A CB antenna is an important link between your favorite radio and the outside world. It determines your transmission or reception range. It also affects signal clarity. Getting the best antenna is the first step. The next is installing it right on your truck.
SWR readings that are between 2.0 and 3.0 indicate a bad antenna or poor mounting location on your truck. The ideal SWR should be 1.5 or less.
Pro Tip: If the SWR is above 3.0, there is a problem with your antenna connection. Don’t tune your radio as this might damage it. The culprit could be a faulty antenna grounding or a bad coax cable
Here are some of the worst places to install your antenna
- A place surrounded by metal surfaces
- If the antenna is installed between two surfaces
- A big portion of the antenna is boxed in by a section of the truck
- The entire antenna is below the roof of your truck
A natural installation position will leave your antenna exposed and in most cases protruding beyond your truck’s cab roof.
Some great places for installation include
- On the front bumper
- On the rear bumper
- On your truck’s roof using a magnetic installation clamp (this way you can uninstall it when you don’t need it)
- A magnetic clamp on top of your hood (out of your field of vision)
- On the front fender
- On the rear windshield guard
There is no way you can tuck away your antenna and expect to get good reception. Choose one of the above ideal locations and do a dummy tune before permanently installing your antenna.
Read this too: How To Eliminate Static And Noise On CB Radio
Have someone hold the antenna at your new location of choice and tune into a station to check the signal strength. Only install the best antenna where you get the best possible reception.