Snip and clip, golden screw driver "techs!"

[Slowpoke]

Yes, and will go even lower - once you take care of two things...

One - counterpoise...the antenna itself is only 1/2 of the whole radiator, so when you use two - you still are only using 1/2 the effort - split - now into two. It's why some drivers say "To h*ll with it" and just run one antenna - it's easier and simpler but the image and the counterpoise where the thing radiates from and towards - is not the best (off the opposite side).

Second? The spacing - not as critical as counterpoise and grounding but needed so you can properly make the "image" from the truck - but look above in the post, have the tech stare at the image for a few hours - then send him to the truck stop and have them supply him with plenty of placemats and even crayons to help fill in the missing pieces of this puzzle and maybe several others he never finished earlier in his life.

• He is correct in his thinking - but if he's not putting it together right...

You are fighting two battles, one with the antennas and their mounting - perhaps bad or improperly setup mounts to start with - the other a Radio that you spent a Month or twos' rent on - and hassles from both.

As you get older, I can see a lesson forming - where it's wise to always get a second opinion if possible - may not provide the best possible info - but then you didn't have to stop at just a #2 - go all the way until your satisfied...


It's sad that the segue into retirement is showing evidences of a medical condition you don't want to deal with in this scenario. To have that much background and experience - then to tell you this - hurts...more than you know.

See reply to BJ radionut.

 

[Handy Andy]

All I can do is hope it helps the next guy that comes along looking for answers on this...

 

[loosecannon]

not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but the distance between the co-phased antennas will determine their radiation pattern.

if the two co-phased antennas are 102-108 inches apart they will radiate toward the front and the back of the vehicle.
this makes sense for big truck drivers as they are mainly concerned with talking with people in front of, or behind them on the highway.

if the two antennas are less than 102" apart (like every vehicle that is not a big rig) then the radiation pattern will be off to the sides and attenuated toward the front and back.
LC

 

[Slowpoke]

not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but the distance between the co-phased antennas will determine their radiation pattern.

if the two co-phased antennas are 102-108 inches apart they will radiate toward the front and the back of the vehicle.
this makes sense for big truck drivers as they are mainly concerned with talking with people in front of, or behind them on the highway.

if the two antennas are less than 102" apart (like every vehicle that is not a big rig) then the radiation pattern will be off to the sides and attenuated toward the front and back.
LC

I think the standard distance for most trucks is 96"-108."

 

[brandon7861]

...if the two antennas are less than 102" apart (like every vehicle that is not a big rig) then the radiation pattern will be off to the sides and attenuated toward the front and back.
LC

I am not sure I agree with this part. If you take a look at the free sample of Understanding and Repairing CB Radios (offered as a free download on Lou Franklin's website cbcintl.com), he draws the patters for the different antenna spacings. I do not believe there will be gain to the sides or reduction to the front and back with in-phase antennas as the points to the front and back will always be equidistant from the antennas. For antennas that are in phase, the pattern for 1/4 wavelength spacing looks like an oval with max gain to the front and back and 1/2 wavelength spacing looks like that of a dipole (figure 8 with deep nulls to the sides), again, with max gain to the front and back. This makes sense because no matter the spacing used, the fields will always reinforce in these directions. His sample also shows what happens if you use different length phasing lines. 180° out of phase and the pattern is off to the sides of the truck. 90° out of phase and the pattern is to just one side of the truck. Check out that free sample, it has great illustrations of this on page 26 and 27.

 

[Slowpoke]

The warranty work should be done by Chris Holland at Superior CB in Calif.
A carrier on SSB says the carrier balance might not be adjusted properly.
I dont think the conversion voids factory warranty, a phone call to Chris will answer that question.
His contact below in link.

Superior CB Inc. | CB Radios Sales & Repair in Ontario, California

Superior CB Inc. is operated by Chris and Veronica Holland. As a boy, Chris started talking on the CB radio at age 11.

www.superiorcb.com

Co phaseing two antennas requires 50 ohm coax to the " tee" or split, with 75 ohm coax in the actual harness.
See picture below.

From http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/2464/antenna-performance-co-phasingView attachment 57338

Now that is co phased, running 2 antennas at the same time.
To simply switch in between each antenna and run them separately would be 50 ohm coax.
You may find the the amp built into the radio has a spurious problem, if this is the case your beating your head against a wall trying to sort out swr problems with the antennas.
Putting the radio on a SA will reveal if that is what you are experiencing.

73
Jeff

Called. Good conversation. Nice guy. Didn't realize he was a Ranger warranty repair shop. May buy one of his new N6. I'll ship it to him. Thanks.

 

[Slowpoke]

The warranty work should be done by Chris Holland at Superior CB in Calif.
A carrier on SSB says the carrier balance might not be adjusted properly.
I dont think the conversion voids factory warranty, a phone call to Chris will answer that question.
His contact below in link.

Superior CB Inc. | CB Radios Sales & Repair in Ontario, California

Superior CB Inc. is operated by Chris and Veronica Holland. As a boy, Chris started talking on the CB radio at age 11.

www.superiorcb.com

Co phaseing two antennas requires 50 ohm coax to the " tee" or split, with 75 ohm coax in the actual harness.
See picture below.

From http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/2464/antenna-performance-co-phasingView attachment 57338

Now that is co phased, running 2 antennas at the same time.
To simply switch in between each antenna and run them separately would be 50 ohm coax.
You may find the the amp built into the radio has a spurious problem, if this is the case your beating your head against a wall trying to sort out swr problems with the antennas.
Putting the radio on a SA will reveal if that is what you are experiencing.

73
Jeff

Preferable over a pre set 75ohm coax? If not, how long should 50ohm coax to radio be? 18' 75ohm to each antenna? Any reason an antenna switch would double SWRs? Thanks.

 

[loosecannon]

I am not sure I agree with this part. If you take a look at the free sample of Understanding and Repairing CB Radios (offered as a free download on Lou Franklin's website cbcintl.com), he draws the patters for the different antenna spacings. I do not believe there will be gain to the sides or reduction to the front and back with in-phase antennas as the points to the front and back will always be equidistant from the antennas. For antennas that are in phase, the pattern for 1/4 wavelength spacing looks like an oval with max gain to the front and back and 1/2 wavelength spacing looks like that of a dipole (figure 8 with deep nulls to the sides), again, with max gain to the front and back. This makes sense because no matter the spacing used, the fields will always reinforce in these directions. His sample also shows what happens if you use different length phasing lines. 180° out of phase and the pattern is off to the sides of the truck. 90° out of phase and the pattern is to just one side of the truck. Check out that free sample, it has great illustrations of this on page 26 and 27.

I suppose i had better find my copy of the screwdriver experts guide and check my info, as that's where i got that from.

Admittedly it has been quite a while since i thought about any of this stuff.
LC