CB base attenna question

[ShadowWolf]

Would it work to use a 102" whip attached to say a 55 gallon barrel lid and mount that on the edge of a house roof? (course it will be grounded to protect against lightning strike).

I was given a Cobra 2000 GTL with AM/SSB and would like to use it, but there are no retail shops close by who sell base antenna's.

Thanks.

[unclesam]

I wouldnt think the drum lid would be big enough to act as a ground plane. Maybe if you used an iron pipe as a mast it would be enough metal.But before you use it you definitely need to get an swr meter and check it so you dont inadvertently fry your radio.And you can always order an antenna off of the net. Try this place.

http://www.aesham.com/

[12vman]

Would it *work to use a 102" whip attached to say a 55 gallon barrel lid and mount that on the edge of a house roof? (course it will be grounded to protect against lightning strike).

I was given a Cobra 2000 GTL with AM/SSB and would like to use it, but there are no retail shops close by who sell base antenna's.

Thanks.

Is the area where you are going to mount the whip at least 8' off of the ground? If so, You can use about anything to mount it to the house with and add a "Counterpoise" wire from the base of the whip towards the ground..

The whip is basically a 1/4 wave element at cb frequencies. By adding a length of wire about the same length, (9 feet) connected to the shield of the coax, (Ground) and allowing it to hang straight down from the bottom of the whip, Will give you basically a 1/2 wave antenna. (A center fed dipole)

If you have aluminum siding on your house, you will have issues. The counterpoise wire becomes an active part of the antenna and the siding will cause reflected power (v.s.w.r.) back to the radio.. Not good..

If you have a tree nearby, I can explain how to build a sweet antenna. Easy to build and works well.

[longshot]

ok so if i have a CB radio i just cant put an antenna on the end of my roof and use it for local communications?


ls

[ShadowWolf]

It HAS to have a ground..lol I fried my radio (or my meter is fried)

[Eagle]

http://www.broron.com/files/envibro.htm

Hmmm...and a tree that IS an antenna, 12V et al.

http://www.broron.com/images/envibro_001.jpg
http://www.broron.com/images/envibro_002.jpg
http://www.broron.com/images/envibro_003.jpg

[ShadowWolf]

Now that's the ultimate incognito Antenna

[longshot]

so if i just put an 8 or 9 foot antenna and a ground wire to the bottom of the set i should be OK? i have vinyl siding so aluminum wouldn't be a problem.

ls

[ShadowWolf]

I think you would be better off to mount the antenna on a metal pole in the ground. Or try one of these.




http://home.att.net/~wizardoz/cbmw/antenna_fabri.html#groundp

[12vman]

http://home.att.net/~wizardoz/cbmw/antenna_fabri.html#groundp

The coax cable antenna works well. That's why I asked about the tree..

You can take a small brick or stone and tie some nylon string to it and throw it over a high branch of a tree and winch the antenna up to the branch. Just use something heavy enough that will fall through the surrounding branches.. 8)

[zebraman]

Hey Guys;Those Tree Antenna's are all over LA.They have Palm tree's and other styles of Pines as well.They cost 70,000.00 each.-

[meancoyote]

they are making cell towers look like trees here too. i wish they did that to the 100' power poles they are putting in town.

[wy0mn]

Just run a wire from the antenna mount to your home service ground rod. Problem solved. It will act as an effective counterpoise.
If your running LEGAL CB wattages don't fret the swr, it won't be high & you won't fry the rig.
If your running an amp I hope you do fry it.
:)
Too many licensed radio ops get the flak from lousy illegal CB use.