Thread: CB Radio Antenna

On my new wagon I have a CB Radio that came with it, the Antenna is probably standard height (just over a meter maybe) but it clangs like crazy when I park in the Garage. Can you buy shorter Antennas? Is there a way for me to know I'm getting the right type as I am a complete Noob with regards to CB's.

Depends, what the freq it uses is it 27Mhz, Old type or UHF CB (new type) . Hight gain (better performance antennas) are usually longer

Hmmm, Would photos help?

How many channel, yes a photo would help. You can get 1/4 wave length antennas but performance is not so good.

Marine Electrical solutions Picton. Ring them talk to their technician. They just sold me an aerial that should have come with the radio.
From hardly working my UHF CB scanner now picks up stuff 40 miles away These guys know their stuff . If your radio is a newer one tell him where you mounting aerial so they pick ground plane or non ground plane type Marine Electrical Solutions LTD

McKee on this forum may know them or better techs tho

The other option is to use a mount that can fold the antenna down.

Sorry guys I know nothing about these things - here is a pic of the radio unit.

26Mhz, You're stuck with the big antenna. Not common now most new "CB"s are UHF

Well bugger. Is it possible to upgrade to a new type radio and then just change the antenna and keep the existing cable ?

Because if its the old type would I even pick up what my other people might be using?

Uniden UHF CB Radios Take your pick

I would say this type is way more in use generally then the old 26Mhz type. I would buy 1 for the truck and 2 Handhelds if I could afford them but I am somewhat short of cash at the moment

Cheers Mikee. Might just remove the antenna for now as it's not going to get any use till I sort out the radio

Mikee what channels are in common use on UHF ? Do truckies use UHF or the older types ?
There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on CB UHf Usage

Cheers Happy

Some truckies have both, but UHF is becoming more common. A lot of hunters use the UHF hand helds. I have one at work which I just leave on Scan cause i am nosy. If it picks up a transmission it will stop on the channel in use. Usually you agree with your mates what channel(s) you are going to be talking on.

The older 26Mhz units have much greater range than the UHF, but there are really very few of the older units still in use.

Have a flick through the channels to see if anyone is talking on them as a few still use 26mhz because of the distance that you can transmit I used to get as far as australia on a really good day on AM which that one is as well as the south island, years ago I used to run CB radios with single side band that I had set up for 26 & 27 Mhz had alot of fun talking overseas with them even though it was not allowed back in the days where you had to have a license for one. But yes you are stuck with that 9 foot antenna but you should be able to unscrew it before parking in the garage then just screw it back on when you go out.