May 5th 05, 01:49 PM
|
|
|
On 4 May 2005 20:56:02 -0700, wrote:
So I bought a magmount CB antenna from Radio Schmack and just stuck it
in my front room for testing purposes, connected to a Midland 77-104 .
Using a borrowed handheld CB, range was barely half a mile (I live in a
city), but that could have just been the handheld.
I have the magmount up in the attic on a cookie sheet now. I don't have
the handheld anymore for testing purposes, but I have heard nothing on
channel 9 or 19 for several days, even after soliciting contacts a few
times. I've got someone with a CB about 6 miles away and I have a
freeway (i.e., truckers) also about 6 miles away... still can't make
contact with anyone.
Is 6 miles out of reach for an attic magmount? Do I need a better
ground plane or should I just give it up as a lost cause?
I have a 6 foot Firestick in the attic, but I have 8 wires as a ground plane.
They are about 9 feet long. I did OK, and even shot skip. But I figured 10 miles
was tops locally. I am installing a Imax in a tree on Sat and Sun. SO the
Firestick will be out of service. My suggestion is if you have limited space,
use a dipole which would be about 18 feet long, and you can hang in horizontally
along the peak of your attic. It should improve your local contacts. Not great,
but better than a magmount.
Vinnie S.
|