Good antenna for four-wheeler?

[Choirboy]

I inherited my RadioShack handheld and bought a $30 RadioShack Mag Mount to go with it. The lowest SWR I could get is 1.5 on Channel 19. I receive just fine, but can't seem to transmit more than a mile or so. What reasonably priced Mag Mount (on the trunk of my Maxima) might help my transmit range, or am I just p***ing up a rope with this radio?

OR, would it make a difference to move the antenna to the roof?

Thanks!

[jessejamesdallas]

Moving the antenna to the roof will help. However, those "Handheld" radios are not the best to start with, when It comes to receiving and transmitting. They are OK for about a mile or two, but that's going to be about it.

They are good if space is a problem, and no place to mount a regular radio, but you will suffer in performance.

With the set-up you have right now, I think your probably seeing about the best your going too.

[Choirboy]

My handheld is rated at full legal power (4 watts, I think). I'm willing to pop for a Wilson 5000 or Predator 10K (if it comes in a mag mount) if there would be any benefit. I just have no place to mount a full-size radio and don't want to start screwing with the wiring in my car.

Thanks!

[Rex_foxhound]

In your case, a Wilson 1000 mag would open up your ears a bunch. The only major difference (that I know of) between the 1000 and 5000 is the amount of power that they will handle. If you want to get the best, go with a Predator and a tri mag mount but a Wilson 1000 will be good for what you want to do.

[jessejamesdallas]

For once I have to agree...Predator 10K's don't come with a mount. In your case, I would just go with a Little Wilson Mag.Mount. They are good up to around 500w's, which is way more than you'll be using anyway.

With that radio, spending allot of money on antennas, wont be all that noticeable. Handheld CB Radios just aren't made as good as some of the box type radios, like the Cobra 29's, General Lee's, Galaxy's, Connex's, ect...

There more along the lines of the more inexpensive radios like the Cobra 18 or 19...Their just a compact radio that does what its suppose to, but with no thrills...With a Little Wilson you may see some improvement in receive and your transmit, over what you have now.

[Choirboy]

Thanks for all your help! I ordered a Wilson 5000 Mag Mount from G I Joe's last night, and it has been shipped already! I figure I'm already getting sucked into this CB thing, so I guess my next purchase will be a better radio.... ;->

[jessejamesdallas]

Thanks for all your help! I ordered a Wilson 5000 Mag Mount from G I Joe's last night, and it has been shipped already! I figure I'm already getting sucked into this CB thing, so I guess my next purchase will be a better radio.... ;->

GI Joes has some nice radios. One thing you may want to think about, sence room (or lack of) is a problem. Way I hooked a radio up in my wifes old car was, I got one of those small pedistels that they use to mount cell phone car-kits on, and mounted it to the floor, and the radio on top of it! Worked out great!

[Choirboy]

Got the Wilson 5000 Mag Mount today and put it on the roof of my car. Holy S**t, Batman! What used to be a lot of buzzing and faint voices with my RadioShack whip is now loud & clear :D

Don't know how far I'm getting out (still need to tune the SWR), but that's the next project.

[HI-TECH]

dude if you hit up your local fle-market you'll probly find a decent radio like a cobra 25 or a 19dx for about 10 bucks... you'll knowtice a HUGE differnt in the RX and deff the TX parts... handhelds are for cose point to point contact and even on regular car antenna there not that much better. best bet is to sell your old antenna for some change and start hitting yard sales and fle markets and even ebay or yahoo auctions.. a nicle little old 40 ch realistic will do you wonders.

[rayray1963]

If funds are an issue you can check out some local pawn shops for radios, just remember, buyer beware.Or better yet, call one of the sponsors here or check thier websites, lots of them have lower priced and refurbish radios for sale.

Just a Thought.

[jessejamesdallas]

Not sure about the pawn shops where you live, but the ones around here, want more for a cb than they cost New!

Was at a pawn Shop last week near Garland (town east of Dallas, that the TV Show "King of the Hill" is based on) Anyway, there is this Super Warehouse type Pawn Shop there. It's like the "WalMart of Pawn Shops", went in to see if I could find any deals, and found a used Cobra 18DX for "$60!" Looked like someone had droped it in the mud, had some scratches on it, But said it had been Peeked & tuned, and was a real screamer! Also seen a Pace 23 channel radio in there, that they wanted $45 for, but it had no mounting bracket...(Bran new that radio was only around $40! I know, I had one)

You can find some good deals on ebay, but like said before, "Buyer beware"...

[Big Guns]

I have a cobra 29 st sound tracker, I bought it at a pawn shop for $70. I had it peaked and tuned for $30 or 40. I have not hardly used it since because I bought a swp General Lee. Guage light doesn't work but everything else is fine. I have talked 11 to 15 miles on it before with a rat shack antenna. I'll sell it for $100 shipped.