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-   -   cb and antenna mounting. (http://www.fordrangerforum.com/audio-video/30687-cb-antenna-mounting.html)

Yogi 04-06-2011 12:47 PM

cb and antenna mounting.
 
I recently bought a 94 Ranger SXT 4x4 with the 4.0 5 speed and extened cab. I want to mount my cobra 149 and put co-phase firestiks (or similar) on it. I do not have a rol bar yet but it,s on my wish list. Any thoughts on mounting locations for both? Thanks :cool:

DiabloBlanco 04-06-2011 12:54 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
are they mag mounts?

Pickupman04 04-06-2011 03:21 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
RETRACTED THANKS DANGER RANGER

best to go with a center mounted option behind the cab your tx and rx will not be directional that way.

ill see if i can find any pics of past cb mounts ive done.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...rangerdash.jpg

thats my bigass dx55v mounted with the factory bracket to the side of the catchall.

in my 95 and my 99 i made brackets out of alu diamondplate made a u bolted straight to the floor on the tunnel and placed the radio in the bracket where i wanted it. works well for a medium chassis like a cobra 29

DangerRanger379 04-08-2011 08:51 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
co-phase antennas will work well in as little as 4 feet apart. i have each on my bed rails. click around this site and it will answer all your questions...

http://www.rightchannelradios.com/

http://www.angelfire.com/ia2/cb/63things.html

my set-up and custom center console (i dont have pics of where i mounted the antennas....)

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/membe...-console-4.jpg

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/membe...-console-3.jpg

BisketFx4 04-08-2011 09:53 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
I like that setup ^^

westtntrucker 04-08-2011 10:30 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
I'm looking at this mount for my ranger. Found out about it in a cb shop at a truck stop.
http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/SS-294A.htm

And for the coax, I have used this cable before on my semi truck.
http://www.truckers-store.com/store-..._41035424.html

rstangboi 04-08-2011 11:25 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
mines mounted at the end of my bed with a foldown piece.

so im not ALWAYS a redneck lol

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2..._/IMG_0250.jpg

Yogi 04-09-2011 07:28 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
My issue is the 5 speed. I'm thinking of loosing the center consol for a homemade unit. so the cb would be right under my hand on an arm rest. I do want to go co-phase. had it on another truck and like the way they work.

FireRanger 04-09-2011 08:02 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
Regardless of what any "cb radio expert" says, Co-Phase antennas can not and do not work properly on a Ford Ranger or any other normal sized motor vehicle. To gain anything from co-phased antennas, they need to be at least a 1/4 wavelength apart horizontally. That is 8 feet apart. Anything less and you gain NOTHING and will more likely lose.

The most efficient antenna arrangement on a Ford Ranger is a single antenna smack in the middle of the roof. This is not always practical due to height and looks so there are lots of other places to mount a single antenna. It's a CB. You shouldn't be expecting anything uber special out of it anyway.

DangerRanger379 04-10-2011 10:08 AM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
im running dual with no problems. nuff said...

FireRanger 04-10-2011 10:14 AM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
Nuff said for you. Not for everyone else wondering about this setup. You have no problem that you perceive. The reality of your dual antenna setup is that you are not gaining anything from it and more than likely incur loss, however minor it may be.

So my point stands, there is no point in spending money on it when it does nothing and just adds another point of failure and loss. The OP was asking about what and where to mount antenna(s). And my point to him is to save his hard earned money and not waste on a pointless dual antenna system. There is actual RF propagation science behind this. It works on 18 wheelers because they are just a tinsey bit wider than a Ford Ranger.

DangerRanger379 04-10-2011 04:57 PM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by FireRanger (Post 385433)
Nuff said for you. Not for everyone else wondering about this setup. You have no problem that you perceive. The reality of your dual antenna setup is that you are not gaining anything from it and more than likely incur loss, however minor it may be.

So my point stands, there is no point in spending money on it when it does nothing and just adds another point of failure and loss. The OP was asking about what and where to mount antenna(s). And my point to him is to save his hard earned money and not waste on a pointless dual antenna system. There is actual RF propagation science behind this. It works on 18 wheelers because they are just a tinsey bit wider than a Ford Ranger.


ive actually have been wanting to get new coax and just run it to one antenna to see if i get better results. my setup works- yes, but like you say, it also doesnt meet the maximum ratio of 1:1, so im going to try that soon and see if i can get closer to 1:1...

stephen 04-11-2011 12:39 AM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
heres how i have my radio mounted. i really like it there. my antenna is on my toolbox. sorry, i dont have any pictures.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...16163440-1.jpg

westtntrucker 04-11-2011 06:34 AM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by FireRanger (Post 385433)
Nuff said for you. Not for everyone else wondering about this setup. You have no problem that you perceive. The reality of your dual antenna setup is that you are not gaining anything from it and more than likely incur loss, however minor it may be.

So my point stands, there is no point in spending money on it when it does nothing and just adds another point of failure and loss. The OP was asking about what and where to mount antenna(s). And my point to him is to save his hard earned money and not waste on a pointless dual antenna system. There is actual RF propagation science behind this. It works on 18 wheelers because they are just a tinsey bit wider than a Ford Ranger.


I have to agree with above said. I drive a semi and even though I can run a co-phased set up, I only run a single Wilson 2000 on the driver side mirror.
I don't have to worry about beating an antenna on the passenger side from the tree limbs, and do not have to worry about a second set of failure points.
With a single antenna I can still walk the dog and kick the cat while looking around to see where my friends are at, come on back! :)

icicle 04-11-2011 08:52 AM

Re: cb and antenna mounting.
 
Unless you are running serious power co phase is a waste of time.


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