CB antenna

[Dragline]

O.K. finally got a Cobra 75 CB, now I need to know which is the best antenna to run with this unit? Wilson / Firestick / Suggestions? And what length antenna? Coax lenght?

[miljeep]

I have a firestick, I think it is 4ft.

[Uncle Russ]

I have no experience with them, but it seems a lot of folks like the Firestick Firefly in either 3 or 4 ft lengths.

[WFTW]

I've got that same CB and a 4ft Firestick.

[theyeti1775]

Wire is divisible by 3'. I remember reading that is the wavelength for optimizing it somewhere. On the XJ I have Uniden 510, 21' wire and a 3' Wilson Flexi. On the YJ it is a Uniden 510, 18' wire and a 4' Firestick.

I forget where I read the 3' rule though. It was either on NoVa or on NAXJA.

Far as ranges, on the XJ when it was mounted on the roof rack(near center of the roof), I was getting anwhere from 10-15 mile transmitting and receiving easily. 20 miles on perfect conditions (line of sight / flat open land) Now that I have it side mounted at the rear it is down to about 7-11 mile max, the YJ as near as I can tell is about a 5-6 mile range max. That's with all stock stuff and just antenna tuning.
There are ways to transmit/receive a lot further but the FCC tends to frown on them, but as long as you stay off the HAM bands they generally ignore you.

[TexasAirman]

CB radios and antennas are fairly generic. the longer antenna or cable doesn't necessarily mean better transmitting or receiving with a CB. mostly depends on your terrain. honestly, I'd like to see more off-road'ers get their amateur radio license. it costs maybe ten bucks and you have to take a very simple test. this could extend your communications (via a mobile Jeep mounted radio) into your neighboring Counties, depending on your repeater locations. its the best form of free communication out there. prices can range if you check into that route. best to use are 2 meter band. I use a 2m/70cm and I also have a 900MHZ for police and fire.

[Dragline]

Thanks for all the feedback, CB will be for trail use only so I will probably go with what the majority of folks are using and get a 4' fire stick.

[mrsig]

I have the Cobra 75 too but I went with the K 40 3 ft and made a mount for it.

[metalcd]

i got myself an 8 1/2' whip with a radio shack cb and it work great for me.

[WinkTJ]

Antenna for the trails,.... pretty much anything that will radiate is fine. The most important thing is good solid connections.

I snapped off my firestick on the trail and used about 100" of wire stuffed into the center conductor hole where the antenna was,flopped it over the sound bar and got through the day just fine.