Advice for new setup, 379 pete

Galaxy 959 stock a Francis antenna and a cheap piece of cable and call it good.
Being able to hear what's going on around you is always more important than being able to talk great distance.

 

I had a great little radio in 88 Pete. Cobra 25 and co-phased 4.5 Francis antennas. They were on there when we bought it. I would put as long of a Francis or SkipShooter as I could get by with if starting from scratch and just go with one antenna........and don't do the BULL HAULER lean on the antenna!

 

Mount the 5ft firestick on the top mirror arm as far away from the cab as possible. I'd lean it just a little to get it away from the stack, and also so that going down the road it'd blow back about vertical..10-15 degrees max. I'd start with a 9ft piece of good coax, if it will reach, keep in mind if you run it through the door you'll have to replace it periodically most likely. Check your SWR to make sure it isn't too high, then use it and see how it does. If you want to look symmetrical, mount the other antenna on the passenger mirror, you don't have to hook it up.

 

Co-phased does work better without a ground plane. Cheap phasing harness works fine.

 

There ya go. Give it a try and see what happens. What other questions did you have?

https://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RP-18CCP-Antenna-Co-Phase-Connectors/dp/B001JT77BG

 

What is your definition of a "Big Radio " ? Would that be addition of an amp, 10 meter export , the Galaxy 949/959 should be plenty radio.

 

Always did the Bull Hauler lean and never had a problem with my Ranger rci-69.

I'm no radio guru, however, and it was mainly 'truck jewelry'.