CB antenna ground

[chewy012]

Just put a CB in the ranger. Mounted it to the bed tool box, which is bolted to the bed, which is bolted to the frame.... Which is bolted to the battery.

Is that a good enough ground? Should I run a wire straight to frame?

The antenna is only a 22", but it sits above the cab line by 6-8" in the center of the truck and clears the radio antenna by an inch.

Does it need to be raised?

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[AzLizard]

Did you use the antanna mount with the nylon bushing?

https://www.peterbiltparts.com/elec...Sp2ULfaHGjS9WV9T-Qu_I03eSs-lN8NRoCW64QAvD_BwE

 

[chewy012]

No, it came with a gutter mount clip (metal). I replaced that with a stainless L bracket. The base is mostly plastic, but has metal sections for contact with original metal bracket and coax.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[AzLizard]

That nylon washer keeps it from grounding.

 

[chewy012]

That nylon washer keeps it from grounding.

Interesting, I would've expected it to need grounding. I'll through an isolator in there.

Thanks!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[4x4junkie]

The antenna bracket itself must be grounded (bolted directly) to the toolbox, bed, whatever large metal surface it is attached to. The insulator is to keep the center radiating element (antenna itself) from grounding out against the bracket. So you would put the stud piece (w/star washer) through from below the bracket, then on top goes the nylon washer (shoulder facing downward into the hole), the flat steel washer (if one is present) goes next, and then the threaded sleeve that holds it all in place. Finally the antenna screws into the sleeve.

The antenna is only a 22", but it sits above the cab line by 6-8" in the center of the truck and clears the radio antenna by an inch.

Does it need to be raised?

Indeed it needs to be (much) taller, but not by raising it's mount up...
The antenna itself is what needs to be taller (antennas that short IMO are a scam, they work so poorly). The longish 11-meter wavelength at 27 MHz (the radio spectrum CB uses) requires an antenna at least 48" tall in order to work at least somewhat acceptably (60-66" is much better, with a quarter-wave (102" tall) steel whip being best). Unfortunately there aren't many resources that tell you this though (or that at least make clear how important it is), which is partly responsible for the bad rap CB units seem to have gotten lately.

I run a 5.5' (66") Francis CB-26 Hot-Rod antenna w/heavy-duty spring on mine.

http://www.amazon.com/Francis-300-CB26B-Black-5-5-Antenna/dp/B007QXLS82?tag=959media-20
http://www.amazon.com/Firestik-SS-3H-Stainless-Antenna-Spring/dp/B00042LC9M?tag=959media-20

 

[AzLizard]

The antenna bracket itself must be grounded (bolted directly) to the toolbox, bed, whatever large metal surface it is attached to. The insulator is to keep the center radiating element (antenna itself) from grounding out against the bracket. So you would put the stud piece (w/star washer) through from below the bracket, then on top goes the nylon washer (shoulder facing downward into the hole), the flat steel washer (if one is present) goes next, and then the threaded sleeve that holds it all in place. Finally the antenna screws into the sleeve.


Indeed it needs to be (much) taller, but not by raising it's mount up...
The antenna itself is what needs to be taller (antennas that short IMO are a scam, they work so poorly). The longish 11-meter wavelength at 27 MHz (the radio spectrum CB uses) requires an antenna at least 48" tall in order to work at least somewhat acceptably (60-66" is much better, with a quarter-wave (102" tall) steel whip being best). Unfortunately there aren't many resources that tell you this though (or that at least make clear how important it is), which is partly responsible for the bad rap CB units seem to have gotten lately.

I run a 5.5' (66") Francis CB-26 Hot-Rod antenna w/heavy-duty spring on mine.

http://www.amazon.com/Francis-300-CB26B-Black-5-5-Antenna/dp/B007QXLS82?tag=959media-20
http://www.amazon.com/Firestik-SS-3H-Stainless-Antenna-Spring/dp/B00042LC9M?tag=959media-20

What he said. Lol

 

[chewy012]

Awesome, thanks for the all the information. I know the 22" isn't good, but it was free from dad haha.

Looks like I'm in the market for an antenna!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Dangerrangers]

Awesome, thanks for the all the information. I know the 22" isn't good, but it was free from dad haha.

Looks like I'm in the market for an antenna!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Check the truck stops they have a cb section with lots of cool stuff.