Anyone have experience with Peterbilt's Back-of-Cab/Back-of-Sleeper CB antenna mount option? I ordered it on a new 389 w/a 48" flattop. I was trying to keep the antenna away from trees and such along residential streets that have posed the problem of broken antennas in the past. Problem is, I can't get a ground plane. It seems the bracket (located at the roof cap seam, centered above the back window) is totally isolated from the sleeper body. In fact, it was painted and I had to sand to bare metal to check for continuity. I can get continuity on the bracket itself, but not to other items such as the frame or stainless grab handles. I've seen others with the same Wilson 2000 trucker-series and the BOC/BOS option, but have never been able to talk to them. Am I supposed to be using a no-ground plane antenna? Peterbilt reps say it should work with a standard antenna. However, how can a standard antenna work with a painted bracket--there would be no ground? The factory must be totally clueless!!! That or I am.
I don't have a special radio...just a factory Cobra 29, but I do want it to work! I've thought about removing the sleeper interior for access and drilling the hucks to remove the factory bracket; replacing it with a fabricated stainless bracket that would be re-hucked with stainless hucks. Before I did that, I wanted to seek some other advice. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Peterbilt BOC/BOS CB Antenna Mount
Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by AgLaw, Feb 13, 2009.
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Did you ever find out any information on this.... im having same issue on 2021 but running no ground plane antenna with decent swrs and coax but doesn't work that well
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Might just be the coax. OEM coax is junk! You could also try grounding the cab/sleeper to the frame with a braided ground strap. Easiest is top to bottom bolts on the cab shocks. Personally I would ditch the Wilson and just go with a Skipshooter fiberglass antenna. Wilson's aren't what they used to be and can be a pain to tune. See if you can find a radio shop near you to look at it and put an analyzer on the antenna and see what's going on.
JDNeverready Thanks this. -
The lack of a counterpoise is likely the main issue
As jdchet pointed out a braided ground strap from the mounting bracket down to the frame might cure it.
Without a 1/4 wave counterpoise no 1/4 wave or 5/8 wave CB antenna is going to work.
The "NGP" CB antennas merely use the coax as a counterpoise which isn't optimal either. -
No long antenna grounds! Not cool! Ground antenna mount to body, ground body to frame! Keep 'em short or you'll open up another can of worms.
I would have just mounted the antenna on the drivers side mirror brackets on a 389 myself. Ground brackets to door, ground door to cab.
JD -
A RF counterpoise is different from a electrical ground and without a proper counterpoise no antenna can work well
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I didn't say anything about electrical ground. What I was referring to was RF ground.
JD -
There are no such thing as a counterpoise in a mobile antenna system.jdchet Thanks this.
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Now let's see who calls @Ridgeline a dummy.
I'm sorry......
JD
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