how about some cb for dummies tips

There was an idea that the 102 whip was the best but a lot of testing was done at a couple companies and they found that even though there was a good baseline start, there are other antennas that will work. The idea still sticks around and I think a good firestick or Wilson will be just as good.

The second question, not really if it is setup right.

 

I've seen 102"ers on a truck, but it isn't really practical. Get a 5 - 6 ft fiberglass, a Wilson 2000, Predator or Monkey Made and you will be just as happy.

 

Monkey made or predator are top notch 102s are the best but not practical for a truck I use a monkeymade.

 

The reason 102 whips are said to be the best is because when it comes to any type of antenna, (1.) you need the right length for the frequency you're using, (2.) you want as much antenna in the air as possible, and (3.) you want the antenna as high as possible.

CB radio wavelengths are 36 ft long. A quarter of that is 9 ft or 108 inches. A 102 whip with the 6" spring = 108.

All CB antennas are technically 9 ft long, however when it comes to the 3 and 4 ft whips, they "coil" that 108 ft of wire down to 3-4 ft. While this keeps the radios transmitter happy (usually), it hinders your range because you don't have as much antenna exposed to the air in terms of height.

The Wilson 2k I recommend for trucks, while not the best antenna, is the best you can get for height IMO, because roughly 5 ft of wire are exposed, the other 4 are coiled up in the load coil. That clearly beats the pants off of a Francis or a Firestick where the whole wire is coiled around a glass whip and sealed up with vinyl. If at all possible, you don't want your antenna to be obscured by the cab of the truck, and you also want to have metal under the antenna (for a good ground plane) as well as it's best not to have metal besides the antenna.

The only time I've seen someone put a 102 on a big truck, I believe they put it at the bottom of the sleeper and let it run up the side. I don't know how well he got out. Probably better than a 5 footer on the mirror mount. Big thing is if the sleeper is metal, you may encounter some high SWR due to reflection. if it's fiberglass, you might get away with it.

If you can get a CB antenna on the roof of the cab and there's metal all around, it will allow you to transmit further as opposed to on the mirror and certainly better than on the side of the sleeper. So, yes having the antenna above the bull wagon will most certainly help you, no doubt about it.

I posted on how to tune a CB antenna here: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...um/223913-no-one-can-hear-me.html#post3508630 It's pretty easy to do. IMO the Wilson line of steel whip antennas or the glass whips with the tunable tips are the best. With tuning a CB antenna, basically all you are doing is ensuring it's the correct length by moving the stinger up or down to get the SWR meter as low as you can get it (provided it's calibrated correctly).

I think I may have to release a DVD guide to how CB's and their antennas work, with checking SWR and such, and sell it at truck stops nationwide....since I am not able to open my own CB shop along I-40 somewhere to assist those in need with their CB gear.

 

II pull a walking floor with a 379 I use a wilson 2000 with a connex 3300hp. as far as cal goes u want that to just touch the end of the red on meter. Then set the meter to swr u should get it down to 1,1.5 or lower.

 

Good info and you are correct....technically, but in my experience, the practical difference in a Wilson 2000 and a 5x5 Francis, or other 5ft+ glass antenna is negligible. I own both kinds of antennas and I can't tell the difference in performance in normal use. Performance does drop a little when I go down a foot to a 4.5ft Francis I believe. (no scientific tests done to affirm any of my statements, just my observations from many years of use.)