CB possible without external antenna? Or is somekind of concealed antenna available?

[Stealth Stalker]

So what your saying is that a CB antenna is completely different than a regular car antenna?

FAQ much?

[The Chariot]

A few years ago you could buy a duplexer that would divide the CB from the AM/FM while using the existing AM/FM antenna. In the 80s Caddy even used this technology as stock factory option in the vehicle.

Check around they may still be out there (duplexers)

Of the 100% it takes to make a radio work good 90% of it is antenna. In the CB world the bigger the anttena the better it works.

I bought one for my Ford, new old stock, because it was cheap ($15) and I figured I'd give it a shot. Well, the performance sucked. The good part is the mounting it came with is good for mounting a stealth CB antenna in the stock location so the $15 wasn't a waste. I will say this much for it: it looked 100% stock except it was about 4 inches longer than the original antenna. There's also a splitter like this using an electric auto-raise/lower antenna that the Mazda Miata guys have but the performance also sucks. They use it primarily for when they are running in close groups.

[bkrell]

I feel your pain on the antennas. I searched in vain for a smallish antenna for my car and bought a few crappy ones before settling on a Little Wil painted flat black. Even the it wasn't great when I had it trunk mounted. I thought "Who cares?" until one day I pulled up next to one of my wife's friends in her E Class Merc. As soon as I got home I pulled the CB. It was just too embarrassing for me.

I later traded my SAAB on my wife's minivan and moved back to driving my CR-V for a while. I was almost to the point of getting the CB back out (especially after being I/O'd by Texas DPS) when my wife urged me to buy something more fuel efficient for my 100+ mile commute. I picked up a Honda Fit so there's NO WAY I'm putting a whip on that thing. Sucks b/c I really enjoyed the heads up from the CB on LEOs and other road safety issues.

[chriskohtc]

I thought "Who cares?" until one day I pulled up next to one of my wife's friends in her E Class Merc. As soon as I got home I pulled the CB. It was just too embarrassing for me.

What's there to be embarrassed about? I think a CB antenna looks cool on a vehicle, except most of the time you see them on law enforcement.

[voyager7]

All good info here.
Whatever you do make sure not to coil the excess antenna wire up.

I'm in the process of installing a Firestick Venice on the show vehicle for a permanent stealth antenna.

How about some pictures when finished?

[bkrell]

I thought "Who cares?" until one day I pulled up next to one of my wife's friends in her E Class Merc. As soon as I got home I pulled the CB. It was just too embarrassing for me.

What's there to be embarrassed about? I think a CB antenna looks cool on a vehicle, except most of the time you see them on law enforcement.

Sorry, but I didn't think it looked great on the trunk of a SAAB 9-5. Besides, although I loved the early warnings, since I'm not an extreme lead foot, I mainly just had it to laugh and the stupid crap the truckers would talk about.

[supercowpowers]

All good info here.
Whatever you do make sure not to coil the excess antenna wire up.

But you gotta do something with it... I have mine zip tied into a figure-eight shape about a foot wide under my seat and it works fine.

[voyager7]

All good info here.
Whatever you do make sure not to coil the excess antenna wire up.

But you gotta do something with it... I have mine zip tied into a figure-eight shape about a foot wide under my seat and it works fine.

That is a good way to do it.
Never in a coil.

[speedlaw]

Sorry. I have the Wilson Lil Wil and the Wilson 1000. The bigger antenna works way better. A diplexer won't do squat for you save give your transmitter a correct 50 ohm load. What gets out the antenna will be less than the four watts going in-antenna efficency is key especially at the limited power output you have. (even with "more power" the antenna is key) You can match a transmitter to anything from a coat hanger to a chain link fence, but what comes off that is key. Only what gets into the ether counts.

Ham frequencies often need antennas that are a hundred feet long. Getting them to work on a car or truck fills entire books...and the result is always a compromise. CB is almost easy by comparison.

Get a mag mount about 3 feet long, it will fit in the trunk, use a small rubber gasket to protect the trunk. If you can handle the length, the Wilson 1000 is a best case scenario, save a proper nine foot whip hard mounted to the fender.

[STiMULi]

Sorry. I have the Wilson Lil Wil and the Wilson 1000. The bigger antenna works way better. A diplexer won't do squat for you save give your transmitter a correct 50 ohm load. What gets out the antenna will be less than the four watts going in-antenna efficency is key especially at the limited power output you have. (even with "more power" the antenna is key) You can match a transmitter to anything from a coat hanger to a chain link fence, but what comes off that is key. Only what gets into the ether counts.

Ham frequencies often need antennas that are a hundred feet long. Getting them to work on a car or truck fills entire books...and the result is always a compromise. CB is almost easy by comparison.

Get a mag mount about 3 feet long, it will fit in the trunk, use a small rubber gasket to protect the trunk. If you can handle the length, the Wilson 1000 is a best case scenario, save a proper nine foot whip hard mounted to the fender.

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