can we just take a second to appreciate the production value of this video. These guys made an exceptionally good looking, well made, well lit, excellent audio quality, tv quality youtube video

Liking this Chanel more all the time. Simple talk, concise info, real world application.

tyvm for taking the time to lay out these concepts not covered in so many CB radio videos. I'm new to the CB thing, i inherited my Dad's old CB stuff... and i am trying to figure it all out now in 2022... tyvm for this! Anyway... I was also thinking the "height on antenna" is most important. It may be a no-brainer for most but this video changed my mind on where I will be mounting my antenna on the truck. It will be more work, but hey. It just makes sense.

Excellent video. Perfect timing too as I am in the middle of installing a CB radio into my jeep. Thanks for the information.

Glad i found this channel. You should do a video on what mods you should start off with for 4wding

I swear I thought you were standing in a green screen, then you grabbed the antenna. That blew my mind haha. Great video!

This is really helps me an ideas mate for my UHF and VHF radio antenna.. keep up a good content mate cheers!

Yet another great and informative video, thanks Ronny keep up the great videos. 👍

Excellent video, clears up a lot of confusion

Great work on the video. One point, just because a roof mounted antenna provides the best position for radio performance, doesn't mean it's definitively the best place to mount a radio antenna. That is one factor to consider, but clearly there are others, such as obstacle clearance.

Starting out with CB (in the USA) and then into Amateur Radio I couldn't agree more with your comment on antenna placement. The one thing I learned early on was if you want to get the best all around coverage is to put your antenna at the center of the vehicle. As soon as you move it in one direction or another, the signal will favor the direction where there is the most metal in relation to the antenna, also MAKE SURE the antenna 'sees' a good ground to the vehicle to get the best match (SWR) for the radio, assuming the antenna is adjustable.

Like always great information from Ronny.

Thanks Ronny- this is just what I needed. Cheers-

Thought I'd share something a little different my Father has tried with his CB, We bought him a separate speaker because he had trouble hearing due to the position so he mounted it on the car seat, in the gap between the headrest and backrest. Anyway great video and thanks for the tips.

I agree Ronny. Remember that the antenna on the bull bar, or on the roof for that matter, isan omnidirectional antenna. It means that when you transmit on that antenna, the radio sivnal is send out of that antenna in all directions around you. Just keep in mind that if hou put two antnnas next to each other on the same side of the bull bar, there is a possibility that the non transmitting antenna can act as a reflector, and this can change your omnidirectional antenna into a directional antenna. This means that you will not have strong signal all round, but stronger to the opposite side of the non transmitting antenna. Keep it away from each other as far as you can and you should be fine. If you put it on the bull bar, put one on each side, and you will transmit further and better around your vehicle in all directions. It is also a good thing if you have one on the bull bar and one on the roof, or on a bracket on your roof rack....as high as possible. The antenna plays avery important roll, a d it is very important whe it is mounted, that you make sure it is do e properly. If not, it can even damage your radio. Thanks for a very informative video Ronny. Maybe you can look at a video on different radios and antennas as well to compliment this channel. Thanks for all the interesting videos, I really enjoy watching it

If your running 2 UHF radios in the car you can select channels that you don't want to scan so that it doesn't interfere with the other one. I know the GME ones do it by holding down the scan button on the channel that you don't want it to scan. also with the hand held radios you can hook up a larger antenna (as long as their 5watt) to it for use in the car to get better signal obviously and then when you want to use it to spot someone it just unscrews. its definitely a cheaper way to do it with still the same signal strength. Keep up the good work mate!

That was very informative - i didn't even know. Thanks for the tips

Thank you for posting these VID's mate! I just inherited my Grandmother's old vehicle mounted, Cobra 40-CH, 4-ft whip antenna with a magnetic base. Fought it was registered in her name, I'm certain Grandfather has not used it since prior to '85.

thankyou very much. been wondering about all this for a while.

Fantastic info man. Looking to add a CB/UHF radio on my 4Runner

30 years ago I had a CB radio and found that putting the arial in the middle of the roof gave best all round signal when the arial is off centre it makes the signal directional both in recive and transmit this is because the metal car is the ground plane

Thanks Ronny, good information on CB radio's

AWESOME. Thank you for this :) You answered most of my questions. 🤜🏻👍🤛🏻♡♡♡

This is great info. I was planning on purchasing a cb in the near future.

Good information. Thanks Ronny!

very good advice Ronny, thanks

10/4 Ronny another good video. But am waiting impatiently for another big trip video😜

i use 2 meter boat antennas around town not connected to anything cause im cool

Some good info there (some not so good as well). Have you torn the antenna off the roof yet? Some of the tracks the brother and I have gone down an antenna on the roof would have been left behind with broken mounts. Never place two antennas together whether the other is active or not as it will stuff up the propagation characteristics. Other than a few nitpicks it is great to see someone do these videos, keep it up.

Thanks Mate!! Great Video

You pretty much nailed it Ronny. The German engineer is right but if you got into all that it would complicate the general message which was 100% correct. Keep antennas apart and keep them high. We should be making more use of the 11 meter/27MHZ CB band here in AUS because it will get you longer distances when travelling outback. Cheers mate.

Oi! Bloody gut video mate! Cheers 🍻

nice work mate

Very informative. Thank you

two antennas for one radio changes the coverage shape to a longer front/back direction when they are placed side-by-side.

Great vid!!!

Ronny, I'm really impressed with the time, cost, and creativity which goes into building these expedition trucks. On that note, how long/ what mileage do you typically keep your vehicle before you think of replacing it?

Very useful, thanks Ronny - YamahaR1Rider

good vid ronny, great looking rig and setup!!! any thoughts on 12 v connections under bonnet v cig plug for first timers

Good video ronny, just one question. What is the type and the brand of the music radio antenna you got mounted on your bullbar. I'm searching for such an antenna cause I want to mounth it on my nissan to.

Great vid. Really good info

Great video mate, have you got any videos on beach driving coming up?

awesome more like this please

Thanks again mate

Hey Ronny. What are your thoughts on solid fibreglass aerials vs. whips?

2:06 When she sees the antenna on your truck and says "That's it?"

One really good question:- is the length of the coax cable between the radio and base of the antenna critical ?

I came on to see which uhf radios are the BEST please. Sorry cannot find the other video.

Can someone help me. I am looking in putting an antenna like Ronny's for the amfm. It is a ground independent antenna. Does this mean it needs a good ground? Or does it not need one

In some states it is illegal to have an antenna on the drivers side of the bull bar, NSW I think is a big fine, they class it as obstructed vision, also the whole antenna radiates the signal not just the top

Goodey ronny, id love to see a modified episode on one of the smaller 4wds if you can find one! I'm a massive fan of the sierras and jimny's, but any other smaller rigs would be mint to see. Big fan, loving your work dude

Like your videos, great discovery to stumble on them. On this video, you talk about having antenna at different heights to avoid conflicting signals. Maybe we're looking at different applicatoins, maybe Main and Backup, but I'm thinking from having CB antenna and also a HAM UHF/VHF antenna (two diff units for band coverage). Question (and I'm new to CB, and HAM radio, too, just licensed), if you're only transmitting on one at a time, does it really matter if they're at the same height? Can't think I'd be TX'ing on two units at the same time? Is there conflict if only TX'ing on one at a time... or even RX'ing on say... 10 meters on one, and 2 meters on the other with antenna's mounted equally high on either side of vehicle?

cool video, like the information lol

You mention the scanning radio with a second radio, I see a lot of radios have a memory function, so you may can lock the channel your convoy is on from being scanned using this memory function.

Good work

Another tip: If you do have more than one antenna running different bands or the same band, make sure you don’t let those antenna cables cross (touch) each other. They can cause interference with each other.

Got question about mounting the antenna on a Ute behind cab on the tub but in front of the canopy would that work

Hey Ronny, was wondering what brand your 3db antenna is and where you got it from. Thanks.

Thank you

Another good vid Ronny, but at 3:30 yo misspelt height

Dear Ronny, What type of antenna you show on 2:00, i search such an antenna, do you have a brandmar or type? I want also that antenna and I'm looking to get one here in Holland

Try out CB repeater on drone for super UHF coverage and or up in balloon.

Very good Movie but there is definatly some corrections need to be in Place. I Think some of the things that you mention are derived from CB myths. I did enjoy. Keep the Movies coming. 1. Antenna on Bullbar. Very common in Australia yes. One reason why we do not use it so commonly in other countries is because. A. In many countries it could be seen as obstructing the view and a police can fine you or you will not pass your annual inspection. B. Our vehicles must be made out such that there is no Sharp objects to damage yourself even more on should you get hit by a car. This is for example a reason why Mercedes not have a logo sticking up over the hood anymore. 2. Antother reason why not to mount on the bull bar is ground. All vertical antennas need ground and if you put an antenna on the corner of your bull bar you will have very good transmit and reception in the opposite corner direction but not at all so good in the direction of where the antenna sits. The ground of the vehicle will be longest in the opposite corner direction. This means that the effective wave pattern will be lower in that direction and so will also the losses. 3. Height of antenna is important, I agree. We radio amatuers have a saying that if an antenna does not come down in a storm it is either placed to low or it is too small. Now there is one more Point. Your cabin, roof etc is in the way of the antenna hence you will get losses in that direction. 4. Never trust an antenna manufacturer Db. They are first of all theoretical and there is no reference. If it says Dbi you can trust it somewhat more but it is reference to an isotrop. Real Db for antennas is measured in Dbd (over a dipole) but verticals cant be measured by that. To really know the efficieancy of your antenna you need to know your ground. 5. The chart showing the DB of the antennas is not really correct. Db means how much the antenna gain is. That is, if you send 5W into the antenna, does it act like it sends out 3 or 5,6W? What the charts do show is the 6. Lower Db antennas do not work better in mountaius areas. This is a myth. What it is the wave pattern of the radio wave and also the take-off angle. This also depending on the ground. Since the manufacturer cant really say what ground each and every customer have it is considered quite bogus to even market with that. 7 An antenna does not transmit from the top. It uses the whole whip and with (lenghten) or without coils your antenna should be 1/4 wavelenght times 0,96. 8. Antenna up high is good but it may mean that it is difficult to get under trees and stuff. cheers

Glad if it would ok to program 146.350 in the Philippines?

where can you buy one of those antenna splitters from?

I love my 27MHz CB Radios from UHF, I have 2 27MHz and UHF in the car and house

Can I suggest an extremely important tip with regards to the placement of antennas, people need to check their state legislation with regards to the placement of antennas on front bars whether it be bull or nudge in NSW it is illegal to have an antenna right of center of the bonnet as it is considered an obstruction of the drivers view, I am proof fined by the NSW Highway patrol in Darlington Pount south of Griffith for having a 1m UHF CB antenna on the right hand tab of my bull bar considered to be an obstruction of the drivers vision. If you are going to have your antenna roof mounted you need to know your height from the tip of the antenna to the ground so you dint snap it off on low places like bridges & under ground car parks 2nd you can have 2 antennas ( say a uhf & say a phone, say your cel-fi ) next to each other as long as they are 300mm apart

Good video, I agree with most of it, but putting two antennas next to each other is not a good idea. One will interfere with the other kind of like putting it next to any metal object will. If you spaced them the right distance apart it could act like a beam and direct you power and signal mostly in one direction. I have seen Hams put 4 antennas on top of their car to do just that. Lot of work for little reward in my opinion. As you said separation is the best, and putting it on top is the absolute best. Been doing radio as a Ham Operator for about 45 years and worked at a shop and installed and sold a lot of radios. Always wondered about the big tall antennas; broadcast/tunes pretty cool. New van in 92 wife almost had a cow when she saw me on top drilling a hole in it. Don't know why, she should have been use to it by then; and by the way she holds a general ham license. Me an extra. Always wanted to go to Australia to scuba some and off road but a long ways from north west Arkansas, USA.

Ronny you got it right, Travel the world is specifically talking about the radiation pattern of a 1/4 wave ground plane, very hyper theoretical. and not of any real world relevance. BTW I worked as an instrument fitter for a swiss company dealing in electromechanics and Im an Aussie !!!! You don't need to drop anything. I was also a senior manager with Icom Just get anything on the roof and it will work, my choice RFI Stainless Steel Extended Feed ground independent with a 4.5dB Stainless steel Co-Linear on the roof bar, any position on the bar. Not the Bullbar If you need more signal, then put a 477Mhz capable amplifier in line. If that floats your boat, but IMHO not needed

Hi Ronny .. love your videos .. quick question .. what tyres do you have on your truck .. Thanks

Where do buy that 3 way switch from?

Hey mate I have a CB antenna connected to my UHF will it do any damage or or is it ok to use

ive got two handhelds.. one transmits on channel 1 (the motorola) but i cannot hear the transmition on the GME unless its on channel 31 what could be the problem ?

Hi Guys - how would an poor earth on aerial mount effect performance

Hi Ronny, I have a new BT50 (2017). can I place my UHF areial on the plastic grill on the front or do I try and get a bonnet mount bracket.

Can you show how you have your Antenna is mounted on the roof rack does it hit tree branches? when they are low

Awesome video Ronny! How are those general grabbers performing compared to your previous muddies?

Ronny, I'm curious about running the antenna cable up to the roof. I suppose your 79 series is a bit unique but what about getting the cable up there for other vehicles?

hi great video , i just bought a gme 3500s radio , it cam with a 4.5 db rubber ducky antenna , it also came with a gme ae220 antenna , im a little confused as when i google this antenna it says its a 27mhz antenna can i use this with my cb radio . tia

Some radios allow you to skip certain channels when scanning. Pretty nice feature so it wont pick up your groups channel as a scanning one. Also does length have relationship with gain? I wan to put a 9 db on my roof that size of your 3db

I think in addition to UHF it would be great if people started to re-populate the old 27mhz band again too. Less nutters hogging repeaters as there generally is no repeaters, the ability to converse interstate or internationally when conditions are favourable (however this is not reliable, just more for enjoyment when it's available) and generally you can acheive a greater distance than simplex UHF.

Nothing beats a 102" whip with spring. Also adding a 2 pill Amp wont hurt.

What do you think would be better, duel 5' fiberglass on a tool box of a truck or a single 5' fiberglass on the roof?

What do you use for you editing? And could you do a video on all your camera gear? If not could you tell me what drone you use?

Also please take note, your wave patten that radiates out of your antenna does not wave from the top of your antenna,

As we know higher is better, but placement is just as important, A Mid Roof mounted antenna radiates even, and antenna that is at the Front of a car pushes more power backwards, and vise versa, left mounted sends signal right and vise versa, Most important check that SWR

Thanks Ron. I had to move my antenna from the roof because it kept being ripped off from low branches. I mounted it on the spare wheel rack but this has drastically reduced the range due to the small base plate. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

sweeet bro

What radios do you have, Use?

G'day Ronny, great video thanks mate, I have one question that I hope you can answer & that is when you have both a UHF 477MHZ & a 27MHZ CB do the aerials interfere with each other when mounted around 1 meter apart? My thought is that they won't due to the different frequencies (Well that's what I am hoping) Look Forward to hopefully hearing back from you mate, Steve.

typically I err to use a whip of 7 foot for 27 mhz and i'm inclined to do the same with uhf... with caveat with uhf that on road stick to 80 on bush stick to 40 channel

Hello from the US. Great video. I understand some people use 27Mhz and 477Mhz. But, sometimes I see pictures or videos of vehicles with 3, 4, or 5 antennas. What are those all for?

A 12 dB antenna would be totally impractical mobile as it would be way too long, (more than 5 metres) The device shown at 3:50 is not a “splitter” it’s a coax switch. Some care needs to be taken with their use, for example never ‘hot switch’ them that is switch them over while transmitting as that will present an open circuit to the radio during change over . It can also cause arcing at the switch contacts which can damage the contacts. For uhf cb I would recommend a switch with N connectors rather than the SO239 connectors shown as they can be a bit lossy at 477 MHz. By the way I disagree on placing antennas close to each other under any circumstance as an antenna that receives also re radiates part of the radio frequency energy it receives so there still be interaction between them which will affect their beam patterns.

Here in America the 11 meter CB is limited to 5 watts in a hand held and 4 watts for vehicle mounted or a base station, and we cant use repeaters, so very limited range. I now use a 2 meter/70 cm hand held Ham Radio, yes I have my license, and repeaters and I get great range, with 8 watts. Do you know if any one uses 2m/70cm down there?

If you mount the antenna on the roof, where do you enter the vehicle with the cable? Are you suggesting we drill a hole in the roof? Can you do a video on this?

Hay Ronny What antenna are you using for your FM on the bull bar. I'm down in Baldivis and my FM is very poor, any suggestions? Cheers

mounting two speakers in front not an issue... left for one... right for the other... the hardest thing is when you've got five different radios to monitor..! I'm ex army radio operator :)

In AU , do you have to file for a license to use the UHF radio ? Here in the US the FCC controls those bands and you have to be a licensed operator or you can get in some serious trouble ...

Does pressing the mic button , while the unit is ON with NO antenna connected , damage the unit?

Do people still use the HF 27mhz CB radio, or is it all UHF?