CB Radio recommendations

[Guest]

Hi Somers,
I know that height is important, however I thought that it was also
important to ensure that the aerial was on a large surface area.
The problem for some people is that the roof gets cluttered so mounting
there is impractical.
Does mounting on the gutter suffer from problems due to the small ground
plane?
When in Morocco I used a hand held CB for a while with the aerial
mounted in the middle of the bonnet - it didn't work that well, but I
suspect that this was due to the equipment rather than the positioning.
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
07971 540 362
Skype: julianvoelcker
Cirencester, United Kingdom
1994 HDJ80, 2.5" OME Lift

 

[Guest]

On 10/18/07, Somers Niall <[Email address removed]> wrote:
Niall,
It's generally correct, but with some reservations. Good location will
reduce the standing wave reflection (SWR) by providing a proper ground
plane for the aerial.
While location is an important factor (it ensures uniform performance
of the aerial in different directions), it is less of an issue on a
moving vehicle than on a stationary installation.
My aerial is fitted on the front bumper. With proper tuning I could
bring SWR around 0.5
Some improvement for awkward locations can be achieved with an EGP:
http://www.4x4cb.com/public/menu.cfm?Category=516
--
Rgds,
Roman (London, UK)
'92 HDJ80 (auto)

 

[Guest]

With VHF installations - which a CB is - the installation is more important
than with any other piece of communication, i.e. the positioning of the
antenna is crucial. With these types of communication the range is anything
between 30 and 1 km, pending the terrain. The higher the antenna the better
the range, and the better the quality of the communication. In an ideal
situation, the antenna's can "see" each other. In theory - but this is the
theory - one needs another antenna for every other frequency, but so, if you
limit your frequency to only 1, it is better to trim the antenna to the
correct size.
It is also very important to pay a particular attention to cable going to
the antenna. This needs to be handled carefully, which means no bending,
twisting or anything. It is the same sort of cabling which goes into your TV
(well, in the old days when we still had antenna's - remember ?).
Particularly on antenna's with a magnetic base - and yes they will remain in
place even on extended corrugation driving - the temptation will always be
to have the cable either entering the vehicle through a door - hence it will
be crushed every time you open and close the door, alternatively through a
small window space - which at times you might want to close.
Good luck with the installation,
Cedric
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]] On
Behalf Of Julian Voelcker
Sent: jeudi 18 octobre 2007 8:00
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: Re: [ELCO] CB Radio recommendations
Hi Somers,
I know that height is important, however I thought that it was also
important to ensure that the aerial was on a large surface area.
The problem for some people is that the roof gets cluttered so mounting
there is impractical.
Does mounting on the gutter suffer from problems due to the small ground
plane?
When in Morocco I used a hand held CB for a while with the aerial
mounted in the middle of the bonnet - it didn't work that well, but I
suspect that this was due to the equipment rather than the positioning.
--
Regards,
Julian Voelcker
07971 540 362
Skype: julianvoelcker
Cirencester, United Kingdom
1994 HDJ80, 2.5" OME Lift

 

[Guest]

Hi Guys,
On my CB installation I mounted the antenna immediately above the sunroof
panel inside the car and fed the cable across the roof behind the headling
then down the passenger side screen pillar into the area behind the glove
box and plugged into a splitter that allows the car radio to be run from the
CB aerial (the radio reception is not perfect, but reasonable) my wing
aerial is knackered. If you use this method be careful where you drill the
hole in the roof, I made the mistake of drilling from the outside, and of
course when I came to tighten nut from the inside I couldn't and had to
drill another hole and patch up the first one!
I have a Midland 98 CB radio 80 channel (40 UK + 40 EU)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Midland-98-CB-Radio-NEW-12-month
guarantee_W0QQitemZ250176031229QQihZ015QQcategoryZ40055QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
, mounted permanently in the centre box between the seats easily reachable
for any adjustments needed. Because of the low height of my garage roof I
fitted the aerial on a 3/8 angle adaptor
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-8-Ham-CB-An...ryZ48692QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ,
so that it can be folded down to get in the garage or to clear any
obstructions. Cab be accessed through the sunroof from inside the vehicle.
TTFN
Chas
London UK '94 1HDT 80 Auto, 109000 miles, Safari snorkel, Custom Winch
bumper + winch, and Rear bumper with spare wheel carrier
+ Ray Dadd Rocksliders
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cedric Vandermeulen (ECHO)" <[Email address removed]>
To: <[Email address removed]>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 9:19 AM
Subject: RE: [ELCO] CB Radio recommendations
the temptation will always be to have the cable either entering the vehicle
through a door - hence it will be crushed every time you open and close the
door, alternatively through a small window space - which at times you might
want to close.
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[Guest]

Julian
RE> I know that height is important, however I thought that it was also
important to ensure that the aerial was on a large surface area.
Not aware of that issue. Three years in Australia and most vehicles I
saw had CB aeriels mounted on the Roo bar or in the case of some trucks
- on the wing mirror.
Re> The problem for some people is that the roof gets cluttered so
mounting there is impractical.
Agreed. But there's normally a bit of space between the front windscreen
and the sunroof. Unless there's an overhang on the rack...
Re> Doees mounting on the gutter suffer from problems due to the small
ground plane?
Not so sure about this whole ground plane thing...... Could be a case of
getting 2 mounting brackets and testing them on Sailsbury plains.....

Niall
PS - be sure and let us know what unit you go for - I'm now in the
market for one - cronic case of monkey see, monkey want...

 

[Guest]

Roman
Re> Some improvement for awkward locations can be achieved with an EGP:
Looks like a good device - if it works.
I've bought so called boosters for TV ariels in the past and the've been
useless bits of kit.
Suppose it all helps and if in the budget then why the hell not
Cheers
Niall

 

[Guest]

Hello the guys well finally some thing I can reely help you guys and
Julien with because I am Ham operator.
Yes the earth plane is very important.
Yes the center of roof is franchely best space to mount.
No the bumper or side gutter is not so good, you're radiation pattern
will be distorted. And your receiving strongth too!
Yes it is good to trim the mast to the one channel you used mostly.
A good radio with a cheap antenne is worst over all then a cheap radio
with a good antenne. Spend some more on your antenne!
K40 and Antenna Specialists is the leaders for me to think of. THey
have roof antennes that you can screw off in 15 second! Then little
rubber cap screws on and nobody see it up in your roof's.
And yes a cheap little 4watt portable will get out great IF you have a
good antenne in the middle of your roof.
Magnet mounts do not fall over unlest you hit some tree branch like
that, and they not have as good earth plane as roof mount. They
finally scratch paint under them.
Here I find for you guys some more to reading until your boss's come around!
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question490.htm

 

[Guest]

On 10/18/07, Benoit Bernard <[Email address removed]> wrote:
Hello Benoit,
What type of mobile radio installation would you recommend for long
range comms, say over a distance of 20 - 25 km in open spaces?
--
Rgds,
Roman (London, UK)
'92 HDJ80 (auto)

 

[Guest]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Benoit Bernard" <[Email address removed]>
To: <[Email address removed]>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [ELCO] CB Radio recommendations
Thanks Benoit, you're a diamond (good guy) that's a very interesting read.
Chas
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[Guest]

Well if you say open spaces than I think flat land, yes? If you are
over 27Mhz then you do not get much ionosphere mirrors making noise,
and if there is not thunder storms in 500 kms around you, and flat
land it is, then only 4watt will go that far IF good antenne on the
middle roof.
I use 144Mhz (2metre) most times on FM with my friends. But you need
ham permit to transmit there. I have 20watt transceiver and 100watt
aplifyier but it is not turned on mostly. But if mountains are there
sometimes that even not enough and you must look up a public repeater
to communicate. Then you have to split your TX and RX and it get hard
for not hams guys.
Now under 27Mhz you start have ionosphere noise called SKIP by hams.
That can blast your signal and ears. So stay over 28Mhz.
Even little cheap 2w talky-walkys on 440Mhz can go 25km if no
obstructions. Once I go 120km on 0,5watt 70cm talky-walky!
So you really want to know what is best? Get some qualit=E9 400mhz FM
talky-walky, put a good antenne in middle of roof, put the good
qualit=E9 wire down to by your seats. You must have very good antenne
wire for 400Mhz or you loss too much RF. But that antenne is much
smaller then CB antenne, that is good news. Then you plug in connector
to your talkywalky and it drives you good K40 antenne on roof.
Well the border check is coming? Put talky-walky in yours pockets!
Reach up and un screwup the antenne. No probleme!
I do all this with my Yaesu portable too. It is so small in the pocket.

 

[Guest]

Hello Benoit - useful info there.
But...
Re> So you really want to know what is best? Get some qualit=E9 400mhz FM talky-walky, put a good antenne in middle of roof, put the good qualit=E9 wire down to by your seats. You must have very good antenne wire for 400Mhz or you loss too much RF. But that antenne is much smaller then CB antenne, that is good news. Then you plug in connector to your talkywalky and it drives you good K40 antenne on roof.
OK this ET phone home spec.
1. Is 400mhz FM talky-walky different to VHF/CB? Can they talk to each other?
2. Will the friend I want to talk to who is miles away have to have a similar setup?
What about if you just want something for inter vehicle communication for overlanding. A set that will be compatible with other people you meet on the road and will mabey be traveling in convoy with for a while.
Is ET phone home spec good for this also? - or is it best to go back to to basic din CB with a good Antenna?
Merci beaucoup
Niall

 

[Guest]

You can get an adjustable joint to put on the aerial mount to slope it
backwards if you are using it in trees, they work well, or mine does.
If you mount the aerial on the bull bar you lose part of the signal.
When in Iceland, going down to Dettifoss, I could not communicate with
number two in the convoy. I could communicate with the leader though,
and he could talk to number two. The aerial on number two was on the
bull bar.
As I said, talk to Russell.
Regards,
Clive Marks
Home: +44 1293 514600
Mobile: +44 7821 491897
Crawley, West Sussex, UK.

 

[Guest]

See my previous mail for eBay Item number: 270175731416, using a 'Springer'
aerial eBay Item number: 130162634794 I have one mounted on the front of the
roof, this gives me a range of at least a mile, possibly more.
TTFN
Chas
London UK '94 1HDT 80 Auto, 109000 miles, Safari snorkel, Custom Winch
bumper + winch, and Rear bumper with spare wheel carrier
+ Ray Dadd Rocksliders
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clive Marks" <[Email address removed]>
To: <[Email address removed]>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 5:24 PM
Subject: Re: [ELCO] CB Radio recommendations
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[Guest]

Oh hello then Niall your question's are good.
Yes, theay are different. CB's are 27Mhz so they will not talkd to
each 400Mhz radio not at all.
Yes abolutely he will have to have that same setup. And set his radio
to that same frequence! It is like a phone number, it must be exact.
If you meet some other guys out there and want to talk at them well
they have to have those same radios. But if they using CB's they
probely can't hear you anyway when the sun is there because of so much
Skip from ionosphere.

 

[Guest]

Benoit
Re CB queries....
Thanks for clarifying that.....
Niall