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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

citizen band radio

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mr 300

04-27-2007 11:17:33




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Hello , I have a question. Does a CB antenna base have to be grounded for proper operation.Mine is mounted to the cab roof which is fibergalss. I installed a CB in my tractor and cant get the SWR reading down to an exceptable lavel . I have lengthened and shortened the antenna and get the same reading on my SWR meter no matter what I do. Thanks for the help.




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Leland

04-28-2007 13:54:35




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
look for marine cb antenna



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coflyboy

04-27-2007 21:29:12




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
Ebbspeeds got it right. If you run ground wires to the frame, try to run 4 in different directions. This will give you better coverage.



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Walt Davies

04-27-2007 15:32:12




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
Just go to any truck stop and ask for one that is made for fiborglass installation.
Walt



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kurt:ky

04-27-2007 15:00:03




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
Wilson makes one that don't need a good ground.Or do what fixerupper says.



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1936

04-27-2007 14:56:06




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
With or with out tubes?



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ironsales

04-27-2007 14:33:48




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
i just added a ned cable to mine it helps out when bailing hay, most of ours are mounted to metal



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Red Dave

04-27-2007 12:51:36




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
It depends on the antenna you are using. Most antennas need a ground plane under them, but there are some made that do not. If it doesn't say "no ground plane needed" is probably isn't one of those.

Check to make sure that there is no short in the connector or where the base load screws onto the mount. Also make sure that your base load is good. Both of those things can cause high reflected power from an antenna.

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Steve Crum

04-27-2007 12:06:17




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
People still use those?



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IaGary

04-27-2007 14:35:28




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to Steve Crum, 04-27-2007 12:06:17  
I have 8 of them installed in tractors , combine, grain truck and pickups.

Easier to keep everyone coordinated then calling each time.

Sometimes there is a three way conversation going on. Somtimes even 4. Try that on your cell phone.(:~})

Gary



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Steve Crum

04-27-2007 15:44:10




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to IaGary, 04-27-2007 14:35:28  
I can see where these are handy in a big farm operation. I had one in my backhoe that Dad and I communicated with. Wasn't turned on for years after we quit hiring out. Took it out one day with a crowbar just before I went up and got three stitches in my head. The one in my pickup was in it when I bought the truck, I think the antenna wire is still dragging along underneith the truck. Too many trash mouthed people around this area to even bother turning one on

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ebbsspeed

04-27-2007 11:50:03




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
You do need a grounded metal plate, or perpendicular wire array at the base of the antenna, ideally one whose length and width are at least twice the height of the antenna. This creates a "ground plane" which is a proper reflective surface for the radio waves to bounce off of. An ideal CB antenna would be approximately 104" long (if I recall), as this would be the length of 1/4 of the radio wave. Hard to do on a normal vehicle. So instead we use what is called a "loaded" antenna, which is a lot shorter, and has a load coil at the base of the antenna which makes the radio think it is connected to a 104" antenna element. I could go on and on, but I won't. Do a search on "CB antenna basics and theory" and you'll find everything you want to know, and likely more.....

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Keith-OR

04-27-2007 23:36:20




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to ebbsspeed, 04-27-2007 11:50:03  
ebb, CB runs on 11 meters which 1/4 wave length is 108 inches...The original steel whip ant. were 108 in.

Keith



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nickg

04-27-2007 11:33:19




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
They tend to do better if you ground them if there is no metal. I normally run a wire from the mount to a sutable ground



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Bob

04-27-2007 12:01:21




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to nickg, 04-27-2007 11:33:19  
"pete" and "ebb" have it right. The base is ALREADY grounded by the shield in the co-ax.

It's the metal "ground plane" surrounding the antenna base that's important.



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Pete in Cal

04-27-2007 11:25:55




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to mr 300, 04-27-2007 11:17:33  
From my limited experience you need a metal ground plane to effectively send and receive. The fiberglass mounting does not supply this. Mount to a metal area for best results.



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fixerupper

04-27-2007 12:28:52




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 Re: citizen band radio in reply to Pete in Cal, 04-27-2007 11:25:55  
My brother-in-law has specilized in two way radio communication for quite a few years now, and he has a large sheet of metal foil with adhesive on one side, that he puts on the underside of fiberglass or plastic roofs to make a ground plane. Jim



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