Using fiberglass CB antenna as a base?

[par38lamp]

I have a Wilson 5' FGT Silverload CB antenna that I retired for a Wilson 5000 Mag mount. I would like to now use the fiberlass antenna as a base.

The way I see it, it need a ground plane. 4 radials 102" long. Am I way off base here?

One night, while messing around, I drilled and mounted the antenna onto the top of a 386 steel case (no guts). You know, the huge desktop ones, about 2.5' wide by 1.5 deep. Anyway, I was able to get the antenna to tune to Ch 19 by adding a much longer (like 6") whip to the top. This was in my driveway, with the antenna sitting on the ground, 15' away from my truck.

Was this a little luck, or would this smaller GP work? I now want to sit this antenna in the attic so I can converse with the nearby interstate (I moved).

I realize this is more scanning website (that is why I am here, actually), but thougth I'd ask here. The CB forums I read (Copper, CB radio forum) seem to be full of, well, more opinions than anything else.

I attempted to search, but the term CB is rejected by the search engine.

Thanks!!

 

[Al42]

In order to tune properly the antenna needs a ground side. This can be a 102" wire hanging down from the shield of the cable or a plate with a minimum dimension of 102" that simulates the wire. (That's 102" radius circle, a square with a side of 204", etc.)

Any antenna (including the 1/2" piece of metal inside the antenna jack) will radiate a signal - as long as the transmitter doesn't shut down or burn up, (you should see some of the antenna "designs" of the early years of radio, before anyone had developed antenna theory) - but you'll get the most range, both receiving and transmitting, with a full-length antenna and a full-size ground plane or full half-wave ground element.

 

[fourwd1]

In order to tune properly the antenna needs a ground side. .

He covered that in his original post.


As for the idea, you're on the right track, and it should work but don't expect great results from a 5' radiating element, it's just too inefficient.

But it would make a good learning project.