NMO34 with the W640 (64" whip) vs NMO-27 vs CWB-27

[slowmover]

I will have to measure it in the morning, but I would figure it would be about 62 to 63".

You running OEM tire size?

If so, then TTL height above ground is also useful for giving data to those who want Best Performance.

On my stock ‘04 RWD Dodge the roof center is literally at 72”.

If I used a 63” flex whip antenna means that at 11’ it touch’s and it’ll slide under better than 10’.

— I think most drive-thrus or parking garages are 9-feet plus some (?). What to recommend to others is based on their perception of convenience as necessary.

I don’t use drive-thru or parking garages. Truck OAL with 163” WB means sooner later one will damage a tire in those. (I average 125k per tire set. At $2,000 for a set of five I don’t plan to risk sidewall cuts).

OTOH, 63” atop 84” truck (measured) @ 12’ +/- is still short.

I run around town at 13’ with an 84” antenna.

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[K9KLC]

If so, then TTL height above ground is also useful for giving data to those who want Best Performance.

Which of course will always vary from vehicle to vehicle.

 

[K9KLC]

I found this the other day, almost hit the buy it now. Description says they won’t ship outside the uk.

I thought I found a 68" one the other day here in the states but can't remember where, did you run across that one? (I think it was 68, or close to it anyway). For the life of me I can't remember where I saw that at however.

 

[slowmover]

Which of course will always vary from vehicle to vehicle.

I’ll bet most CB buyers run pickup trucks.

The number for a Ford 4WD F350 hits a broad target segment of those.

4WD F150 is the bullseye.

Getting that crowd away from a 3’ Firestik zip-tied to a headache rack or other half-assed mounts is a big deal, IMO.

Chasing bandwidth will be ongoing. Sirio 5k tunes broader than Wilson 5k (by report), but it’s still 10/11M not 10/11/12. At this point.

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[billdean]

You running OEM tire size?

If so, then TTL height above ground is also useful for giving data to those who want Best Performance.

On my stock ‘04 RWD Dodge the roof center is literally at 6’. 63” flex whip antenna means that 11’ it touch’s and it’ll slide under better than 10’.

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Yes stock OEM Tires. 2024 Ford F-350 Platinum 4x4 HO Diesel. Truck is 6 1/2 to 7' tall. Somewhere close to 12' total height of the antenna. Took it into town tonight, the antenna didn't hit anything. Even went through the drive through at Wendy's. The antenna is very flexible. I talked with a trucker today mobile to mobile at 13 miles away. He was running down the hwy and I was parked at home. It was like he was in the my truck with me. We both had excellent signals! Must have been a trucker that @slowmover sat his radio up for!

 

[slowmover]

Yes stock OEM Tires. 2024 Ford F-350 Platinum HO Diesel. Truck is 6 1/2 to 7' tall. Somewhere close to 12' total height of the antenna. Took it into town tonight, the antenna didn't hit anything. Even went through the drive through at Wendy's. The antenna is very flexible. I talked with a trucker today mobile to mobile at 13 miles away. He was running down the hwy and I was parked at home. It was like he was in the my truck with me. We both had excellent signals! Must have been a trucker that @slowmover sat his radio up for!

I used a 4’ carpenter level and plumb-bob to get roof height on mine.

Yeah, (NRC) AM/SSB export is genuinely impressive assuming DRX-901 speaker.

Midwest is best for CB. Strong truck signal heard and I assume all-metal construction, first.

Thx for report.



— 63 & 84 = 12.25’ ft roof-center NMO as more than a cherry on top.

Would like to know within a few inches TTL height if at all convenient.

Thx

 

[billdean]

I used a 4’ carpenter level and plumb-bob to get roof height on mine.

Yeah, (NRC) AM/SSB export is genuinely impressive assuming DRX-901 speaker.

— 63 & 84 at 12.25’ ft roof-center NMO is more than a cherry on top.

Would like to know within a few inches TTL height if at all convenient.

Thx

I will get all that info tomorrow and post it.. Oh! I have my DRX-901 mounted with that Lido mount now too, but on the right side.

 

[slowmover]

Good !

Look forward to your link-up of the above to your thread. Lose nothing.

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[slowmover]

Which of course will always vary from vehicle to vehicle.

2025 Honda Odyssey at 69.5”.
Dead-on 11’ TTL with 63”.

The vehicle I choose to spotlight for reasons of persuasion:
The Family Conestoga.

SUV, Pickup.
All aboard . . and the dog.


The air-conditioned go-karts don’t mean much.
Bad choice at Interstate speeds.


I “think” most of the wagons at or near 6’ tall or taller.


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[slowmover]

Base Load reveal

The first has a lower power handling rating, but likely will outlast the next three shown. As high power isn’t any longer the game (50-150W does it all) then, . . . .

@mmckenna
NMO



TEXAS 1800


SIRIO 5000



Wilson & Stryker



Tram 3500 a no-show.

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[prcguy]

I’ll bet most CB buyers run pickup trucks.

Naw, they run 1977 Pontiac Trans Am good buddy. And stay away from my back door!

 

[billdean]

Yes stock OEM Tires. 2024 Ford F-350 Platinum 4x4 HO Diesel. Truck is 6 1/2 to 7' tall. Somewhere close to 12' total height of the antenna. Took it into town tonight, the antenna didn't hit anything. Even went through the drive through at Wendy's. The antenna is very flexible. I talked with a trucker today mobile to mobile at 13 miles away. He was running down the hwy and I was parked at home. It was like he was in the my truck with me. We both had excellent signals! Must have been a trucker that @slowmover sat his radio up for!

@slowmover ......The height of the truck is 80". (See above) The height of the antenna off the roof is 61 1/2". Total height from the ground to the tip of the antenna is 141 1/2" or 11.79 feet. Just a couple inches shy of 12'. Gee's, I could go up another 2' if I get the right coil/whip combination! I will have to try putting the antenna coil back on now to see how the SWR reacts.

 

[K9KLC]

@slowmover ......The height of the truck is 80". (See above) The height of the antenna off the roof is 61 1/2". Total height from the ground to the tip of the antenna is 141 1/2" or 11.79 feet. Just a couple inches shy of 12'. Gee's, I could go up another 2' if I get the right coil/whip combination! I will have to try putting the antenna coil back on now to see how the SWR reacts.

Seems like we're getting back to the NMO 34 and LONGER whip if height is what everyone is after. Guess we need to find a USA source for those longer ones. (whips) if you're trying to get those down into the CB band. I've read that the NMO 34s and 64" usually are good for upper 10 meters and perhaps slightly down to the SSB part, I'll have to go and find that article I read.

 

[slowmover]

@slowmover ......The height of the truck is 80". (See above) The height of the antenna off the roof is 61 1/2". Total height from the ground to the tip of the antenna is 141 1/2" or 11.79 feet. Just a couple inches shy of 12'. Gee's, I could go up another 2' if I get the right coil/whip combination! I will have to try putting the antenna coil back on now to see how the SWR reacts.

Thx for providing measurements.

I find my 7’ at 13’ TTL to be manageable.
Ultra-Flex Whip. I still whack minor branches here out of town.

I reserve other antennas (same height) for Interstate-only, as, while “whip-equipped”, they are mid-coil versus base coil. Short whip by comparison thus potentially more prone to damage.

For them I have a BREEDLOVE fold-over to go atop the puck mount. This is not low-key.



12’ sounds nice to me (61.5” whip).
I think that’s a good pairing.
Low-key, well-built and VG performance.

Not discouraging further experimentation.
This IS the general-purpose mark met.

NMO mount with rain cap installed and a jacket tossed over radio? There’ll be a way to disguise speaker also. (Don’t forget this part).

.

 

[slowmover]

Seems like we're getting back to the NMO 34 and LONGER whip if height is what everyone is after. Guess we need to find a USA source for those longer ones. (whips) if you're trying to get those down into the CB band. I've read that the NMO 34s and 64" usually are good for upper 10 meters and perhaps slightly down to the SSB part, I'll have to go and find that article I read.

It’d be great to have the set-up to make a comparison.


6.85’ SIRIO
Would require different mount.

PERFORMER 5000 3/8

Trucker antenna, Omnidirectional, 27 … 30 MHz Tunable, High Power Handling Capability, Systems: CB 27MHz, 10m-HAM

www.sirioantenne.it

Several models of the 5k. This is the Trucker 3/8 graphed.



Foldover P5k mount





These — like mine — get noticed.
There are days one may not wish that.
Means foldover . . maybe removal when parked awhile.

I don’t know if one can paint or vinyl/wrap an antenna to lessen this. I’ve seen the latter done with Texas 1800.

NMO: one has almost to look for it to see it.
Go almost anywhere for a good length of time.

Always ready. I think this part is the key in having a radio: no set-up or take-down.

CWB27 was the model of this thread to copy

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[slowmover]

Post in thread 'Larsen NMO27 reviews? Pictures?'
Larsen NMO27 reviews? Pictures?

Can’t find the pic of the CW27 base coil cutaway showing that it’s more than just coiled wire inside.

This may be the nice exception to going to a 7’ for VG performance.

And it’s wide-banded for those who value such.

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[prcguy]

Post in thread 'Larsen NMO27 reviews? Pictures?'
Larsen NMO27 reviews? Pictures?

Can’t find the pic of the CW27 base coil cutaway showing that it’s more than just coiled wire inside.

This may be the nice exception to going to a 7’ for VG performance.

And it’s wide-banded for those who value such.

.

Post #14 here has it.

 

[billdean]

@slowmover ......The height of the truck is 80". (See above) The height of the antenna off the roof is 61 1/2". Total height from the ground to the tip of the antenna is 141 1/2" or 11.79 feet. Just a couple inches shy of 12'. Gee's, I could go up another 2' if I get the right coil/whip combination! I will have to try putting the antenna coil back on now to see how the SWR reacts.

I had put the coil back on today just to see if it would help in any way. I would have to start cutting the whip down again to bring it into range. I didn't want to do that so I took it off.

One thing I noticed is the NanoVNA shows almost a perfect match on channel 19. (But)!! the SWR as read from my radio's meter is high. The radio says the SWR is 2 to 1 on channel 19, the same on channel 1, but channel 40 is some what different at 2 to 2. I have check this before with the NMO27 and the radio was always real close with less than a 1 to 5 SWR. I re-calibrated the NanoVNA and tried it again with the same results. Anyone have any reasoning as to why the NanoVNA says the antenna match is good but the standing wave on the Washington radio say the SWR is high? I would not normally believe the meter on these radio's but the Washington has always been pretty good. I don't have a stand along SWR Meter.

 

[K9KLC]

I had put the coil back on today just to see if it would help in any way. I would have to start cutting the whip down again to bring it into range. I didn't want to do that so I took it off.

One thing I noticed is the NanoVNA shows almost a perfect match on channel 19. (But)!! the SWR as read from my radio's meter is high. The radio says the SWR is 2 to 1 on channel 19, the same on channel 1, but channel 40 is some what different at 2 to 2. I have check this before with the NMO27 and the radio was always real close with less than a 1 to 5 SWR. I re-calibrated the NanoVNA and tried it again with the same results. Anyone have any reasoning as to why the NanoVNA says the antenna match is good but the standing wave on the Washington radio say the SWR is high? I would not normally believe the meter on these radio's but the Washington has always been pretty good. I don't have a stand along SWR Meter.

Rarely have I put faith in built in radio meters including some multiple thousand dollar HF ham sets. Not to say "never" but rarely. I trust my test equipment. If the Nano VNA, Rig expert and either an AEA or even the Mighty fine Junk one I have shows it to be good, that's good enough for me. Now then, there are multiple reasons a meter in a radio could show higher SWR than the others, one of which is common mode current coming back down the coax. The higher the power the greater the common mode currents. If you feel that may be it, common mode chokes will help but honestly it's best to figure out why that's happening and correct it if possible.

 

[nd5y]

Anyone have any reasoning as to why the NanoVNA says the antenna match is good but the standing wave on the Washington radio say the SWR is high?

People think the SWR indicators built in to some radios are bad because they get different readings when they add a jumper and external SWR meter.

Changing the length of the transmission line can make a difference and where a SWR meter or VNA is located in the transmission line can make a difference.