Removing antenna from liftback...

[Sodium Duck]

Just checked up on a CB forum I post at. They say I can use a CB antenna for AM/FM, so I'll be ordering 2 antenna's soon. Woot.

I'm going to go with either a 3' or 4' Wilson FGT, going to a Uniden PRO538W, for anyone interested.

Anyone have a comment on what size to get? I propped a tape measure on the side view mirror at 3' and 4'. I like how they both look and still can't decide.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

Just checked up on a CB forum I post at. They say I can use a CB antenna for AM/FM, so I'll be ordering 2 antenna's soon. Woot.

I'm going to go with either a 3' or 4' Wilson FGT, going to a Uniden PRO538W, for anyone interested.

Anyone have a comment on what size to get? I propped a tape measure on the side view mirror at 3' and 4'. I like how they both look and still can't decide.

For best reception a dipole antenna's length should be a fraction of he wavelength (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8. etc.) of the signal. Considering that FM radio goes from 87.5 - 108.0 MHz:

1/2 Wave Dipole Antenna
87.5 MHz: 5ft 4 - 3/16in
108.0 MHz: 4ft 3 - 31/32in

3/8 Wave Dipole Antenna
87.5 MHz: 4ft 0 - 5/32in
108.0 MHz: 3ft 3 - 1/32in

Most vehicles which have a whip antenna, use a 1/4 wave dipole (@~97 MHz) which is about 29 inches long. When you are tuning over range, you usually try to select an antenna length in center of the band.

CB runs from 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz. An 1/8 Wave antenna would be 4ft. 3 - 21/32in @ the center frequency of 27.185 MHz.


So, if you are going to use a matching pair of antennas, the 4' ones would probably be the best compromise for both FM and CB...