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Single antenna - Driver or Pass side?

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by burnsey, Jan 28, 2014.

  1. Jan 28, 2014 #1
    burnsey

    burnsey Light Load Member

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    Jan 24, 2014
    seacoast, NH
    0
    Was thinking of installing a single CB antenna to the mirror of my truck at work. I was wondering is it better to install on driver's side or passenger's side? I realize the antenna's ground plane will reflect the signal but was unsure if it reflects "away" from the ground plane or "with" the ground plane (for lack of a better term?) What are your thoughts? Radio will probably be a cobra 25 "out of box" and antenna will be a wilson 2000 calibrated for lowest SWR. Truck is a 2012 Freightliner M2 daycab.
     
    burnsey, Jan 28, 2014
    burnsey, Jan 28, 2014
    #1
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  3. Jan 28, 2014 #2
    Wingnut1

    Wingnut1 Light Load Member

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    Jul 3, 2012
    The Mitten
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    I'd go on the driver side if you run on streets where there are trees. I lost a 5' Firestick after hitting low branches.
     
    Wingnut1, Jan 28, 2014
    Wingnut1, Jan 28, 2014
    #2
    burnsey Thanks this.
  4. Jan 29, 2014 #3
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    The other thing is you will actually hear differently by which side your antenna is on, I agree with the left you have a better pattern for going down the road.
     
    Powder Joints, Jan 29, 2014
    Powder Joints, Jan 29, 2014
    #3
    burnsey Thanks this.
  5. Jan 29, 2014 #4
    Bashnya

    Bashnya Light Load Member

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    Jan 2, 2012
    Kingman, Arizona
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    Definitely the left side. With the trailer acting as a ground plane it will direct the bulk of your signal forward and to the left which is where you want it to go.

    As a previous poster said it will also eliminate problems with low-hanging tree branches.

    It may be overkill but I always use the heavy-duty gumdrop mounts for any antenna longer than 3 feet.
     
    Bashnya, Jan 29, 2014
    Bashnya, Jan 29, 2014
    #4
    burnsey Thanks this.
  7. Jan 29, 2014 #5
    MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

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    Somewhere I'd rather not be...
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    From a performance perspective, the difference is minimal. The trailer is as likely to skew the pattern towards it as away from it.

    The only real reason to pick one side over the other is to keep the antenna away from those antenna-eating trees.
     
    MsJamie, Jan 29, 2014
    MsJamie, Jan 29, 2014
    #5
    Big_m and burnsey Thank this.
  8. Mar 5, 2014 #6
    Razor3

    Razor3 Light Load Member

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    Jan 27, 2014
    North Central, AR
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    My vote goes to the drivers side as well due to it being less likely to be taken off by trees etc.
    Had no idea that there would be a performance difference. Learn something new every time I read on this forum.
     
    Razor3, Mar 5, 2014
    Razor3, Mar 5, 2014
    #6
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