Antenna £50 to £60

Can anyone recommend a good antenna for around £50 to £60 was going to get silver rod but thinking about something a little more expensive would do a better job my radio is the ss6900n and antenna will be going on my chimney stack any help would be appreciated
Dave 73s

Hello Dave, if you can up your budget a bit a trusty Antron99 will serve you well, easy to put together virtually bullet proof once up and as good as any other half wave antenna performance wise.

https://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/product/solarcon-antron-a99/

73's Gary.

Ok thanks will check it out
edit is this worth it Antron 99 cb radio antenna with ground plane kit used for few months works great £60
Gary

To be honest Dave, I don't think the ground plane kit for a half wave antenna is much more than a gimmick, it may alter the angle of radiation a bit but otherwise I think you are unlikely to notice the difference.

I'm happy to stand corrected if anyone has one and has had a big improvement.

73's Gary.

Have a read of this article then decide whether or not you need a ground plane, whether it be a kit or making one up. And this just doesn't apply to A99/Imax but every end fed antenna which pretty much every CB antenna other than the Gainmaster are and no three bits of metal a few inches long like some have will not do.

First link: https://www.w8ji.com/ground_plane_verticals.htm

Second link: https://www.w8ji.com/end-fed_vertical.htm#IMAX

Basically you can't defy physics which means you need one. If you're lucky with your mast length you may not need to change anything as the mast will suffice. If you aren't things may get worse. Many people who have fitted them have reported a reduction in noise as well as slight increases in signal strength. The reduction in noise is a result of reduced/eliminated common mode RFI which occurs due to the antenna system using the coax to make up for a lack of RF ground.

Thanks for that Connor, always appreciate your in depth knowledge of antenna theory buddy. It's worth mentioning if there's not enough budget for the G.P. kit a simple 'Air choke' or 'Ugly Balun' can be another way of keeping the RFI out of the shack but appreciate it's not as effective as a proper counterpoise.

73's Gary.

Definitely use a choke if you can. Solved all the TVI and interference issues I've experienced on CB. 5 turns of coax round a 4.25" former if you want air wound for 11m and that brown PVC waste pipe you can buy a few metres of for a few quid from MKM is exactly the right size.

thanks for all your advice have took it on board and have found the SOLARCON ANTRON 99 for£89.95 new and have also got a kenwood 2 way Antenna switches and going to run the main RG58 Coax from the chimney to bedroom then going to run 2nd coax from bedroom to shed in back garden 100m reel RG58 for £22.99 going to use these FME plug to UHF PL259 for £6.55 and will be using one of these Large Cradle Chimney Bracket c/w Lashing Kit £19.49 will keep you all updated thanks again for all the help
73 Dave

Northern Crusader wrote:

Definitely use a choke if you can. Solved all the TVI and interference issues I've experienced on CB. 5 turns of coax round a 4.25" former if you want air wound for 11m and that brown PVC waste pipe you can buy a few metres of for a few quid from MKM is exactly the right size.  

The two best resources I've found for chokes are these:

http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/chokes/

http://k9yc.com/2018Cookbook.pdf

Good background reading for sure.

Ok thanks will check them out

witch one is better sirio 827 or the antron 99 ?

Both installed properly you'd likely notice little difference between the two. Don't think you'll be disappointed with whichever you choose.

The antron I much less in your face and not as noticeable. The sirio is a brute I've got both. I bought the sirio built it and never put it up it's one ugly antenna for on the house you barely notice my antron.

Haven’t got round to getting antenna yet but think am going for the antron like you say not so much in your face

Defo the way forward for the money it is very good. They cope with bad weather well also.