Back on CB after long time. Need antennae solution

[sparxz]

Hi All

My 1st post here.

Was mad into FM CBs more than 10 years ago(Around the time CEPT
came in I think, didn't get into Cept myself), needed the money, sold my
kit, and did not think much about it until recently.

Few weeks back, Bought an InTek H520 Plus hand-held, to start off again.
The supplied antennae is 18cm/7 inches.
Have a 12vdc power supply if needed etc
But to my surprise, in the city I am living in, I cannot pick up very much.
In a Population of 1.5M, I am on a hill overlooking, about 3Km out from city centre. Where I used to live further North, and smaller population, there was
alot more CB, activity going on around the smaller towns.
I brought my hand held into the City, and still nothing !

I was thinking of getting an Antennae and putting it on the house,
but my landlord might not be pleased,
as when I put up a broadband dish on chimney.
I was thinking of getting the best mobile antennae I can get, and put it in
the attic space(1 to 1.5 metres headroom), and make a carpet of aluminium foil(grounded) as a base plate. then run the coax to 1st floor.
Have not done this before, but hypercritically it might work.
Not sure how much signal will get blocked by roofing materials !

This was the best forum, I could find on Propagation and experimentation
I could find.

Any thoughts on good ideas for mobile antennae ?

Replies/thoughts/solutions greatly appreciated.

Sparxz

 

[Robb]

Welcome to the forum.

Well; the landlord may be your biggest problem it seems.
Am I correct in assuming that you live in the UK?

A dipole antenna would be stealthy and not cost much to build. Does you radio have the facility to attach an external antenna? If not; you might need to start at square one and get a different radio.

Just some thoughts...

 

[sparxz]

Thanks for reply.

Not to far away from UK, I'm in Ireland.
Yes, I can attach an ext antenna, via bnc connection option in
the detachable antenna at the top, 'or' the bottom go-mobile/connector with 12vdc car plug, with full size normal antenna connector.
This is my piece: http://www.thunderpole.co.uk/intek-h-520-plus.htm

I wonder would an internal long-wire work, maybe some guys in amateur radio would know ?

Good guess about UK. They have allot more restrictions over there, for example in
aerial height, you need to get planning permission etc....

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

"I was thinking of getting the best mobile antennae I can get, and put it in
the attic space(1 to 1.5 metres headroom), and make a carpet of aluminium foil(grounded) as a base plate. then run the coax to 1st floor."

aluminium isnt attracted to magnets .

so youve got about 6 feet of headroom from the floor to the peak of the roofs interior in the attic . a mid or top loaded mobile with four 9 ft ground wires spread out evenly from it is the most effective plan i can think of in that situation if you waant a onmi pattern . keep in mind if you have a metal roof or the panels the shingles are attached to have a foil backing nothing in the attic will transmit through it .

a dipole across the peak of the roof is an option , but it will favor tx'ing and rx'ing to the sides . if you can have a flag pole or a tall bird feeder outside you could hide a dipole in it or maybe taped to the side . hanging a dipole between 2 trees outside could be an option or possible letting one hang down from a tree . not the most effective setups , but most everyone has to make some sort of compromise so we all just do the best we can . hopefully someone else will have more effective options for your situation than i do .

and welcome to the forum

 

[loosecannon]

what is the frequency range of the CB radio you just bought?

is it up in UHF or 27mhz?
LC

 

[sparxz]

Hi Booty Monster

Thanks for reply. I am aware that aluminium isn't attracted to magnets.
As far as I am aware the magnet is to stop an antennae base from slipping in transit due to gravity, or air flow(wind) consideration.
We don't get much wind in the Attic, if the roof ever blows off then we probably would.

I know that without any direct metallic contact, a magmount type antennae, can use the car body as a larger electromagnetic ground plate. Not sure if gutter mounts make actual electrical connection.

My idea was to simulate that effect of a car body with aluminium, which obviously could not be demoed out doors (Wind).

I have only ever used a magmount, DV, and as far as I can remember a 3/8 wave
on a pole at the side of another house many years ago.
I have only seen Armature Radio guys with Dipoles, and long-wires, and for short-wave.
I know this was the the way things were original done in the earlier days of radio.

Hopefully my theory as mentioned would work.

And "LooseCannon", it's a 400 channel unit spanning from 26 to 29Mhz in AM & FM not bad for a hand held.

Any recommendation, for antennae I could buy for this purpose ?

Thanks

 

[sparxz]

HI

I have ordered a a new high performance high gain handheld cb radio flexy/whip type antenna this antenna that was made in Germany has a mid wound coil which gives better performance over base loaded antennas a standard bnc type connector , it has a frequency range of 26 mhz to 30 mhz and a db gain of up to 5.0, which is the best gain I could find in this type of antennae.

Then Back to my attic space !

I am now looking at a Sirio CB antenna, can be used for home base or mobile unit.
Approximately 1.4 meters long overall, and it has a 3/8" fitting.

And a Superlance 1/4 Wave HF Loft CB Radio Antenna, with built in groundplane.

In the last two items I am trying to find out before I buy, the frequency range (I am looking for 26-30mhz, without having to climb up and retune), and find out the gain in dB, before I buy.

When I am all setup, I will be in a good position to entice all my non-CB friends, to
get involved in radio, and save some money on mobile phone calls !
The hand-held unit that I bought is handy to put in their hand, so they know what I am talking about.

 

[RickC.]

Sparxz,

Ta failte romhat.

I'd sure consider a dipole in your situation, how much room do you have?

In what city are you? I was in Letterkenny, Donegal for a week back in 2006 (see my QRZ profile) and was going to take a 2m HT with me, but 2 meter repeaters in Donegal are few and far between!

Slan,

Rick