I'm in Mobile CB Hell...

[niceguy71]

The real test is on the road. The best I’ve encountered the past ten years against a stock FCC CB Radio and a pickup truck permanent roof mount was 2.5-miles. (WILSON 5000 base load, IIRC). He was passing me as we started. Daytime. Morning. No Skip.

The distance is where I could no longer hear him. Or he, me, because no other truck driver set a relay for us. I called out at the mile-markers I passed, and he gave me his (running faster than me eastbound from Armadillo on IH-40).

I was well-enough impressed as almost all pickup trucks with typically bad antenna design & mount & install even with 40W weren’t reaching much more than a mile.

2.5 miles wow! I would think it would work fantastic on the plains. I think where I live on the water it probably helps... I have two friends that are going to help with "The Great Antenna Test of 2025" video. the weather is good enough that hopefully this month I'll make that video... but I was planning on going at 6pm or 7pm.. maybe even later... I will see what they can do. mobile to mobile with good radios.
I'm taking the 11 watt President Grant in the pick up and putting a tram 3500 on the roof of the Chevelle and see what the antenna's can do... I wish I had a Wilson 1000 to test along with my other antenna's.

 

[niceguy71]

but the Styker SAR-10 seems to be the king right now...

GR-45 would be king in that test. FCC radios and assuming tri-mag roof mount.

Lightning Antennas Mobile GR45

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www.lightningantennas.com

But it was designed to go on sedan trunk, not stick up too far over roof. Too tall for anything east of IH87 off an Interstate? I wouldn’t push past 11-12’ given it’s rigid design.

On an all-steel welded unit-body it was awesome. On a Jeep Cherokee roof, almost as much.

“Plow the road!”

View attachment 180816

Predator 10K is the longer-lived substitute, but quite a bit taller.

GR45 performance is what’s desired for low wattage. So the interest in CW27 NMO is well-placed. Make the most of what you’ve got.

View attachment 180817

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I'm pretty sure I will never see a GR-45 out in the real world as long as I live... I've yet to see a Sirio 5000... they are probably on 18 wheelers... I never look at semi trucks... just cars and pick-up in the parking lots.

 

[slowmover]

2.5 miles wow! I would think it would work fantastic on the plains. I think where I live on the water it probably helps... I have two friends that are going to help with "The Great Antenna Test of 2025" video. the weather is good enough that hopefully this month I'll make that video... but I was planning on going at 6pm or 7pm.. maybe even later... I will see what they can do. mobile to mobile with good radios.
I'm taking the 11 watt President Grant in the pick up and putting a tram 3500 on the roof of the Chevelle and see what the antenna's can do... I wish I had a Wilson 1000 to test along with my other antenna's.

On the highway everyone is moving. Even on the flat plains (genuinely rural, xtra-low population, little infrastructure) there’s not a close correlation with “static” tests.

With both vehicles moving one has:

Vehicle moving towards me
Away from me
At an angle to me
At a lower/higher elevation to me
Infrastructure between us
Vehicles passed or passing
Etc.

The two things which really work to increase RX margin (other man):

1). Tallest antenna (7’; 14’ stationary clearance).

2). 50W NRC Export

Had that pickup had this we’d have gone 5-7/miles with ease. More given xtra TLC with install.

Two ideal private vehicles with such are going to be best (an even greater distance). But everyone relies on truckers + their skills in ID of problem.

Distant Early Warning can be farther, but 5-7/miles reliably is the game. RX & TX. Where the crowd can be awakened, good results ensue.

Not easy for a backup radio to get there.
It’s more an RX thing to understand it.

The love for a 108” is tied to this form of reliable distance.

.

 

[slowmover]

On the highway everyone is moving. Even on the flat plains (genuinely rural, xtra-low population, little infrastructure) there’s not a close correlation with “static” tests.

With both vehicles moving one has:

Vehicle moving towards me
Away from me
At an angle to me
At a lower/higher elevation to me
Infrastructure between us
Vehicles passed or passing
Etc.

The two things which really work to increase RX margin (other man):

1). Tallest antenna (7’; 14’ stationary clearance).

2). 50W NRC Export

Had that pickup had this we’d have gone 5-7/miles with ease. More given xtra TLC with install.

Two ideal private vehicles with such are going to be best (an even greater distance). But everyone relies on truckers + their skills in ID of problem.

Distant Early Warning can be farther, but 5-7/miles reliably is the game. RX & TX. Where the crowd can be awakened, good results ensue.

Not easy for a backup radio to get there.
It’s more an RX thing to understand it.

The love for a 108” is tied to this form of reliable distance.

.

Which is “why” NRC & NMO34 look so good.
It’s permanent with a simple layout; it’ll get used.

The difference with this antenna is a performance edge that won’t matter being roof-center as many 7’ won’t; its’ build-quality & longevity.

Not to mention it’s low-key in every instance.

I can’t really see my 7’ Texas across the store parking lot. The NMO34 comparison is that it won’t visually exist in any form.

 

[niceguy71]

Which is “why” NRC & NMO34 look so good.
It’s permanent with a simple layout; it’ll get used.

The difference with this antenna is a performance edge that won’t matter being roof-center as many 7’ won’t; its’ build-quality & longevity.

Not to mention it’s low-key in every instance.

I can’t really see my 7’ Texas across the store parking lot. The NMO34 comparison is that it won’t visually exist in any form.

I agree, I think the NMO 34 and 64" whip is the way to go.... my jeep friend seems to be content with that big ugly Stryker on the roof right now.

 

[slowmover]

I agree, I think the NMO 34 and 64" whip is the way to go.... my jeep friend seems to be content with that big ugly Stryker on the roof right now.

Git’m that green LED TRUCKER and he’ll break his neck to return that Wilson.

 

[niceguy71]

Git’m that green LED TRUCKER and he’ll break his neck to return that Wilson.

View attachment 181381

I think he likes the Stryker on the hood because of that blue light, I know he takes his kids someplace at night and they keep telling him to make it it light up
Also when he's heading home at night talking to me he has repeatedly said it is so cool

 

[slowmover]

I don't like the Lil Wil...
I don't like it so much that I bought a second one just to make sure...

I like the second one even less as it made me feel stupider (that's a word here).

Radio is as relevant as communication is in general.

If you want to talk to people there are several mediums that work well enough.

If you can yell loud enough you don't even need a radio.

If you can yell farther than line of sight you've outperformed the Lil Wil.

I had it on the Tacoma and couldn't hear $#!7.

I had it on the Yukon and couldn't hear $#!7.

I had it on the Frontier and couldn't hear $#!7.

I had it on the F250 and couldn't hear $#!7.

I had it on the Uniden 510xl, I had it on the Cobra 29ltd, and I had it one the Radiodity QT60.

Farthest it's ever gotten out and back is three miles.

Good enough if that's all you want or need.

I believe a Lil Wil is for campground RV radio or at the gravel yard to get on/off the scale. At the meat packer to call in the next group. Literal LOS.

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[slowmover]

I’ve enough gear sitting here with which I don’t wish to part that coming up with uses is the thing.

Slip Seater is one

Fly’n Drive is another.

Campground Radio yet another.

All Mode HF plus a second as 11M E-Z Listening (Base stations for coax swap per antenna choices).

Walkabout (Randy fitted with vest for accessories to go walkabout from vehicle; adaptable to M1967 gear).

— It’s sort of turned into just coming up with a name as I passed, “too much gear”, a good ways back. The important part is the complete gear set to run 12VDC different ways (past power supplies) packaged for easy transport.

Some of it will be turned into swap set (trade part cash & an install for work done on my vehicles, hopefully); maybe something else as a gift set (thank you).

Antenna is the difficult part for transport. (Size/shape given PVC tube length and keeping attached to gear).

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Wouldn’t call it best, just “convenient”.

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[slowmover]

In video he states his working assumption, of, “2-4/miles”. That’s inadequate.

As it’s a family car he should install an NMO34 antenna and cap the mount when not in use. As well, 13V to Batt and have both connectors covered & stowed when not in use.

The radio should also be NRC. Jerry & Randy not yet blessed with such.

But the lapel clip speaker/mic and ability to stow it all away takes the rig to the proper place given that the proper antenna (above) is in place.

KL203 plus coax choke a good idea.

His wife isn't charged with the safety of the family, he is. Her objections about appearance aren’t valid, much less proper. So the correct antenna that’s already low-key is par (height).

Not road-trip ready otherwise.

In the mid-1960s my father had the family station wagon set-up by Motorola to accept and operate the radiotelephone from his company car for our long vacations. The short antenna (relatively) that went on the back of the roof was hardly something to which my mother would have objected given that components all-around usefulness a very long ways from home (and into foreign countries).

CB hadn’t yet taken off. And transceivers fairly big at this stage.



Family of five with luggage and a furry addition:

“What’ll it be, boys, a hoppity-hop RAV4 or a long-legged 428-Ford to run the continent?”.

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[slowmover]

Thunderpole T-X

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NRC
Hide the KL-203.



With NMO34 now a handheld is in the category of “best” given NRC/Wattage and the lapel speaker/mic for a non-SSB radio.

I’d use a one-ear headset with boom mic.

@390WagonMaster one of my favorite video contributors so don’t take my analysis for more than it is.

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[niceguy71]

I have two friends that are going to help with "The Great Antenna Test of 2025" video.

I am getting ready for the Great Antenna test of 2025 ....

I have all magnet mount units... here is what I have
I have a Sirio fighter 5000.... a Stryker SAR-10 .......a Tram 3500......a K40......... I might use my 73 inch tall Taurus Scarlett Warrior Mobile CB Antenna - 3/8 Connector as in some testing / playing with it, it really kicked butt!

I went over to my neighbor to borrow his Lil Wil and he said it broke? I asked how and he said the magnetic and plastic base fell apart...

I look at a few websites and the reviews were only one star... I don't want to buy a one star antenna just for testing one star

on Amazon it was 4.4 stars but reading the reviews most of the people said it was their first CB antenna so how can they judge?


I wanted to test most of the popular 5 foot tall antenna's you can buy in 2025.... and it would be nice to show the difference between them and the 3 foot tall ones...
so I went on line to see what they cost... if it was $35 bucks I might buy one just to try.... but then it would sit in my antenna closet with the other 20 to 30 antenna's I'll never use again...... but the cheapest I could find it was at the Home Depot for $48 bucks..... for $59 bucks I can get a spare Tram 3500, so no way I'm paying $48 bucks for it.

I could buy it at amazon for $57 bucks, try it and video how it works and return it? but that's just not me..... but I really want to be able to have one 3 foot tall antenna in the test.

I'd love to try a Wilson 1000 but it's $159 bucks... that's insane!!!

I know people thinking of buying a CB antenna might watch my YouTube video so I would like to show the difference between the 5 foot tall antenna's and the 3 foot tall antenna's
but people buying anything to do with CB's always buy the absolute cheapest radio's and antenna's they can??? ... so no mater what I show in my video they will buy the Lil wil..... Tram 300 ..... K-30.... Cobra HGA 1500 ..... Hustler IC100

so sadly my "Great Antenna Test of 2025" may not show a Lil Wil.... but who knows maybe it would work as good as the others and I would have to eat my words?

Erik from Far point Farms did a Tram 3500 and a Tram 300 ( clone of the LiL Wil ) CB range test Comparision video ... he got 16 very scratchy miles with the Tram 300 ( I could barely make out what he was saying..... and he got 18 miles on the Tram 3500

so now I'm at a stand still... I messaged the local Facebook CB club to see if I could borrow one but have not had anyone offer one to borrow yet.... so my "Great Antenna Test of 2025" is on hold.

 

[K6GBW]

Finally got the Laird NMO27 on a magnetic mount. The SWR was easy to set. It actually changed depending where on the top of the car I set it. All it took as a few minutes of moving it and viola!