CB Radio CB Antenna Suggestions Please

Racer X 69

Member
Last winter I went through about 2,956 antennas. The problem was when I was running through snow storms, or freezing rain, and the antennas would load up with ice and then eventually break off.

The truck had a couple of fiberglass shaft Wilson antennas on it when I inherited it last year and they worked very well, at least until the snow and ice came into play. After buying way too many replacements, I found a pair of all metal antennas (bottom loaded with wire whips) that worked real well at first, even the FM reception, but now the FM reception sucks (The FM radio is also spliced into these antannas (a wonderful Volvo feature! *sarcasm intended*). The reception on the FM was very good with the glass antennas.), and the CB transmit and recieve has degraded considerably.

Does anyone have a suggestion for antennas that will hold up to the rigors of the winter ice, yet continue to provide exceptional performance over the long term?

I am a bit old school with respect to CB radios and their use. The radio is just a tool to enable communication for road conditions, communicating with escorts, helping with parking in tight situations (when the other jackasses around have their radios on and know how to use them), and I don't feel the need to waste my money for useless crap like echo and reverb. (Why do guys think that crap is cool? All it does is make it so you can't understand a word they say, and then these idiots have those stupid mikes that have that annoying beep after they transmit!)

If any of you who run in the colder climates during the winter months have a good suggestion for no frills antennas that will get the job done without spending a fortune I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.
 
I've run the same pair of Wilson 2000's for about 5 years now, on three different trucks, and they work well. I like that you can adjust the SWR's from the antenna itself. I went to a radio shop where the guy actually got out of his seat (!!!!) and came outside (!!!!) and put the SWR meter on the radio.

I've never had any antennas freeze up and actually break off like that. Strange.

As far as having the FM and CB radio on the same coax, yeah, something is going to suffer. You might want to seriously consider running replacement coax for the CB, and letting the FM radio have all the factory stuff. Especially with as much time as you spend in the boonies and on your iPod anyway!
 
The Wilsons Sinister suggested are now being manufactured by Barjan and from everything I have read the quality has suffered for it.
I am running a Tram Stalker.Open coil,wire top.I like it,he's got it on sale fer $40.customcbradios.com.Sheesh,I paid full pop.
Now this works well as God intended it to work....as a cb ant.Mixing fm and cb don't sound kosher to me,but I understand you gotta work with what you got.
 
I don't know about Volvo's antenna set-up, but, they are almost as cheap a truck as Freightliner. I discovered that although the Freightliner has two OEM antennas, they are NOT CO-PHASED!! The one on the left handles CB duties, while the one on the right is for the AM/FM and TV.

If you're not into a high wattage toy, just use a 4' Francis Hot Rod that you can buy for cheap at most truck stops. They work really great, and, rarely require tuning. If you break it, skip lunch, and buy another one.
 
Thanks for the replies.

The Wilsons I had are just like the Francis antennas. They were breaking where the bass base meets the fiberglass. Repeatedly. The sad part is they worked perfectly.

The Tram Stalkers are cool looking, but I am not sure if the mounts on this truck can handle the extra weight. I do like the "Made in America" part though.

The Wilson 2000's Sinister mentions are a possible option. Some of the drivers in the other Volvo's at my company have them. I will need to check with them first and see how they are working for them.

A driver who had this truck before me completely replaced the coax with that really fat see through clear jacketed stuff and it looks like a professional install. The FM radio splitter thing is still in place and there is not much I can do about it without a bunch of rework. It got very good FM reception with the fiberglass antennas, and even great reception with these base loaded stainless whips at first.

I dunno, after passing through the Chicago area today I am ready to turn off the 2-way for good. Every time I go through this area there is about a million radio rambos bad mouthing each other and talking over each other. It just doesn't make sense.
 
Well then, mine are crap, and I guess I just got lucky??

You got a website for the ones you posted, sweetheart?
 
Customcbradios.com His custom radios seem a little expensive but the ant prices seem to be pretty much in line.
 
I didn't say I thought the Wilsons had gone down hill.....just things I have read on the subject.
Do yours seem to do the job?
 
Yeah, they seem to do fine. I'm kind of a "ain't broke don't fix it" type guy, so I'm not concerned. But if there's better quality, affordable stuff, then I'll keep it in mind.

I don't tinker with my radio a lot. I got my General Lee in '05, had it peaked and tuned, in three different trucks, and it's seemed to do well the entire time. I think the guys who are really into radios, and radio shops are the same ones who HAVE to be in radio shops all the time to fix things. There's nothing that qaulifies all these experts set up in trailer at the back of the parking lot as experts. I pick ONE radio shop, get my stuff right, get a backup, and stick with it.

I think my General is getting old though. I can wiggle the mic jack with my hand. That can't be good. Wish I hd money for a CONNEX 4400HP, peaked and new coax, routed right, good antennas, and an SWR check though.

Noise cancelling mic is a must. Nothing worse than all kinds of power garbled by cab noise, and stereo background like the guy I heard in Missouri yesterday. RK 56 is the only mic I'll ever have for a mobile, though I've heard Astatic is best for base stations.

/rant
 
I just found out that Hustler is still making the old classic center loaded mirror mount antennas (you old farts from the 70's remember those?). Here is the link

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