. Aluminum makes a great ground plane, and the magnetic field helps it work better.

hmmmm....police dont bother ya with it like that? its location? not sure if I'd want it mounted on the hood, at least that close to the center of the hood! im definitely leaning towards it though!! looks like it would be ok for a 7 foot opening so im definitely interested in that one!

Some people say so, but it works fine. Here’s mine.

View attachment 189427

im done with those hood channel mounted antennas!! fought for 5 straight days and couldn't get the swr readings under 2 and the antenna warning kept coming every time I keyed the mic! I'll go with a magnetic mount style and see how that works.

 

[WSAC829]

That’s fine. Whatever works for you, go for it. However the hood/fender mounts do work, otherwise nobody would produce them for mass consumption. I’m sure your mount is fine, and grounded fine. It’s probably your antenna that’s funky. I originally tried a 3 foot firestik. Horrible SWR. Switched to the 2 foot Diesel whip with spring and all is well.

 

[niceguy71]

does that work? do you get reception and transmission with just the steel washer between the hood and antenna? that seems like it'd be similar to the issues I had!! and i was under the assumption that you couldn't, or weren't supposed to mount a cb antenna around the antenna for the vehicle's radio? looks good anyhow!! I got the link for the stryker antenna. gotta see if I can sell this firestik kit 1st. my wife wouldn't be very thrilled if I spent another penny on ANOTHER antenna!!

your hood is aluminum.... ground plane works exactly the same on Steel or Aluminum .. only problem with aluminum is the magnet won't stick
so "if" the washer is strong enough to hold it in place you should be fine..... I was able to bend it down 7 feet to go in and out of the garage and hold the base in place... it didn't take much to hold it in place ...but I have no idea how strong it will stick to the steel washer THROUGH the aluminum?

it's just an antenna the police will not have a problem with it.... I was not able to get it on the corner of the hood as the corner is curved on the F150..... the only place I could get it was where it is in the pictures.....

when we did my friends Jeep i said oh God that looks awful!! we left it until I could buy the Larsen NMO27 ... he kept using it every day and after a week you didn't even notice it... his wife a school teacher has to take the Jeep to school once a week hates it... but I think she even got used to it..... so you will get used to it pretty quickly.... just like you never think of your stereo antenna.. after a couple weeks you will not notice it.... if you don't like it there... put it on the roof..... if you put the washer under the hood... just use a small bead of 100% silicone and you will never get that washer off again... it will stick it great... under the hood makes a little heat and will dry out double sided tape.

I have set many magnetic antennas on my hood and run a long coax into my house to my base station .... just to try them out.. they will not stay in place if I was driving... but sitting on top of the aluminum hood they get a great SWR and work great.... they just won't stick... I don;t know how the washer will work out??? you'll let us know I hope.

 

[damion2492]

That’s fine. Whatever works for you, go for it. However the hood/fender mounts do work, otherwise nobody would produce them for mass consumption. I’m sure your mount is fine, and grounded fine. It’s probably your antenna that’s funky. I originally tried a 3 foot firestik. Horrible SWR. Switched to the 2 foot Diesel whip with spring and all is well.

idk wth the issue is but today I put my neighbors very high end cobra on my setup and it was the same result, high swr. only difference is his has been tuned and aligned with the antenna warning "removed"(idk what he meant by that) but after 30+ minutes of chasin ghosts, even he said that somethin is seriously wrong with that setup! maybe the antenna is to much, idk! but this "experience" has left a real $hitty taste in my mouth!! especially my wallet! im gonna go with the magnet mount and see what happens!! if I cant/dont sell the firestik setup maybe I'll buy a shorter firestik antenna and try in on my 2008 F250 diesel, that truck is not in the best condition so I won't feel bad about drilling into the fender!!

your hood is aluminum.... ground plane works exactly the same on Steel or Aluminum .. only problem with aluminum is the magnet won't stick
so "if" the washer is strong enough to hold it in place you should be fine..... I was able to bend it down 7 feet to go in and out of the garage and hold the base in place... it didn't take much to hold it in place ...but I have no idea how strong it will stick to the steel washer THROUGH the aluminum?

it's just an antenna the police will not have a problem with it.... I was not able to get it on the corner of the hood as the corner is curved on the F150..... the only place I could get it was where it is in the pictures.....

when we did my friends Jeep i said oh God that looks awful!! we left it until I could buy the Larsen NMO27 ... he kept using it every day and after a week you didn't even notice it... his wife a school teacher has to take the Jeep to school once a week hates it... but I think she even got used to it..... so you will get used to it pretty quickly.... just like you never think of your stereo antenna.. after a couple weeks you will not notice it.... if you don't like it there... put it on the roof..... if you put the washer under the hood... just use a small bead of 100% silicone and you will never get that washer off again... it will stick it great... under the hood makes a little heat and will dry out double sided tape.

I have set many magnetic antennas on my hood and run a long coax into my house to my base station .... just to try them out.. they will not stay in place if I was driving... but sitting on top of the aluminum hood they get a great SWR and work great.... they just won't stick... I don;t know how the washer will work out??? you'll let us know I hope.

lol, yeah, that'd be a little different mounted on the hood but I think ya talked me into the stryker!! I know how the hoods shape makes it difficult to mount, and aluminum is fine for grounding. I had a 6 inch tinned copper braided grounding strap from my hood to the antenna mount and it had perfect grounding, even grounded each corner of the truck to the frame, cb body was/still is, grounded directly to the floor, and NO matter what I did, swr stayed above 2 on channel 1, barely under 2 on 40, 20, 19, etc and soon as i keyed the mic, antenna warning issue!! gotta save up some cash and get the stryker, cant be any worse than what I had!!

 

[WSAC829]

this "experience" has left a real $hitty taste in my mouth!!

I hear you. Radio stuff can get expensive and may require a lot of trial and error before things work properly. It’s a not as simple as buy a radio and antenna, slap it together, and expect it to work “out of the box”. It should, but it hardly ever works that way. Stick with it. You’ll get it sorted out. I’m sure most everybody here on this forum has multiple radios, multiple antennas, different types of coax, etc all laying around from over the years of trial and error. Some people say CB stands for “Constantly Buying”.

 

[damion2492]

I hear you. Radio stuff gets expensive and requires a lot of trial and error before things work properly. It’s a not as simple as buy a radio and antenna, slap it together, and expect it to work “out of the box”. It should, but it hardly ever works that way. Stick with it. You’ll get it sorted out. I’m sure most everybody here on this forum has multiple radios, multiple antennas, different types of coax, etc all laying around from over the years of trial and error. Some people say CB stands for “Constantly Buying”.

LMAO!! kinda like "BOAT" Bust Out Another Thousand🤣 I was getting into cb's in the late 80's and 90's. my 1st setup was in a 82 F250 farm truck. 460 big block with a 4 speed manual trans! had the greatest cb ever, cobra classic 29ltd with a 102" whip mounted to the center of the box! I live in the thumb area of Michigan. in 1992 I had that setup. I remember talkin to a guy in Florida, Minnesota, Iowa, even remember picking up chatter in new Mexico! but that was before this "digital" crap took over! and thats the main reason why I wanna get back into it!! im smart enough, and old enough, and "awake" enough to see what's going on in our world! and I know that WHEN, not IF, the power goes off, so does the internet, and cell phones! I want a alternative method of communication! its a struggle figuring out how everything works, especially after being away from it for decades!! but i can see thats theres plenty of ppl on here that understand me and are willing to give me the opportunity to continue to educate myself on what I need and how to make things happen!! thanks for your help and support, I greatly appreciate it 👍

 

[WSAC829]

I want a alternative method of communication!

You might also want to look at GMRS. For $35 you get a 10 year license (no test required) that covers you and your immediate family. When there is power, you can use local repeaters for long distance coverage (typically 10-100 miles), or if the grid goes down, use those radios in simplex mode. The handhelds generally cover 1-5 miles, or mobile radios can cover 10-40 miles depending on terrain. Or if you want to go cheap, just pick up some bubble pack FRS radios (license free) from Walmart. Even those will cover 0.5-2 miles. Good way to keep in contact from car to car, farm to house, etc. Just tossing out some other options that will cost you some more money, but will cover another way to communicate when SHTF.