tilted antennas

[jash369]

Just curious did not find this anywhere.

I see antennas on trucks tilted / leaning forward. Does this help performance?

Thanks.....................J

[thetez]

nope it does not. not for your standard am channel 19 cb radio talking. some people say its better to DX with tilted antennas than just a vertical antenna. most trucks just do it to meet height requirements.

[gerjamr]

I got a better swr reading when i tilted my antenna foward. i didn't want to cut the whip in case a switched trucks so i tilted it and the swr went down. I just kept tilting it till the swr was just right.

[thetez]

i get how it can help the swr but i cant see that helping your recieving, not the way am waves work... their are plenty of other ways to tune the antenna.

[jash369]

Originally Posted by gerjamr

I got a better swr reading when i tilted my antenna foward. i didn't want to cut the whip in case a switched trucks so i tilted it and the swr went down. I just kept tilting it till the swr was just right.

Interesting, gear/ will look into that and see if that has any affect on mine when I install next week..............

[2xR]

The radio tech I try to use stated that if you are dealing with a truck with the exhaust stacks directly behind the doors, such as what you might find on a Peterbilt 379, it is best to get the antenna as far away from the stacks as possible. Since, in normal situations, the antennas are mounted to the mirror frames the only way to increase the distance is to tilt them away from the stacks. Sounds logical, but, I donno.

The stacks on my 'Shaker are at the rear of the cab, and, are short to allow me to access chemical loading racks. I still tilt my aftermarket antenna because I don't want to get it tangled in a rack, plus, it just plain looks "kewel".

One other thought comes to mind. If you mount the antenna straight up, then proceed to travel down the interstate at 60+ mph you are effectively tilting it toward the rear due to the air resistance pushing against the mast. If you're tilted forward, the air flow will push the mast upright to a more straight position.

2xR, doubting any of this matters with a 4 watt radio.

[jash369]

Originally Posted by 2xR

]plus, it just plain looks "kewel".

One other thought comes to mind. If you mount the antenna straight up, then proceed to travel down the interstate at 60+ mph you are effectively tilting it toward the rear due to the air resistance pushing against the mast. If you're tilted forward, the air flow will push the mast upright to a more straight position.

2xR, doubting any of this matters with a 4 watt radio.

All I can say is KEWEL..................... too..............J

[SILVER EAGLE]

I tilt mine just so it dont get bent and broke from tree limbs and items hanging over the road i have already broken 1 cause of that then i went to wilson 2000 which works better anyway so iut was a good way to get me to bite the bullit and just do it

[Smurf]

Originally Posted by SILVER EAGLE

I tilt mine just so it dont get bent and broke from tree limbs and items hanging over the road i have already broken 1 cause of that then i went to wilson 2000 which works better anyway so iut was a good way to get me to bite the bullit and just do it

Thats it right there. I run a monkey made and every weekend I go home the neighbor has a tree limb hanging out over the road that catches my antenna. I've broke 2 mounts already so I tilted it. Monkey mades are tough. Hasn't done any damage to it but spilt the brass mount right into. Has had no effect on SWR's.

[Steve & Lo]

Radio waves are like dropping a rock into the middle of a pool of water. They travel the same way.....unless you have a directional antenna. But most mobile applications us omni-directional antennas. By leaning these antennas forward it decreases the angle that the waves strike the antenna.....lowering performance....not SWR's. While SWR's have a major role in setting up your antenna......If you have it leaned over like you see some Bull Haulers run them....you are degrading the antenna's ability to receive and transmit properly...... Because you transmit the same as you receive....if your anenna is pointing forward most of your signal is going into the ground.....and into space....it'll still work....but not as efficiently. Kewl....is cool....but being able to talk for 28 miles......is KEWL.....