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CB Antenna Advice

8K views 28 replies 21 participants last post by  9Mike2 
#1 ·
Going to install a CB and need some advice on the antenna.

I know I am going with the Firestik so need help with picking which one.

Do I go with the Firestik II or the Firefly?

Do I go with a 3ft or 4ft?

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
#3 ·
I remember reading on here that the Firefly flops around too much. Most Jeepers are using the 3ft or 4ft Firestik. 3ft on the spare tire carrier, 4 ft on the taillight or bumper mount.
 
#8 ·
I remember reading on here that the Firefly flops around too much. Most Jeepers are using the 3ft or 4ft Firestik. 3ft on the spare tire carrier, 4 ft on the taillight or bumper mount.
I put the 3' firestick on my spare tire carrier using the rugged ridge bracket. I ran a #12 ground wire from the bracket (scraped off powder coat at ring lug and antenna mount base) to the seat belt anchor for the rear passenger seat.

I bought a Cobra 29LX radio with built in SWR meter and used a 15ft RG8x coax to get from the tailgate to my rear view mirror via the padded roll bar. The SWR meter on the Cobra 29LX allowed me to tune the antenna and diagnose a connection issue I had with a 90* bnc adapter on the back of the CB.

All pictures here: Index of /images/2015_2_7_cb_install





 
#5 ·
What's your goal? Working the best or surviving trails the best?
Where will you mount it?

This is a nice clean mount but I'd use a very flexible antenna on it like the Wilson Flex; it can bend all the way in half without breaking.

This tailgate mount puts the antenna in a safer position, protected from trail damage a little better. It can be mounted in 4 different ways and you can use a 'Stick or 'Fly, depending on preference. I have this mount and a 4' 'Stick.

Generally, the higher you can get the antenna, the better the system will work. But, otoh, it will hit more tree branches...
You want the tip to be above the roof at least.
 
#7 ·
If you use a spring, chances are the tunable tip is not going to be able to be able to adjust enough to get the SWR down. You'll end up having the cut the antenna shorter manually.
 
#9 ·
I have both the 3 and 4 ft FireFly antenna mounted with the Terraflex stainless steel spare tire mount. Both tune up just fine (SWR <1.5). I do have a ground wire from the tailgate to the tub.
 
#11 ·
I have the 2' firestick-II, and a 4' firefly. For the trails I really like the 2' firestick as it sits about even with the top. Get's out about 2 miles, and tuned to roughly 1.3 on both ends.

The 4' firefly is awesome. Bends like a lightweight fishing pole, almost 180*! Gets out about 6 miles or so, and tuned to roughly 1.2 at both ends.

This is with a Cobra 75WXST and 18' firewire mounted to the tailgate with a ground wire to the tub.
They are both on springs, mid weight for the 2" and heavy weight for the 4'.

I have to use a tennis ball on the 4' firefly to keep it from bouncing against the wiper arm.

Here is a picture of the 2' Firestick mounted up.
Hth,
 
#16 ·
I went with a 3 foot Firestick II on an aluminum spare tire mount(under 20 bucks) and Firestik quick disconnect mount. Works great! I bought my whole setup including Bearcat CB, Quadratec quick mount and swr meter for under $200.00 shipped using different vendors. Install time is was a pain in the butt.
 
#20 ·
I'm sure it's been said. But I'll say it again.

Most of the antenna mounts come painted or powder coated. You need to scrape/grind it off around the bolt heads and the antenna mounting stud. The bolt heads and the mounting stud need to be in contact with bare metal on the mount. If the mounting bolts are going into the metal body or frame, you should then be done and fine. But if the mounting bolts go into a plastic component, you will need to put in a ground strap from the mounting bolt to the the metal body/frame.
 
#21 ·
Is there anyway to tie the sound bar speakers into the CB so you can hear whats going on with the top down? I don't know if that is really needed or not?


My second question is completely unrelated but I don't want to start trouble in a new forum by starting a bitching thread. Is there anyway to have the forum login not prompt for a password every 24 hours. It is driving me crazy, this website prompts for a password more often than my banking website. Ok- Im done.
 
#23 ·
My second question is completely unrelated but I don't want to start trouble in a new forum by starting a bitching thread. Is there anyway to have the forum login not prompt for a password every 24 hours. It is driving me crazy, this website prompts for a password more often than my banking website. Ok- Im done.
The checkbox for remain logged in does work fine. If that's happening, your browser is probably dumping the cookies after X hours. That's a browser setting, not a forum setting.
 
#26 ·
resurrecting an old thread here...

does anyone use a shorter antenna for daily-driver use (and to fit into the garage), and mount a longer antenna for trail use?

how about a rubber cap on the antenna stud so that water/ice doesn't get in?
 
#29 ·
I run the same as Scott, the Cooltech mount for the tire carrier is stainless mount with the Firestick, and my radio is mounted like Scott's too, and I have a speaker in the little net under the air controls....The only thing I did different was mounting the Ant. on the Driver side of the spare tire as I have a HiLift on the Pass side..
 
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