Looking for advice on antennas on a semi truck

[OopsLB]

Hey all.

Ive recently switched to a new semi truck. It's a 23/24 International LT.

I just put a Uniden 880 bearcat. I had 2 different antennas on this truck. Ive got it narrowed down to the 2 3ft antennas on the back of the cab. They seem to be factory antennas. Was looking at 3ft firesticks with a tuneable tip.

But I was advised to come here and ask as well.

Thanks!

 

[slowmover]

Hey all.

Ive recently switched to a new semi truck. It's a 23/24 International LT.

I just put a Uniden 880 bearcat. I had 2 different antennas on this truck. Ive got it narrowed down to the 2 3ft antennas on the back of the cab. They seem to be factory antennas. Was looking at 3ft firesticks with a tuneable tip.

But I was advised to come here and ask as well.

Thanks!

You can do searches of my screen name in this subforum. I’ve been in plenty of big trucks with different set-ups the past 30-years.

Dual antenna setup on back of LT is poor if pulling a van. Important you try to get them to near 14’.

There’s an optional next-to-windshield factory mount and aftermarket version that I’d look into.

Other than that is a spot mirror mount which should be better than back of sleeper, but not as good as windshield corners.

Don’t tilt this more than 15-degrees. It’s better to have an antenna on a shaft to raise and get it away from A-pillar for decent SWR.



HEIGHT is MIGHT.

This was my most recent set-up. If I could hear them, they could hear me.

I was running reefer on Great Plains.
44” shafts under SIRIO 5000 3/8.



Citizen Band is a lot more than it used to be.

Revolutionary new gear and Amateur-standard Mobile Installation = performance that old-timers can’t understand. They don’t know what CB can do.

WAZE or G-Maps, etc, are for the dumb guys.

If you intend to make a living on the road then understand my level of radio rig ($$$) pays for itself several times annually (2700-3300/miles/month), and that I’m able to stay far away from problems. Health & Wealth.

It ain’t plug & play — gotta read & learn — but there’s no substitute.

Antenna design, Install Height, and Location are the most important decisions. The rest is sort of fill in the blank.

.

 

[OopsLB]

You can do searches of my screen name in this subforum. I’ve been in plenty of big trucks with different set-ups the past 30-years.

Dual antenna setup on back of LT is poor if pulling a van. Important you try to get them to near 14’.

There’s an optional next-to-windshield factory mount and aftermarket version that I’d look into.

Other than that is a spot mirror mount which should be better than back of sleeper, but not as good as windshield corners.

Don’t tilt this more than 15-degrees. It’s better to have an antenna on a shaft to raise and get it away from A-pillar for decent SWR.

View attachment 185836

HEIGHT is MIGHT.

This was my most recent set-up. If I could hear them, they could hear me.

I was running reefer on Great Plains.

You can do searches of my screen name in this subforum. I’ve been in plenty of big trucks with different set-ups the past 30-years.

Dual antenna setup on back of LT is poor if pulling a van. Important you try to get them to near 14’.

There’s an optional next-to-windshield factory mount and aftermarket version that I’d look into.

Other than that is a spot mirror mount which should be better than back of sleeper, but not as good as windshield corners.

Don’t tilt this more than 15-degrees. It’s better to have an antenna on a shaft to raise and get it away from A-pillar for decent SWR.

View attachment 185836

HEIGHT is MIGHT.

This was my most recent set-up. If I could hear them, they could hear me.

I was running reefer on Great Plains.
44” shafts under SIRIO 5000 3/8.

View attachment 185837

Citizen Band is a lot more than it used to be.

Revolutionary new gear and Amateur-standard Mobile Installation = performance that old-timers can’t understand. They don’t know what CB can do.

.

View attachment 185837

Citizen Band is a lot more than it used to be.
Revolutionary new gear and Amateur-standard Mobile Installation = performance that old-timers can’t understand.

Hey there! I was told you might be here lol.

So I didn't want to make my post too long but there was a mount on the mirror with a antenna on it. Popped it off and there was no coax there, same with the passenger mirror.

My coax that is running from my Radio is one piece that splits into. I drive a day cab. It still has the 2 on the back window.

How can I know forsure if those are the right antennas? I did the SWR test but only with what came on my CB (I need to buy a separate meter).

I know the 2 are junk factory antennas.

Im rambling now because this is all I've been thinking about for 2 days lol.

Thank you for your help!

 

[slowmover]

And, Welcome to RR!

 

[OopsLB]

And, Welcome to RR!

Also I forgot to mention that im pulling tanker. So height isn't really too bad. I like that thought of that hood mount, I saw that on Amazon earlier today. My biggest worry was running new coax but I think I can accomplish that fairly easily.

 

[slowmover]

DX370 International Mount

driverextreme.com

DRX4661 - Driver Extreme 66" Silver Bullet CB Antenna with Tunable Tip (Black)

DRX4661 - Driver Extreme 66" Silver Bullet CB Antenna with Tunable Tip (Black)

www.wearecb.com

DX518 18' Coax Cable

driverextreme.com

You’ll need to power to BATT (fuse positive only; run Neg to closest ground). Depending on length you may need 10-AWG or heavier (marine-grade tinned, fine-strand copper) assuming an AM/SSB Export radio. (45W or so)

ANYTONE AT5555-N2 (or RadiOddity QT60; same) is best generic choice these days.

DX901 Premium Speaker

driverextreme.com

DRX-901 speaker above left shoulder


Less than a rig like this means 2/3 of what’s possible to hear won’t be heard. Or that you can speak to those the others around you can’t hear.

That antenna above is a VG performer. But it’s not best (need 7’ minimum to 14’ clearance).

 

[slowmover]

U880 is a decent performer. Needs a KL203 to talk. Lacks NRC which the above radio includes.

I’d ditch the 880 at first opportunity. It ain’t 1989 any more, and the roads are far more dangerous than ever.

Antenna & clean power, first. Then speaker.

Then, “best radio design”.

You arrived here among guys pursuing state-of-the-art. There’s no substitute.

Uncle Jack may have been an O/O for 26-years . . but unless he’s running the above equivalent you may as well ask a nine year old their opinion of CB.

.

 

[slowmover]

What type trailer and where do you run?

 

[OopsLB]

I run a 43ft vac tank. And mostly the ohio valley/Midwest area.

 

[K9KLC]

Citizen Band is a lot more than it used to be.

This would be a matter of opinion I suppose.

Revolutionary new gear and Amateur-standard Mobile Installation = performance that old-timers can’t understand. They don’t know what CB can do.

Some of us likely knew what CB could do long before some in this forum were born, let alone old enough to drive. We were doing installations that people today only dream about due to vehicle designs and inherent other issues and achieving distances rarely achieved today on these fancy fancy Chinese radios on a mere barefoot radio due to those installations. Combine that with not near the noise we have floating around today and other issues, ya, we knew full and well what it could do. I remember as recently as the late 70s, and early 80's many people in the county I was a deputy in at the time didn't even have phones and used CB to talk to each other and call for the Sheriff's dept. I don't see that happening on CB in this day and age, yep, it went by the by.

If you and your lively hood depend on CB. that''s great? Do what you need just as we did since the early 70's. Don't ever be so foolish as to believe however we didn't get just as good and frankly often better communication thru CB back then, as people are today.

 

[K9KLC]

Uncle Jack may have been an O/O for 26-years . . but unless he’s running the above equivalent you may as well ask a nine year old their opinion of CB.

So to be clear, any of us that use anything less are just that, less. 51 years on the radio (transmitting and receiving) and probably 60 years or more honing receiving antenna's and learning about propagation accounts for nothing. Well I'll take my 9 year old self on out of here as obviously I can be of no assistance to the driver looking for legitimate help. Carry on! 73.

 

[slowmover]

We’ve previously established you’ve nothing useful to contribute as you’ve not the experience of conditions nor the savvy to understand tech for what matters in 11M mobile.

.

 

[KC5AKB]

Thanks SlowMover !! Long time no chat.

 

[kc2asb]

U880 is a decent performer. Needs a KL203 to talk. Lacks NRC which the above radio includes.

I’d ditch the 880 at first opportunity. It ain’t 1989 any more, and the roads are far more dangerous than ever.

Antenna & clean power, first. Then speaker.

Then, “best radio design”.

You arrived here among guys pursuing state-of-the-art. There’s no substitute.

Uncle Jack may have been an O/O for 26-years . . but unless he’s running the above equivalent you may as well ask a nine year old their opinion of CB.

.

The OP does not have to run out and replace his radio right away, if at all. The antenna is the most important aspect of any good installation, before the microphone, speakers, and the radio itself. The Uniden 880 happens to be a highly-rated and widely used radio. Also, it's well-supported by Uniden, which has been manufacturing CB's, scanners, and other radios for over 40 years.

The OP should also be aware that the radio recommended above, the Anytone AT5555N, is imported and sold as a 10m amateur (ham) radio. As such, it is not ready to go on the CB band out of the box. It will have modified in order to operate on the CB channels.

I didn't want the OP to order the radio and then be rudely surprised when he tried to key up on Channel 19.

 

[slowmover]

The OP does not have to run out and replace his radio right away, if at all. The antenna is the most important aspect of any good installation, before the microphone, speakers, and the radio itself. The Uniden 880 happens to be a highly-rated and widely used radio. Also, it's well-supported by Uniden, which has been manufacturing CB's, scanners, and other radios for over 40 years.

The OP should also be aware that the radio recommended above, the Anytone AT5555N, is imported and sold as a 10m amateur (ham) radio. As such, it is not ready to go on the CB band out of the box. It will have modified in order to operate on the CB channels.

I didn't want the OP to order the radio and then be rudely surprised when he tried to key up on Channel 19.

Precedence of work was given: Radio last.

QT60 / AT-5555N2 has its own thread (among other radios with threads). One can DIY the conversion (it’s designed this way) or purchase it already converted.

U880 is a good performer. For 2012. Not for 2025. Lacks NRC, and lacks adequate power. Screen fade experienced by too many. Needs $100 KL203 abd $225 W-M Spkr to be competitive. To be worth owning long term.

Joe Commuter might be on the radio a couple of hours per day. Truck driver it’s 12-14/hours, 7-days/week at 300-days/year. Not comparable.

An NRC-equipped AM/SSB radio doesn’t have yet more expensive upgrades. It’s one & done. $700 performance circa 2022 from a $300 rig (radio + DRX901 speaker). This changes what’s possible on-road to a degree Uncle Jack and Basement Barney can’t get their heads around.

1). Antenna is the most important decision. Everything rides on that.

2). 12V clean power is the easiest start point.
Routing coax is more work. Install speaker.

3). Radio after above is done. ASAP.

The gear isn’t the point. Learning how to use it to best effect is where the learning curve is involved.

When BLM/Antifa (whatever) has Nashville snarled and closed as you’re westbound on IH-40, how to bushwhack your way up to IH-70 may not be obvious (construction, tornado damage, bridge limits, etc). Going south to IH-20 could be worse.

The other men determined to get the job done at lowest risk with highest efficiency have always had good radio rigs. Now it’s easier for the company driver, as well.

OP, the world will strongly support your giving up before you get started.

.

 

[slowmover]

I run a 43ft vac tank. And mostly the ohio valley/Midwest area.

I used to run pneumatic (plastic) over the 48. When up there it was to load in Chicagoland or Coulumbus instead of on Gulf Coast.

Great area to have an outstanding radio.

Understand that the goal is to overcome the deficiencies of the other mans rig. (Trying to get you past that). Other mens radios are shouldering the burden of communicating with you.

Pneumatic is too tall to expect back-of-sleeper performance. It’s a p:$$ poor design anyenna location.

Even straight cylinder won’t be all that good as reaching forward (ahead) is constrained by tractor. I never got better than 2.5/miles consistently (van) in LT.

It’s a location too close to trailer.
Even flatbed loads get tall.

The windshield mount is the way to go. You aren’t limited by fiberglass whips, it’s that they’re affordable. The one recommended or Skipshooters more flexible performance (buy two at a time). 6’ a good choice unless you’re always under a rack getting loaded.

WALCOTT RADIO across from IOWA 80
is an excellent retailer. Q5 in Madison, WI as a repair shop, and OVERCLOCKED in Gary, IN.
BOBS CB in Strattanville, PA, just over the OH line.

DX-Engineering outside Columbus you start to get ambitious about supply and an interest in Amateur. You’re in the heart of things.


I used quick-disconnects for antennas on one job to stow the pair I was using when loading. But they were long trips. Run 7-days and only load twice.

Tanker was my favorite. Grew too beat up to deal with long hose runs or crawling under and over rail cars.

A great radio system will literally change your view of trucking. You’ll have a way to get out of holes into which others fall and can’t recover that day. A lousy pay period results.

You’ll be able to much more effectively use your HOS. But the U880 won’t get you there.

There’s plenty one can learn by listening during the periods of quiet traffic. For a few more years you’ll have the best ears around.

If the truck is moving, the radio was on at engine-start.

The change-over point with high performance CB is in having become participatory. Speak up. None of this passive chit. That’s a new pair of glasses, then.

Universe gets it — then — that you expect to be part of what’s going on. Do your part (gear and an on-air regular), and that’ll happen.

I’ve had this kind of gear for ten years. I’ve gotten used to being the one man who heard the warning.

.

 

[WSAC829]

Q5 in Madison, WI

Steve is a great tech and very reasonably priced for repair work. I was just there on Wednesday to drop off one of my old favorites (Uniden Pro 640e) that needed more work than i have knowledge and equipment for to repair. He called me yesterday and said it’s fixed. He shipped it out (per my request) and i should have it back by tomorrow. I’m stoked to finally fire that rig up again after holding on to it for 27ish years. (Yes, mine still has a fully working channel display also)

 

[slowmover]

Steve is a great tech and very reasonably priced for repair work. I was just there on Wednesday to drop off one of my old favorites (Uniden Pro 640e) that needed more work than i have knowledge and equipment for to repair. He called me yesterday and said it’s fixed. He shipped it out (per my request) and i should have it back by tomorrow. I’m stoked to finally fire that rig up again after holding on to it for 27ish years. (Yes, mine still has a fully working channel display also)

Very good to see a recent recommendation. The OP should understand that it may be years (a decade) before a radio needs work. But dropping a mic, etc, ain’t uncommon.

There are more shops than the ones I’ve listed. And there are the barely competent techs relying on trust not earned still scattered around.

The OP should understand that most men won’t put even a small part of themselves into understanding how things work. An SWR Meter — better, a NANO-VNA — is the right path. Additionally, a clamp ammeter (harbor freight) is useful as is a typical DVM. How to use tools to judge initial performance and the occasional system check is like a weekly walk-around of the truck to check for frayed air lines, etc, that haven’t yet shown up on gauges or in road performance.

Take the antenna down once in awhile. Clean scum off. Dress threads. Inspect for corrosion. It’s just TLC for the most part.

When best performance matters it really matters.
Seat belts, concealed carry and AM-19 (plus the need to change to Sideband to further a conversation started, but not finished).

Sideband is such that 20-miles — not 5-7/miles — is possible in mobile. My recent record is climbing eastbound on IH-40 into the mountain pass directly out of ABQ and talking with a fellow driver down on the river plain for nearly 26-miles. Both of us with tallest antenna, install details attended, and NRC gear with some juice.

Knowing who’s a trustworthy shop is part of the radio kit bag.

Down my way it’s Rays CB at West Memphis where IH-40 crosses the Mississippi near IH-55, and Clays Radio on the east side of San Antonio on IH-10 with easy access from IH-35. In Denver it’s the shop next to the T/A where IH-70 and IH-25 cross paths. In SoCal it’s Superior CB off IH-5 (not truck friendly parking, IIRC) with access to IH-15, IH-10 and IH-40.

Past these I wouldn’t go out on a limb to recommend. You’ll find hundreds who agree with me.

East Coast and other areas: Buyer beware. Get recommendations from many.

That said the Petro near me (Weatherford, TX) on IH-20 has a man does quick, efficient installs. I provide gear and he takes it from there for a labor-only fair price. (Takes me 1-2/days as I’m slow versus his 1-2/hours on a cophase coax install).

— A small dedicated zip tool bag and a notebook goes a long way. Keep it in a safe place and remember it on a 34 after bad weather, etc. Loose mic cable, loose coax connections are the most common followed by antenna integrity.

If you don’t whack the cab with an obstruction, why did you whack an antenna? (one soon learns to be aware of its presence when backing, etc).

— There’s not much adjustment needed by driver to keep antenna good, and there’s not much needed by radio owner for diagnostic tools to set-up and occasionally verify.

.

 

[pto]

DX370 International Mount

driverextreme.com

DRX4661 - Driver Extreme 66" Silver Bullet CB Antenna with Tunable Tip (Black)

DRX4661 - Driver Extreme 66" Silver Bullet CB Antenna with Tunable Tip (Black)

www.wearecb.com

DX518 18' Coax Cable

driverextreme.com

You’ll need to power to BATT (fuse positive only; run Neg to closest ground). Depending on length you may need 10-AWG or heavier (marine-grade tinned, fine-strand copper) assuming an AM/SSB Export radio. (45W or so)

ANYTONE AT5555-N2 (or RadiOddity QT60; same) is best generic choice these days.

View attachment 185838

DX901 Premium Speaker

driverextreme.com

DRX-901 speaker above left shoulder


Less than a rig like this means 2/3 of what’s possible to hear won’t be heard. Or that you can speak to those the others around you can’t hear.

That antenna above is a VG performer. But it’s not best (need 7’ minimum to 14’ clearance).

"DRX-901 speaker above left shoulder".

Absolutely

 

[slowmover]

"DRX-901 speaker above left shoulder".

Absolutely

Mounted on owner-provided Velcro strip to aid the two mounting screws atop owner-provided larger flat washers for more anti-vibration treatment.

The speaker comes with anti-vibration rubber washers to cushion the connection to the bracket.

The DRX-901 is high fidelity. Shown with its special shielded audio cable further enhanced by a double wind on an M31 snap-over toroid after run thru owner-provided split-loom conduit for yet more shielding and physical protection.

—NRC guarantees you’ll hear every word.

—This speaker will reveal how they’ve said something.

This is the result of having done things right. Correct gear choices & installation. Details. There are no shortcuts.

KØBG.COM

A Web Site For Mobile Amateur Radio Operators

www.k0bg.com

Clueless Uncle Jack and Basement Barney each got a foot on the dash and are still singing along to Milli Vanilli as they speed past where you pulled over on the shoulder to do a rapid re-route* with what is sounding like a major fatality crash just occurred about six miles out ahead.


* Tools are dedicated GPS, and phone map (GPS is mandatory; use GARMIN) — after having surveyed (mandatory) Commercial Carrier Atlas and Truckstop Guide — and are in contact with local/regional drivers about alternates.

A desktop that fits steering wheel is great to have. Pen & paper.

.