On 10 May 2004 18:36:57 -0700, (Gary Chenier)
wrote:

I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried
to tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten
it the SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru
the glass mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought
home a new radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.

Any suggestions?


You didn't indicate whether you used the came coax cable when trying
both antennas. If so, I'd suspect that the cable connections are
faulty. Try again with new cable.

Thru-glass antennas are notoriously poor performers on CB frequencies.
They're just not efficient. What I did on my RV, was to mount a mirror
mount antenna on the luggage rack on top of the roof. A 3' fiberglass
whip works well, although it will hit low bridges and trees, so I use
a shock spring. Most RV's have an aluminum metal roof so the ground
plane is excellent. It's just not a steel roof, so you can't use a
magnet mount antenna.

Good luck!

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

It's just not a steel roof, so you can't use a magnet mount antenna.

Sure you can. Mount another magnet on the other side of the aluminum, with
silicone caulk.

On Tue, 11 May 2004 12:52:55 -0500, "Dave VanHorn"
wrote:

It's just not a steel roof, so you can't use a magnet mount antenna.

Sure you can. Mount another magnet on the other side of the aluminum, with
silicone caulk.



If you're going to go through the trouble it would take to remove the
inner roof lining to gain access to the underside of the aluminum skin
to mount the magnet, you might as well just drill a hole and mount the
antenna directly.

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

If you're going to go through the trouble it would take to remove the
inner roof lining to gain access to the underside of the aluminum skin
to mount the magnet, you might as well just drill a hole and mount the
antenna directly.

I suppose. I used this trick once, but it was pretty easy to get to the
underside, and the owner was adimant about using a mag mount.

They are more forgiving about hitting low obstructions. A mag will fall
over, but if I snag my super-gainer, it will peel my roof like a grape.

On Wed, 12 May 2004 08:22:02 -0500, "Dave VanHorn"
wrote:


If you're going to go through the trouble it would take to remove the
inner roof lining to gain access to the underside of the aluminum skin
to mount the magnet, you might as well just drill a hole and mount the
antenna directly.

I suppose. I used this trick once, but it was pretty easy to get to the
underside, and the owner was adimant about using a mag mount.

They are more forgiving about hitting low obstructions. A mag will fall
over, but if I snag my super-gainer, it will peel my roof like a grape.

Ouch! That's why I use a shock spring and limit the size to a
manageable length.

I've used mag-mounts before, but a capacitive ground does not always
give you as good a performance as a direct ground, depending on which
bands you are operating on. They are, like most antennas, a
compromise, designed to accommodate those who's desire to operate a
2-way radio in a mobile is overridden by a stronger desire to not
drill holes.


Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj