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  #1  
Old 10-11-2009, 08:17 PM
'92RangeRDangeR151 '92RangeRDangeR151 is offline
Zach Tyer
 
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Question putting whips on my baby

ok so i have a 92 ranger reg. cab, and i cant decide whether to get 3 or 4 foot whips, can someone give me some advice? thank ya much
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Old 10-11-2009, 08:21 PM
Rangermuse Rangermuse is offline
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I have a 4ft and it seems to do great.
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Old 10-11-2009, 08:25 PM
'92RangeRDangeR151 '92RangeRDangeR151 is offline
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Thanks man Im Zach Tyer Im new.
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Old 10-11-2009, 08:27 PM
Rangermuse Rangermuse is offline
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Welcome to the site
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Old 10-11-2009, 08:28 PM
'92RangeRDangeR151 '92RangeRDangeR151 is offline
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Thank ya Im just a hick kid from iowa
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Old 10-11-2009, 08:46 PM
DieHard4rd DieHard4rd is offline
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Depends, does your truck sit out or get in the garage?

If it sees the garage you don't want the antenna's clipping the door as you enter & leave. That can mess up the SWRs or even break the tips.
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Old 10-11-2009, 10:15 PM
blueovelboy blueovelboy is offline
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go with a steel whip on a good spring and strap it to the bumper!!!! or a Lil Wilson magnet mount you could remove it when you need or want the clean look
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Old 10-11-2009, 10:21 PM
Fx4wannabe01 Fx4wannabe01 is offline
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DO NOT DO DUALS!!! These trucks are WAY to small to have a half way decent running dual setup.


Stay single....biggest you want. I whiped out my 4' firestikII, so bumped up to a 5' firestikII. I also occasionally run a 102" stainless whip. You got a radio in mind? Or just doin' it for looks?
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Old 10-11-2009, 10:28 PM
DieHard4rd DieHard4rd is offline
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Cobra 29 is a good basic radio. Have it peaked & tuned.
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Old 10-11-2009, 10:31 PM
Fx4wannabe01 Fx4wannabe01 is offline
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hehe.....i've confirmed over 25mi perfectly clear transmit/recieve with my peak and tuned 29. Pushin' about 80w out of it too.
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Old 10-13-2009, 05:43 PM
Old-skool1972 Old-skool1972 is offline
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If you run dual's it makes you directional very bad ! If you run one its much better. Most people run 2 just for looks. The reson y most trk drvers run 2 is because of the trailer bleeding the signal.
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  #12  
Old 10-13-2009, 06:32 PM
'92RangeRDangeR151 '92RangeRDangeR151 is offline
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what is directional?
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Old 10-13-2009, 11:43 PM
Fx4wannabe01 Fx4wannabe01 is offline
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the antenna only shoots out in one direction....for example to the sides or just forward and back. Instead of shooting out in all directions.
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Old 10-14-2009, 06:20 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
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Dual antennas is called co-phasing. What it does is increase your gain along the lengthwise axis of the truck. So you get a boost in transmit and receive gain in front and behind you. It does not enhance or inhibit off the sides.

Truckers use of it is not because of the trailer but because that ahead and behind them is where they want and need that gain in signal. They're talking to people on the highway, not people somewhere else in la-la-land. So that boost is useful to them.

In order for co-phasing to work properly, you need a specific distance horizonallly between the antennas. Its been awhile but I believe this is about 8ft (1/4 wavelength). This works quite nicely on 18-wheelers because the cabs are HUGE and they can attain that spacing. This is not a happenin' thing on a Ford Ranger. You are getting maybe 1/2 the required spacing and it will not work properly. It looks cool but it is not effective.

The most effective place for a single antenna is smack in the middle of the roof or smack in the middle of a metal cap over the bed. This gives a big even ground plane. Unfortunately since CB antennas have to be so big (usually at least 3ft), rooftop mounts are often not practical. They either look dumb or won't let you fit in a garage. The most popular spot is the back of the cab. Your ground plane and radiation pattern will be uneven and not optimal, but for most of our uses, it is perfectly sufficient. Talking locally to other users within a few miles is typically what most people here do and it works fine.

As far as your 3ft vs 4ft question, it comes down to looks and practicality. It may not fit in a garage at 4ft.
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  #15  
Old 04-14-2010, 07:01 AM
PeterbiltMan89 PeterbiltMan89 is offline
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Default Re: putting whips on my baby

I have dual whips mounted off my toolbox that run to a Cobra 29 LTD classic.. They are the 3' whips and the look good.. In my opinion, It just depends on where your gonna mount them and whats gonna make the truck look good.
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