I have a closet where CB antenna's go to die

[niceguy71]

I have several spare antenna's ... nice to let friends try out different antenna's and try my little Radioddity CS-47... so this weekend I played with a couple... I decided to store them and get them out of the way..... I put them in a closet I haven't opened for 30 years..... back in the day I tried EVERY antenna that people said worked good.... nothing ever got me more than a couple miles... if that!
so I pulled out and started counting them.... 26 antenna's from the 80's and 90's...... I was a very young man and started trying to get a good working CB when I was 16 and got my drivers license.... I think I have one of every Radio Shack CB antenna's they ever sold... even a 102 fiberglass whip.
I see a K-40 that I mounted on a Stainless Steel L bracket that I think I mounted to a pick-up truck bed rail or maybe on a light bar I used to have on my 4X4's roof.
I see a 6 foot red one that I don't remember what it is??? I put in a picture of it....
I even put a picture of the only communications system I could get working back then

back in the day all I had was Radio shack to ask what I was doing wrong and they would just sell me another antenna.... Thank Heavens for Radio Reference... I've learned more here in a year, than I did in 43 years of life.

so I have been trying to get a good working CB since I was 16... and now that I'm retired I finally got one!

26 antenna's in the closet???? is that average for everyone?

 

[slowmover]

Having a closet devoted exclusively to CB Radio Antennas means you’re a being beyond the comprehension of we mortals!

I think I counted 17-18 around here at one point. Mainly pairs.

Mics and mobile antennas are cheap enough. Fun to play around with.


If I had to limit myself it’d be:

SS Quarter-wave

(Pickup truck)
Predator 10k-27
Signal Engineering GR45
Texas 1800

(Big truck)
SKIPSHOOTER
in 5, 6, 7’
SIRIO 5000 3/8

If it was one-type-only then a near 7’ mid-coil with a flexible whip (S-5K-3/8). A 6’ Skipshooter backup. That pair for either vehicle.

That’s just under 13’ on pickup, and (when angled for SWR), stays under 14’ on big truck.

It can take awhile to work out what’s best. Dicking around with both mount and mount location is what tends to increase the antenna herd.

NMO30 or 34 + WD640 whip looks like best start and the likely finish on a private vehicle if a NOS CWB-27 can’t be sourced. NRC-radio plus Hi-Fi speaker brings this into its own (as I see it). Installation guidelines plus associated RF Bond winds being king (as is proper).

— Best performance on-road is usually heard when a typical passenger vehicle in commercial service needing both VHF & CB has both systems done by a two-way radio shop.

This also reduces the number of fiddly-bits needing regular attention to almost nil.

It may not quite have the get-up-and-go of a hot rod . . but it makes up for it by the unlikely need for constant system checks.

Where a mobile is also seen as a stationary base in a rural location (multiple antenna options) — or that SSB DX is wanted — is where the hot rod comes fully into its own.

Big Truck as a subset of that: 300-days annually at about 2,000-hours of use where health & wealth are priorities. Ones exchanges with others, some days, may be radio-only. Highest performance thus pays in multiple ways offsetting more attention.

.

 

[robertwbob]

had a 102 whip mounted to frame of first t600 with an anchor so it wouldnt flex about. low vswr and just bit above cab. was fine too

 

[slowmover]

Radio Gear Kit

I’d say the second aspect of too many antennas is that it’s a corollary of too many radios.

And too many mics.

And too many coax jumpers.

And too many extension speakers, not to mention too many spools of 12VDC power wire.

I really don’t have the storage space for what I’ve accumulated. I’ve projects to finish, and a few to plan & execute.

But that won’t include all this stuff.

Advice to Self: I should put this stuff together as kits for whats needed to do a decent install. Give it away, or sell it. Package.

Then I can better condense down what I have in terms of use.

Divide by category to cover what’s wanted:

Base Station (one’s home; and/or an RV).
Family vehicles.
Walkabout (hand-held).
Business vehicle.
Outlying buildings.

Tools & Supply.
Storage & Transport cases.

The rest needs to go.

What value might a Ready Radio Kit have in Western North Carolina this morning after Hurricane Helene? Trade it for?

JBC11012 - ProComm 3" Heavy Duty Magnetic Antenna Mount

JBC11012 - ProComm 3" Heavy Duty Magnetic Antenna Mount

www.wearecb.com

Could add what’s needed to suit antenna length (use).

If I have X radio number, then that’s a kit.
If I have Y antenna number, then that’s a kit by length. (5’ & taller = Base w/kit as shown; 4’ & shorter = mobile + mag mount).

Speakers & aftermarket mics as “options” (Better as gifts in my experience).

I’ve a hunch there are folks meeting new neighbors previously unknown from not many miles away where buy, sell, trade has new depth.

Radio is a little weird. Not plug & play. Even a little experience and some “extra gear” benefits all parties when new owners are accommodated with a radio rig. (How much help for install a barter item itself; otherwise a pre-printed sheet included).

.

 

[BucksGuyUSA]

About 6 years ago, I was down in my workshop and looking at the pile of things that I was keeping because “it might be useful some day” or “I’ll see if I can get that working again….”

It was, of all things, a CB radio antenna that made me “snap” so to speak. I was carrying a full inventory of all of these things in my head. I knew I had that NMO mount….somewhere….and there was that box of Motorola radios that were retired because of narrow-banding….
The 5 FRS radios that had issues with the rechargeable battery packs. The old 2M ham radio that I never used except for that one trip across the state. And the mag-mount CB antenna that was always terrible and why was I keeping this piece of garbage?
All that inventory was in my head, taking up space.

I decided what I really needed were the tools and the minimum about of supplies needed to maintain what I own and use now, and if I had a new project, I could get exactly what I needed when I needed it. No more “I don’t know what this thing could be used for, but it seems useful” for me.
I started boxing things up - all the radios I have not used in the last year, all the antennas that would be useful “someday”, the extra coax, the miles of wire scraps, the mess of antenna mounting hardware, the 4 not-dead, not-upgradeable android tablets - and so much more.

All but the wire scrap went to a local thrift shop. The wire went to the scrap metal place and I got enough money from it to buy a pizza.

Now, when I have a new project, I sit and plan it out carefully; I download the manuals before I buy a product and confirm that I have everything needed to set up/install something new. I order the hardware I need to do the job, and - sit down - I throw away anything left over after I build something. I got tired of having 11 of 12 of the right kind of screw or a piece of cable with 4 adapters to get from that thing to that other thing. I can still fix things and I can still “improvise” a short-term fix, but the “someday” pile is gone, forever.

I still have my “shelf spare” electronic equipment (mostly networking and computer stuff, I work from home and can’t be offline) and “emergency supplies” (mostly repair parts and consumables for my critical home systems such as water well, furnace, etc.). These are kept in labeled boxes in a near-ready-to-use state.

 

[slowmover]

The honeymoon is over when he gets back on his meds.

Happens to us all. (Sad day).

🙃

 

[rf_patriot200]

Mine get cut, to make antennas for other bands.

 

[niceguy71]

About 6 years ago, I was down in my workshop and looking at the pile of things that I was keeping because “it might be useful some day” or “I’ll see if I can get that working again….”

It was, of all things, a CB radio antenna that made me “snap” so to speak. I was carrying a full inventory of all of these things in my head. I knew I had that NMO mount….somewhere….and there was that box of Motorola radios that were retired because of narrow-banding….
The 5 FRS radios that had issues with the rechargeable battery packs. The old 2M ham radio that I never used except for that one trip across the state. And the mag-mount CB antenna that was always terrible and why was I keeping this piece of garbage?
All that inventory was in my head, taking up space.

I decided what I really needed were the tools and the minimum about of supplies needed to maintain what I own and use now, and if I had a new project, I could get exactly what I needed when I needed it. No more “I don’t know what this thing could be used for, but it seems useful” for me.
I started boxing things up - all the radios I have not used in the last year, all the antennas that would be useful “someday”, the extra coax, the miles of wire scraps, the mess of antenna mounting hardware, the 4 not-dead, not-upgradeable android tablets - and so much more.

All but the wire scrap went to a local thrift shop. The wire went to the scrap metal place and I got enough money from it to buy a pizza.

Now, when I have a new project, I sit and plan it out carefully; I download the manuals before I buy a product and confirm that I have everything needed to set up/install something new. I order the hardware I need to do the job, and - sit down - I throw away anything left over after I build something. I got tired of having 11 of 12 of the right kind of screw or a piece of cable with 4 adapters to get from that thing to that other thing. I can still fix things and I can still “improvise” a short-term fix, but the “someday” pile is gone, forever.

I still have my “shelf spare” electronic equipment (mostly networking and computer stuff, I work from home and can’t be offline) and “emergency supplies” (mostly repair parts and consumables for my critical home systems such as water well, furnace, etc.). These are kept in labeled boxes in a near-ready-to-use state.

good job...
the hardest thing is letting stuff you know you will never use go.

 

[KB4MSZ]

26 antenna's in the closet???? is that average for everyone?

Not for you. Double that figure and you will have an antenna apiece for half of your walkie talkie collection.

 

[robertwbob]

i was ORDERED by the warden of the house to "thin the herd down". they went to a locking shed i keep my vast collection of tools from my mechanic days in. i made shelves out of scraps of plywood ive gathered through the years. i even labeled some of my treasures. so easy to go look n think humm i need to ......

 

[BucksGuyUSA]

The honeymoon is over when he gets back on his meds.

Happens to us all. (Sad day).

🙃

TBH, the whole thing probably was building up as a result of going to an estate sale that year at a neighbor’s house. He was a ham radio guy who died after a long illness. I was at the sale for an hour, everything was “pay what you want” and I got nothing but the realization that I had too much junk built up in my life.

 

[prcguy]

"I have a closet where CB antenna's go to die"​

I run an antenna orphanage where they get to mingle with other antennas and they get exercised and see the sun and get fresh air. Open your closet and set them free or send them to me!

 

[KI4ZNG]

I did the same thing last Summer and got rid of a bunch of stuff. I plan on doing another round of it this Fall.

 

[slowmover]

I recently re-packed my “garage”. All the weight (significant) now on or between truck axles (I’m at truck gross of 9,000-lbs in my daily driving). 50/50 FF/RR weight balance, exactly.

The six/seven antenna pairs with another half-dozen whips got stored on the bed cap rail. The pvc was the mailer for a pair of 108”. Cut up a movers pad to protect ends after zip-tying by pair then by length.

Affixed all to telescoping painters pole bought to hold SIRIO Boomerang.

Eventually I’ll cut sections of PVC and epoxy to hold in place better than this.

The fancy antennas will — with fishing gear — hang from bedroom ceiling after I plan that.

The Texas on roof, and a DRIVER EXTREME wide-banded 66” Silver Bullet whip backup on rear headrests.

These are aimed at truck drivers per construction & features highlighted.

Silver Bullet Antennas

driverextreme.com

Don’t want to separate any of the paired antennas. So picked this up in Illinois on a trip last year.

Two antenna lines. This is the premium. These are nicely made when you get a chance to examine them. They sell themselves.

Total height comes to 11’ 6” when installed. I’ll put a fatboy spring under it for good measure when next I come across one.

Walcott now sells D-E.

.

 

[robertwbob]

I have several spare antenna's ... nice to let friends try out different antenna's and try my little Radioddity CS-47... so this weekend I played with a couple... I decided to store them and get them out of the way..... I put them in a closet I haven't opened for 30 years..... back in the day I tried EVERY antenna that people said worked good.... nothing ever got me more than a couple miles... if that!
so I pulled out and started counting them.... 26 antenna's from the 80's and 90's...... I was a very young man and started trying to get a good working CB when I was 16 and got my drivers license.... I think I have one of every Radio Shack CB antenna's they ever sold... even a 102 fiberglass whip.
I see a K-40 that I mounted on a Stainless Steel L bracket that I think I mounted to a pick-up truck bed rail or maybe on a light bar I used to have on my 4X4's roof.
I see a 6 foot red one that I don't remember what it is??? I put in a picture of it....
I even put a picture of the only communications system I could get working back then

back in the day all I had was Radio shack to ask what I was doing wrong and they would just sell me another antenna.... Thank Heavens for Radio Reference... I've learned more here in a year, than I did in 43 years of life.

so I have been trying to get a good working CB since I was 16... and now that I'm retired I finally got one!

26 antenna's in the closet???? is that average for everyone?

i got an antenna specilist grey maggie when i was 16. it got me out far. suprize it still works. its on my old 76 f 350 4x4 feed truck. i used it to feed cows n used the radio,early president grant as id get stuck n neighbors would hear n rescue me same as i did them. was in the truck looking for something n fired radio up n made a contac. $26. new in 1969,think i got my moneys worth with it.id buy a new as maggie if they were still built