Hi. I'm new here. Hopefully this post is in the right place. I need to install a CB Radio in a regular multi-speed mountain bike. The only problem that baffles me is the antenna. Which kind of antenna do you recommend? I've looked into NGP kits from Firestick but I've heard that performance is bad. This is going to be a base to mobile set up. I was wondering if it's possible to use the bike frame as GP or any other trick. Thanks.
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Bicycle Install. Please Help
- Thread starter pspdownloaddude
- Start date
A "...a regular multi-speed mountain bike..." doesn't come close to having enough metal in it to form a decent ground plane at 11 meters - it might be close on 2 meters.
Have you considered FRS or any of the other VHF/UHF services? What sort of range are you looking for?
Have you considered FRS or any of the other VHF/UHF services? What sort of range are you looking for?
That antenna kit will "work" as it will show the radio the 50ohm impedence it wants to see. However, don't expect 2-3 mile range out of it. Seriously, a MURS radio would be a lot better or step up and get the tech ham license and you'll have plenty of options that will work great.
Since you are talking about base to mobile, I'd try to go with MURS. Get a Base antenna up nice and high with good feedline, and somehow mount a 5/8 wave mobile antenna on the bike, and I would think 2 to 3 miles would be no problem.
"it might be close on 2 meters."
come on. a 1/4 wavelength less capacitive earth ground coupling is just under 21 inches in the middle of the 2 meter band. i haven't seen any passenger vehicles built to provide a running 1/4 wavelength in all directions for 360 degrees and we still install antennas and get them to operate reasonably well at cb frequencies due to the same principles.
the bicycle frame is the ground plane and because of the proximity and capacitive coupling to earth ground (just like passenger vehicles at 11 meters, or any other hf band for that matter)
is more than adequate at cb frequencies. communication at distances far beyond 2-3 miles can be easily and consistently achieved in an urban setting. i know, i've been installing them in bicycles, motorcycles and off-road recreational vehicles for over 30 years.
export radio specialists in shop service and repair of radio
equipment/long distance communications/antenna systems.
come on. a 1/4 wavelength less capacitive earth ground coupling is just under 21 inches in the middle of the 2 meter band. i haven't seen any passenger vehicles built to provide a running 1/4 wavelength in all directions for 360 degrees and we still install antennas and get them to operate reasonably well at cb frequencies due to the same principles.
the bicycle frame is the ground plane and because of the proximity and capacitive coupling to earth ground (just like passenger vehicles at 11 meters, or any other hf band for that matter)
is more than adequate at cb frequencies. communication at distances far beyond 2-3 miles can be easily and consistently achieved in an urban setting. i know, i've been installing them in bicycles, motorcycles and off-road recreational vehicles for over 30 years.
export radio specialists in shop service and repair of radio
equipment/long distance communications/antenna systems.
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Freecell, what antenna and type of mount would work for a mountain bike? I was thinking a rear mule rack might be a good way to try to get a good antenna mount.
I've always wanted to try to do something like this. Ten meter bicycle mobile would be fun, I have a Trek hybrid bike that I love to ride, and radio might get me on it a little more often, lol.
I've always wanted to try to do something like this. Ten meter bicycle mobile would be fun, I have a Trek hybrid bike that I love to ride, and radio might get me on it a little more often, lol.
You pretty much have to buy commercial VHF radios and have them programmed with the MURS frequencies. Typically these type of radios put out more power than MURS allows, but there is really no decent type-accepted stuff available, and anyway Walmart and Mcdonalds use illegal radios on MURS, so I'm not too worried about enforcement . Nobody is ever going to know if you are running 25 watts or 2 watts unless you tell them.....
Maybe Freecell can help you with a way to get a CB antenna to work properly on a bike, and then you can use cheaper CB equipment. If your base station has a decent antenna at a good height, you might be able to accomplish what you want with CB.
a solid or spring-loaded flat rack makes an excellent foundation for mobile antenna mounting. we usually recommend multi-element top-loaded antennas or the Francis antennas from the 5.5' model and up. another viable candidate is the Hustler shaft and top loading resonator series antennas for 11M and HF. we've had excellent results with all of these specific to the particular applications as well as the operators budget limitations.
Thanks to everyone who provided me with their knowledge. Would I be better off with a MURS system or CB Radio. Given the pros and cons and costs. Which would have a better range? I would like to operate legally. The economy isn't going to well, the FCC might need some additional revenue. Given the limit of 2W MURS, is it feasible or will CB beat it in an urban environment. The most important factor to me is range.
if you already have a cb radio at the fixed location then i would say the choice is rather obvious.