Antenna for small car, need some pointers

[TexasTalker]

I have a Chevy Sonic sedan model, I already have a 3/4" hole in the trunk lid for nmo 2m antenna, which seems dead in my neck of the woods. I'm looking for a CB antenna that will replace the nmo/2m setup.

So I need help on what antenna and how to mount it. Sorry ain't gonna put a 9ft whip on it, need to keep overall height below 11ft to clear some power lines at the house.

FWIW I do have a monkey made mm9 but no idea how to mount it to my truck lid.

I'm gonna be starting out running a export radio about 50 pep but will eventually step up to a two pill.

 

[StrangeBrew]

I believe Larsen makes an 11 meter antenna that would fit your nmo mount.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I believe Larsen makes an 11 meter antenna that would fit your nmo mount.

That would be the Larsen NMO27. Decent antenna and is about four feet tall, maybe a few inches longer, and has the NMO mount.

 

[TexasTalker]

I had the Larsen on my old crown Vic, never had any luck with it, never could getgthe swr set where I liked it and driving down the road I always got "picket fencing". And it's only has a power handling of 200 watts, which a two pill will be easily pushing that limit. In fact I still have the antenna. And the coax is rg58u?and I'm planning on running LMR400.

I'm looking to get rid of the NMO. The shop who drilled the hole had it slightly oversized and it leaks due to some of the oring not being on the paint and slightly in the drilled out section. Not good.

I see breedlove has puck mounts, so now just a decent antenna that doesn't look crazy (like the mm9)

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

You had picket fencing on 11m? Wait.......you meant when you had a 2m radio? Well ANY antenna will give you picket fencing on 2m FM as it is simply a function of the shorter wavelength and the FM capture effect and happens when the signal is rapidly fading in and out of the radios capture threshold. I have used Larsen 2m/70cm antennas and they are great. In fact pretty much every emergency vehicle is outfitted with one because of their quality. The wrong sized hole you had wouldn't help matters and has nothing to do with the quality of the antenna itself. I suggested the NMO27 because your post read as if you wanted an 11m NMO mount antenna to replace the 2m NMO mount antenna but now you say you want to get rid of the NMO mount altogether.

 

[TexasTalker]

I said "I'm looking for a CBantenna that will replace the nmo/2m setup."

The Larsen nmo 27 will not handle the wattage I'm gonna throw at it. We're talking within six months over 1k pep.

And I don't doubt Larsen antennas. That's all we use in the fire department ON BOTH 800 AND 2M.

I will need to replace the coax, the nmo mount and a new antenna that will handle some watts. thus why I wanted to break out the MM9 but it's a little big and a bit "look at me!!!"

Picket fencing is the best way I could describe it. The recever audio would fade in and out using the 11m on the Vic. But I sit stills perfect. ended up putting that radio on a mag mount Wilson IIRC and it stopped. I just put a rubber cap on the trunk hole.

 

[RoadRanger]

Sirio Performer 5000

 

[TexasTalker]

Sirio Performer 5000

Thanks!!! Called the local CB shop, they said they have it in a mag mount and a body mount. Definitely interested in the body mount, but they said my 7/8" hole is too big andand connector will fall thru and they are seeing if they can get one with a 3/8x24 stud.

 

[TexasTalker]

They just called back, said I could get it in a 8" shaft or no shaft, both having the 3/8x24 mount. Of course the mark up is huge at $150 walk out with swr set. I told them I'm still deciding on which one I wanna get. And still need a puck mount.

I can get a breedlove 3" puck ($50 shipped) and it would be a bolt on operation with my 7/8" hole, or I ccn get the 4.5" which would require me drilling four more mount holes ($90 shipped). I just don't know how much the sirio will put stress on the mount.

 

[Jeff L]

You’re right it’s a mark up. Just shy of $80 with free shipping off the interwebs.

3” Mount with a backing plate if you can fit it would be more than enough to hold the sirio.

 

[TexasTalker]

3” Mount with a backing plate if you can fit it would be more than enough to hold the sirio.

You think I need the 6" backing plate or just the standard 3" backing plate?

 

[firerunner]

X2 on the Sirio great antennas!

 

[Jeff L]

I would go for the 6x6 mounting plate, sheet metal on these newer vehicles is way too thin and needs any help it can get. Plus you never know when you may want to run a heavier antenna. Better to err on the side of caution and be one step ahead.

 

[TexasTalker]

Cool, onalreI a ordered the sirio antenna, and gonna take the trunk lid liner out and see if I can get a 6x6 in that area.

 

[Jeff L]

Beautiful thing about a backing plate is you can trim it down to fit any way you need. Good luck!