Need some opinions on radio/antennas

It's really not as bad as you might think.

I have a 102 whip on my truck, with a barrel spring. As long as I'm going 35 + most of the time the antenna bends back to where it clears anything.

If driving under 30, yes it sometimes hits tree branches and such, but it's not a big deal. It doesn't hurt the antenna.

Unless your truck is really lifted I doubt you'd ever hit a bridge.

If you're just going to go with a Wilson 1000 I'd just get a mag mount and stick it on the roof of the truck. That way you can quickly remove it if you wanted to.

 

My HAMSTICKS ( HAM RADIO FIRE STICKS ) Are 7 foot The firestick I run is 4 foot ... A 102 on Cb is unbeatable.

 

i had a 102 and threw it away

 

Ok, I have to admit I've never seen an actual "hamstick" since you say it's a ham radio antenna. I have seen Firesticks, and I even have one right now that I found gives me a great 1.1:1 SWR on channel 19/20 but sends the SWR's up to 3 when I go onto 1 or 4. Of course on 19 I'm sure I'm not well heard unless I'm a few miles away from someone.

You can pick up weather bands on a 102 whip. I used to do it all the time when I had my PC68LTW.

In fact I think my 102 picked up far off weather channels that no other antenna could have picked up.

But I can understand a 102 is not for just anyone. But it is however the best antenna money can buy.

 

Here are a few suggestions for you too consider.
If you want be heard look on the net at Sparky's CB Shack. You can get a Cobra 29 from him that will walk the dog. His radios are done right. And his customer service is second to none. Call him and Tell him what you want to do and he will set it up for you.

On your antenna.
First you must have a good quality coax. Not the junk sold at most truck stops. A good mini 8 at 18 ft. will do fine. again look on the net.
A Wilson Trucker 2000 5" shaft mounted on the top of your headache rack in the middle is were you want to put it. You can have a $500 dollar radio and a ten dollar coax and antenna set up, and it will sound like a Ten dollar radio. Grounding is a major part of getting low SWR's. Make sure the headache rack is grounded to the frame of the truck. Grounding to the bed is not good enough unless you ground the bed to the frame as well.
Use flat braided copper strap not a wire, the wire can act as an antenna and radiate RF. will drive your SWR's nuts. Sand or grind all the paint off, attach the ground and then paint over it so it does not rust were you removed the paint. Then you will have a set up you can be proud of.

 

Ah,Yes i did.

 

FireSticks without the stinger tips can be tuned like a Frances useing a good sharp hacksaw.
1:3 is the lowest Ive ever gotten one,but down from 2:X its pretty good.

 

One antenna works better than two If you just want to do it for the looks only hook up one with two that close you will never get your swr down

 

On CB I use a 4 foot firestick on the HAM bands I use 7 foot HAMSTICKS ... The HAMSTICK is the same antenna but for the ham bands
IT IS MADE BY ANOTHER COMPANY and several clones are sold by R&L in
Ohio under $20 .

You are right the longer the antenna the better it will work ...