New aerial

Not been on cb for over 20 years! Got a new boxed 
Dynascan 10M66 and 30 amp power supply etc. Looking for recommendations for aerial Looking at Antron 99, would appreciate  any recommendations, also a pole to mount it on, going in garden so can concrete it in! Any advice greatly appreciated! No experience on ssb or this rig so any advice concerning swr or anything greatly appreciated. As forgotten nearly everything!!

Hi Tony,

I think I remember you asking about antennas a little while back, have you still not decided?


Sometimes it's worth buying the best antenna you can afford and moving forward with an installation as you could delay forever if trying to weigh all your options up. (Selecting antennas can feel like a proverbial game of 'top-trumps'!)

One tip I can give you for setting the SWR up is to make sure you use a constant carrier mode (such as FM or AM at a push) so that you can successfully take a reading. Sideband (USB/LSB) has no carrier or power output when you key up so impossible/difficult to take a reading. 

Also worth setting up on your mid-range frequency of use so if you intend to be on UK and Euro frequencies SWR on channel 1 UK or channel 40 Euro (preferably somewhere in the middle if you intend to use 'freeband' frequencies so nearer 27.5 MHz)


I wish you well with it, you've got the rig and power supply so now you just need to get on air.  

Remember that we're a helpful bunch here and do our best to help each other out where we can. There's nothing better than seeing a fellow radio enthusiast getting up and running.


All the best,
Victor

Thank you Victor, yes did ask a while ago but been suffering from depression and anxiety since. So everything been on hold! Hoping to forge ahead and get everything running. Decide on aerial, just having problems finding a pole to mount aerial on!

Hi Tony

Not knowing anything about you or your home set up, here are my suggestions, which I expect to cause some heated debate.

Starting from cheap to expensive

The silver Rod and it's many copies/versions
A cheap aluminium antenna that covers CB. 
It can bend in the wind and if the jubilee clips start to loosen the sections can slide and change the SWR. This can be easily fixed by drilling a hole in the two sections and putting a self tapping screw in. Also a bit of self amalgamation tape round the joints helps to stop the water from getting in.

T2LT/Bazooka wire antenna and a fibreglass pole (not carbon fibre), the go to antenna of the CTX group who like climbing mountains or going portable camping in a field.

Next would be the Solarcon/Antron 99 or Gain master 1/2 wave
These are fibreglass antennas with a wire running up the middle.
In my own experience, this is a step up from the silver rod.
The thing about both antennas is that the joint between the fibreglass and metal fixings can be the weak spot.
I would also varnish the fibreglass, which helps to stop fibreglass splinters when you take it down in the future and put the amalgamation tape round the joints to reduce water ingress before you put it up. 

And lastly 
The President Himalaya or Imax 2000
I have no experience of these antennas, but for me, they are not cost effective.

I know there are many other antennas that fit in between the ones I have listed. They have been left off because of the ground plan radials, size, extra bits added like the basket on the Vector 4000 etc

I would say go with what you can afford or go cheap and then improve the antenna & coax at a later date.

I hope this has been a help and not caused more confusion.

All the best with your set up and hope to meet you on the band some day.

73

Ray 2290

Hi Victor do yo mean to swr the ant in fm  mode only in the president mc kinley instruction book it says to always swr the radio on am and channel 20 answers on a postcard thanks 

skyrider wrote:

Hi Victor do yo mean to swr the ant in fm  mode only in the president mc kinley instruction book it says to always swr the radio on am and channel 20 answers on a postcard thanks 

Victor said check the SWR on AM or FM.
I'm guessing the McKinley is refering to AM as it's the more popular frequency in the USA.
I think FM has only recently been added over there.
So I assume Victor is stating a preference for FM as that is more popular here.

But as he states. Either or as they both transmit on key up whereas side band relies on your voice as a carrier. So you won't have a signal to check reflection on SSB by just keying up.

Thanks Sharpshooter so in the future i will swr the ant in fm mode   when need be

skyrider wrote:

Thanks Sharpshooter so in the future i will swr the ant in fm mode   when need be

No worries, 
By the way, my SWR on my mobile setup has increased since last year.
It was i think 1.2 channel 1 FM and 1.4 channel 40.
Thats on a Sirio 4000 and Sirio mag straight out the box. 
After removing for winter and replacing recently it is now 1.4 ch 1 and 1.6/1.7 channel 40. FM 

After reading this thread today I checked it on AM and its 1.3 ch 1 and 1.5 ch 40

So I'm going to adjust it soon.
Hope this helps and good luck.

yes just recently i  have been checking the swr every day but since i took the ant down to re do the sections it seem to have settled down a bit and keeping the same readings   i might upgrade the antenna next year see how it goes 

Settled on a Sirio 827 from Knights.

Hi Baldrik are they a decent antenna  ?   just looked on knights website and they look a very serviceable antenna 
, please let us know how you get on with it , thanks

Baldrik wrote:

Settled on a Sirio 827 from Knights.

Hi Baldrick.
Apologies for going off on a slight tangent on your thread.
Glad to hear you've settled on an antenna choice, did you order a pole off knights too ?

I know what you mean about depression, I get the black dog at times and even menial tasks or decisions become an impossible task. 

The radio hobby I've found is something that focuses my attention and gives me a bit of drive and pleasure and hopefully the same for you. Good luck and keep us updated

That's ok Sharpshooter,I know it can be hard, my partner passed away in May last year I'd been her carer for over 20 years 24/7, last 18 months she was bedridden. Passed unexpectedly so I'm still suffering, NOT AFTER SYMPATHY just explaining!

I am rapid cycling bipolar, used to be called manic depression. Took many years to get a correct diagnosis and treatment, not before I had 3 mini strokes in a day as I got so stressed about life in general, I was 38 at the time.

Life does get better, so keep your spirits up, if anyone needs a chat am only a PM away, door is always open.

You have had it touugh!! Thank you!! My 18 year old son has been a rock to me, accompanying me out as I cannot go out alone at mo! Strange as I used to run the house! Improving slowly.