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What is considered to be the BEST Base Station and Mobile CB Radio Antennas?
- Thread starter K4EET
- Start date
- Status
+1 on the Larsen NMO. Ran the Larsen base loaded antennas for 20 + years. Rugged and great performance.
prcguy
Member
I would say the Larsen NMO27 is very good and for most people willing to drill a hole its hard to beat. But its not the very best of the best. I don't have a Larsen NMO27 handy but I would like to put it up against the Laird CW27 NMO mount with 67" whip, which is 15" longer than the Larsen.
The Laird is rated for 200 watts and the Larsen at 150 watts but the Laird will cover all of CB and all of 10M amateur with no tuning. So if they are equal in performance the Laird would be better for many who run outside the CB band or who legitimately use CB and 10m amateur. I suspect the Laird will work slightly better than the Larson and that would make it the King of NMO mount CB antennas.
The Laird is rated for 200 watts and the Larsen at 150 watts but the Laird will cover all of CB and all of 10M amateur with no tuning. So if they are equal in performance the Laird would be better for many who run outside the CB band or who legitimately use CB and 10m amateur. I suspect the Laird will work slightly better than the Larson and that would make it the King of NMO mount CB antennas.
@mmckenna always makes great comments that are spot on! I see others agree with the selection.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I'd concur. If I could get my hands on a Laird, I'd love to give it a try. But for the few times I use CB, it's not worth me buying a new antenna.
What I do know is that the Larsen has served me well for a long time, and I haven't felt the need to change.
I know Laird makes good stuff, I have a few of their antennas. I know both sell replacement parts and are well proven in the industry. I'd be happy with either one.
When compared to the consumer brands, I'm happy with the commercial antennas. I know enough to understand the difference between consumer hype/sales gimmicks and the science behind how they actually work. After cranking through many consumer CB antennas back in the 80's/90's, I'm not willing to take a chance on one again.
If someone wants to send me a Laird for free, I'd be happy to give it a try...
What I do know is that the Larsen has served me well for a long time, and I haven't felt the need to change.
I know Laird makes good stuff, I have a few of their antennas. I know both sell replacement parts and are well proven in the industry. I'd be happy with either one.
When compared to the consumer brands, I'm happy with the commercial antennas. I know enough to understand the difference between consumer hype/sales gimmicks and the science behind how they actually work. After cranking through many consumer CB antennas back in the 80's/90's, I'm not willing to take a chance on one again.
If someone wants to send me a Laird for free, I'd be happy to give it a try...
prcguy
Member
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I'd have to install the CB in my truck. But thanks for the offer.
I have been up and down Interstate 5 a lot recently, I've been thinking about doing it. Last time I did, though, I was disappointed. Maybe if my interests change.
Didn’t the Laird’s have a plastic body on their load for a several years? If memory serves me (and often it doesn’t) in my former lifer working at a a two radio shop we quit using Laird because we had issues with the out shell/casing splitting on Laird’s. Never had the issues with Larsen...or Antenna Specialists either. Again...I may be have a confused moment.
Screaming Eagle and Moonraker coupled with Browning CB.
jhooten
Member
It was amazing how far a minor lightning hit could scatter fiberglass shards when one was struck.
prcguy
Member
The M2 11M7 has more gain than the biggest Moonraker or the Maco super laser 500, etc, with its 46+ ft boom. Browning is not on the best of the best list of CBs in performance and never will be.
emphasis on minor, right?
jhooten
Member
emphasis on minor, right?
It didn’t melt the tower so it couldn’t have been a very strong hit.
FPR1981
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2021
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- 597
If cost is a consideration, both my Tram 300 and my Tram 3500 are excellent performers. They perform at least as well as their more expensive Wilson counterparts.
The new Stryker magnet Mount is getting a lot of praise. I cannot remember the model off hand.
And for base station, I have the Sirio aluminum 5/8 wave ground plane. I routinely talk over 30 miles or more. Every time I open up on a crowd on channel 19, people break in wanting to know who the guy with the "big radio" is (not realizing that, at times, I could be running a handheld with an antenna adapter, or a compact mobile, lol)
The new Stryker magnet Mount is getting a lot of praise. I cannot remember the model off hand.
And for base station, I have the Sirio aluminum 5/8 wave ground plane. I routinely talk over 30 miles or more. Every time I open up on a crowd on channel 19, people break in wanting to know who the guy with the "big radio" is (not realizing that, at times, I could be running a handheld with an antenna adapter, or a compact mobile, lol)
FiveFilter
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2016
- Messages
- 308
The Stryker magnet mount antennas do an excellent job and come highly recommended. The ones I've seen are about 63 inches tall, the same as the Wilson 1000 and 5000, and the performance should be comparable; ie, excellent.
However, a Sirio 5000 is king of the factory-supplied magnet mounts, being 79 inches tall. It should give the 108-inch no-coil-needed stinger classics a run for the money, since the Sirio can be placed in the middle of the roof if desired without the risk of tearing out of or crinkling some of today's thin-metal vehicles.
Of course, a tri-magnet setup can be used with the 108-inch giants on the roof for the ultimate in mobile antenna performance, but that must be a sight to see, especially when they strike the traffic lights at speed
However, a Sirio 5000 is king of the factory-supplied magnet mounts, being 79 inches tall. It should give the 108-inch no-coil-needed stinger classics a run for the money, since the Sirio can be placed in the middle of the roof if desired without the risk of tearing out of or crinkling some of today's thin-metal vehicles.
Of course, a tri-magnet setup can be used with the 108-inch giants on the roof for the ultimate in mobile antenna performance, but that must be a sight to see, especially when they strike the traffic lights at speed
I love my Avanti Mobile 6ft Moonraker and also have had great luck with the Wilson 1000. I still have an AS antenna like you use to see on the police cars the "Big Momma" in the shed it worked good also out of the 3 I say the 6ft Moonraker done the best.
Was the Laird CW27 replaced ? I see they still list a C27S but only 49 inch whip. That CW27 whip at 67" is 5 inches longer than the Long Wilson whip.
Was the Laird CW27 replaced ? I see they still list a C27S but only 49 inch whip. That CW27 whip at 67" is 5 inches longer than the Long Wilson whip.
FPR1981
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2021
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- 597
For the money, you simply cannot beat the Tram 300 and Tram 3500.
They go head to head with Wilson's Little Wil and 1,000/5,000. And for $34 and $39, respectively. I own both. My teenage sons now have my 300. It's on their Blazer. With my Realistic handheld hooked up to it, they drive from my house in the city, to their grandma's house 5.5 miles away, and down in a valley. They talk clearly the entire ride there, and there is only minimal static once they reach the valley.
Eric from Fairpoint Farms, on YouTube, has done a review on both. He had the 300 on his car for something like seven years, with nothing that went wrong with it except to upgrade.
They go head to head with Wilson's Little Wil and 1,000/5,000. And for $34 and $39, respectively. I own both. My teenage sons now have my 300. It's on their Blazer. With my Realistic handheld hooked up to it, they drive from my house in the city, to their grandma's house 5.5 miles away, and down in a valley. They talk clearly the entire ride there, and there is only minimal static once they reach the valley.
Eric from Fairpoint Farms, on YouTube, has done a review on both. He had the 300 on his car for something like seven years, with nothing that went wrong with it except to upgrade.
prcguy
Member
Not sure if its discontinued but you want the 'W" in the model number because that designates the wide band version. I suspect the C27 is similar to a Larsen where you tune it to a specific frequency and the W you don't.
Looks like they dropped the CW27. Laird has these listed CB27 26-28mhz 49 inch whip
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