Antenna Placement

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Danger07, Dec 25, 2012.

  1. Dec 25, 2012 #1
    Danger07

    Danger07 Light Load Member

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    Hey all!

    I Just got a Wilson 2000 trucker antenna to put on my pickup truck. I am switching from dual firestick fiberglass whips.. I have seen a lot of talk about how when running a single antenna its proper to put it in the center of the vehicle as far center from the left side to right side of the vehicle... What is the reasoning for this? I am attaching the antenna to my truck bed and have a longer shaft and shorter whip to keep it at the correct length, and to raise the coil above my cab.. Itd be easiest to use the mount thats already been used by my firesticks. i have one on each side of my truck bed. id prefer to use one of those so i dont have to drill new holes in my truck bed and such. I would have no problem doing that once spring hits, but I dont have a garage to do the work in and i am here in MN so id rather not do it right now during the winter..

    So 1 am i losing any kind of performance by not having the antenna mounted in the center of my truck
    and 2 will it wreck anything in my radio or antenna to use my one antenna on either side of my truck bed at least until spring?
     
    Danger07, Dec 25, 2012
    Danger07, Dec 25, 2012
    #1
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  3. Dec 26, 2012 #2
    Voltrucker

    Voltrucker Medium Load Member

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    Well the manual will tell you mount at the center of the vehicle and the tallest point for maximum performance. I've really seen no difference to be honest. And about the antennas in the bed, it won't hurt your radio. As long as your SWR reading is good, you'll be fine.
     
    Voltrucker, Dec 26, 2012
    Voltrucker, Dec 26, 2012
    #2
    Danger07 Thanks this.
  4. Dec 26, 2012 #3
    mike5511

    mike5511 Road Train Member

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    Mounting in the center of the roof is the best for obvious reasons, but to do this you would need a Wilson 1000, not 2000. I 've always found when mounting an antenna on the bed, it was better to mount it about 2ft back towards the rear of vehicle away from the cab. On my 2000 Sonomo, I never could get it to tune mounting the antenna on the bed. Finally just drilled a hole in the middle of the roof and mounted the Wilson 1000.
     
    mike5511, Dec 26, 2012
    mike5511, Dec 26, 2012
    #3
  5. Dec 26, 2012 #4
    MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

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    The signal is very slightly stronger in the direction that has more metal, so if you wanted to talk to people ahead of you, you would want to mount the antenna toward the rear of the truck.

    In practice, though, there isn't much difference where you mount the antenna.
     
    MsJamie, Dec 26, 2012
    MsJamie, Dec 26, 2012
    #4
    Danger07 Thanks this.
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