CB Antenna - Bullbar or Gutter Mount?

Barrbeast · 19-03-2014, 15:07

Right since it's now on my radar for the Wales trip I've been looking at CB's and whip antennas to replace my handheld and mini whip.

I've found an 80 channel Midland cb for a good price and so I'm now looking at antennas.

Question is - Do I mount it to the bullbar like I planned or do I buy a gutter mount and put it on the rain gutter?

Pro's of the gutter mount is I won't need to run the cable through the firewall (it can go through a back door like my current mag mount) so I can remove the aerial when not in use. Con is that it'll be higher up so more exposed when laning/offroading (?)

Pro's of the bullbar mount is the hole's already there (ARB bullbar) and I can see what's happening with the antenna at all times as it will be in front of me. Con is that I will probably have to run the cable permanently through the firewall.

Opinions?

Fez_uk · 19-03-2014, 15:34

I'd go with bullbar mount, Range may be reduced but will be marginal.

Probably some grommets not used in the firewall, will be very easy to route to the dash area.

Are you buying the midland cb new?

Barrbeast · 19-03-2014, 15:50

It's b grade, but apparently fully functioning and with a year's warranty at about 60% of the normal price.

Bullbar mount was my original plan

Fez_uk · 19-03-2014, 16:05

walshie · 19-03-2014, 16:52

Roof mount every time for me. Assuming the antenna is a monopole it will have better match and more favourable radiation pattern in both azimuth and elevation if it has a decent groundplane. (I'm not a cb man though, just work with antennas)-so practicalities of bumper mount might be more important to you.
Perhaps buy a cheap mag mount and try the antenna in both locations to see the difference in performance?

Sweety · 19-03-2014, 17:46

I'd fit it to the bull bar

there will be a grommet you can feed the coax through into the cabin & there is a good chance the length of the coax will be shorter which is a good thing IIRC plus it rules out water getting inside your motor as i've had water leaks from coax through door seals in the past

Barrbeast · 19-03-2014, 18:18

Yeh I know exactly where to pass it through as I already had to make pass a cable through the firewall for the cable between the oil pressure gauge and sender

spinna · 19-03-2014, 23:16

Bullbar mount and you can get quick release antenna mounts. This is what I intend to fit when I get round to it

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lazy-Ferret · 19-03-2014, 23:26

Mine is on the Bull bar, and I had a quick release mount!!! Doing a tight multi point turn near a hedge, and the aerial snagged on a tiny branch, and the quick release snapped... They are just plated brass, and the thin bit where the bayonet pin clips in, just snaps off.

Since then, I have the aerial screwed straight into the mount, and it has been fine ever since.

With regards to the position, it depends what you want from the CB, if you want to do long distance communication, then it needs to be in the middle of the roof, to get the best radiation patterns, but I only wanted it for convoy and pay & play days, where range is not really an issue, and it really makes no difference where you put it, other than ease of installation.

Thomas-the-Terrano2 · 19-03-2014, 23:53

swr will be easier better on roof,

i'd stick with mag as if on convoy work only need mini stinger for range.

in worst case if caught on a tree mag will give way, where as a fixed mount
will drag and break.

suppose a diesel wont interfere as much as a petrol could, but isnt a twig
flicking about visually a distraction. can see how looks cool, popular in Oz....

jims-terrano · 20-03-2014, 00:09

I guess if you came across a policeman that really wanted to he may pick on the bulbar mounted being a danger to other road users and pedestrians.

If distance doesn't really bother you then do what is easiest for you.

I've used mag mounts and a clamp mount on to the roof rails. The mag got dragged off and I towed it through some mud until I got to a bit of track that I wouldn't get my feet mucky

. Really bent an aerial on the roof rail mount so lesson learnt on that one.

Sweety · 20-03-2014, 00:27

The bit that worries me with mag mounts is if the come off the can go through your window or damage the body panels which has happened to me before

so would rather kill an aerial. As mentioned it might be a tiny bit harder to SWR in but can't see it being as hard as my disco was with an alloy bonnet & roof

Fez_uk · 20-03-2014, 09:58

alloy roof won't make a difference to the antennas performance. Just means a mag mount won't stick on it.

Bumper is the way, will barely make any difference to the range.

Thomas-the-Terrano2 · 20-03-2014, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fez_uk

alloy roof won't make a difference to the antennas performance. Just means a mag mount won't stick on it.

Bumper is the way, will barely make any difference to the range.

what alloy roof, my mag stuck like glue to both t2 and the y61 trol.

last alloy roof i had was 74 classic rangey so used a gutter mount.

oddly its bonnet was steel as recall but didnt fancy my growing aerial farm there.

Fez_uk · 20-03-2014, 11:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweety

As mentioned it might be a tiny bit harder to SWR in but can't see it being as hard as my disco was with an alloy bonnet & roof

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas-the-Terrano2

what alloy roof, my mag stuck like glue to both t2 and the y61 trol.

As above

19-03-2014, 15:07	#1
Barrbeast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dundee, Scotland Vehicle: 1990 4.2 SWB Safari Posts: 2,615	CB Antenna - Bullbar or Gutter Mount? Right since it's now on my radar for the Wales trip I've been looking at CB's and whip antennas to replace my handheld and mini whip. I've found an 80 channel Midland cb for a good price and so I'm now looking at antennas. Question is - Do I mount it to the bullbar like I planned or do I buy a gutter mount and put it on the rain gutter? Pro's of the gutter mount is I won't need to run the cable through the firewall (it can go through a back door like my current mag mount) so I can remove the aerial when not in use. Con is that it'll be higher up so more exposed when laning/offroading (?) Pro's of the bullbar mount is the hole's already there (ARB bullbar) and I can see what's happening with the antenna at all times as it will be in front of me. Con is that I will probably have to run the cable permanently through the firewall. Opinions?

19-03-2014, 23:53	#10
Thomas-the-Terrano2 Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackenthorpe Sheffield Vehicle: Terrano2 R20 lwb 2.7TDi Posts: 5,234	swr will be easier better on roof, i'd stick with mag as if on convoy work only need mini stinger for range. in worst case if caught on a tree mag will give way, where as a fixed mount will drag and break. suppose a diesel wont interfere as much as a petrol could, but isnt a twig flicking about visually a distraction. can see how looks cool, popular in Oz.... __________________ M6YTB / 20YTB '60' 2010 Ford C Max Zetec 1.6i, black '56' 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0TD, silver 2021 Bailey Pegasus Grade SE Turin caravan Smile, its more likely to confuse. One Life, Don't Just Live It, Drive a Nissan, or ...... a Jeep. Owner of Nissan 4x4s 2005 to 2019, and maybe in the future too!

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19-03-2014, 15:34	#2
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	I'd go with bullbar mount, Range may be reduced but will be marginal. Probably some grommets not used in the firewall, will be very easy to route to the dash area. Are you buying the midland cb new?

19-03-2014, 15:50	#3
Barrbeast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dundee, Scotland Vehicle: 1990 4.2 SWB Safari Posts: 2,615	It's b grade, but apparently fully functioning and with a year's warranty at about 60% of the normal price. Bullbar mount was my original plan

19-03-2014, 16:05	#4
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645

19-03-2014, 16:52	#5
walshie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: High Wycombe Vehicle: Nissan Terrano 3.0di Posts: 165	Roof mount every time for me. Assuming the antenna is a monopole it will have better match and more favourable radiation pattern in both azimuth and elevation if it has a decent groundplane. (I'm not a cb man though, just work with antennas)-so practicalities of bumper mount might be more important to you. Perhaps buy a cheap mag mount and try the antenna in both locations to see the difference in performance?

19-03-2014, 17:46	#6
Sweety Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Northumberland Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDI SE LWB Posts: 3,604	I'd fit it to the bull bar there will be a grommet you can feed the coax through into the cabin & there is a good chance the length of the coax will be shorter which is a good thing IIRC plus it rules out water getting inside your motor as i've had water leaks from coax through door seals in the past

19-03-2014, 18:18	#7
Barrbeast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dundee, Scotland Vehicle: 1990 4.2 SWB Safari Posts: 2,615	Yeh I know exactly where to pass it through as I already had to make pass a cable through the firewall for the cable between the oil pressure gauge and sender

19-03-2014, 23:16	#8
spinna Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Telford, Shropshire Vehicle: Nissan Patrol y60 4.2d Posts: 1,287	Bullbar mount and you can get quick release antenna mounts. This is what I intend to fit when I get round to it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

19-03-2014, 23:26	#9
Lazy-Ferret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDi SE Touring Posts: 5,221	Mine is on the Bull bar, and I had a quick release mount!!! Doing a tight multi point turn near a hedge, and the aerial snagged on a tiny branch, and the quick release snapped... They are just plated brass, and the thin bit where the bayonet pin clips in, just snaps off. Since then, I have the aerial screwed straight into the mount, and it has been fine ever since. With regards to the position, it depends what you want from the CB, if you want to do long distance communication, then it needs to be in the middle of the roof, to get the best radiation patterns, but I only wanted it for convoy and pay & play days, where range is not really an issue, and it really makes no difference where you put it, other than ease of installation.

20-03-2014, 00:09	#11
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	I guess if you came across a policeman that really wanted to he may pick on the bulbar mounted being a danger to other road users and pedestrians. If distance doesn't really bother you then do what is easiest for you. I've used mag mounts and a clamp mount on to the roof rails. The mag got dragged off and I towed it through some mud until I got to a bit of track that I wouldn't get my feet mucky . Really bent an aerial on the roof rail mount so lesson learnt on that one.

20-03-2014, 00:27	#12
Sweety Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Northumberland Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDI SE LWB Posts: 3,604	The bit that worries me with mag mounts is if the come off the can go through your window or damage the body panels which has happened to me before so would rather kill an aerial. As mentioned it might be a tiny bit harder to SWR in but can't see it being as hard as my disco was with an alloy bonnet & roof

20-03-2014, 09:58	#13
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	alloy roof won't make a difference to the antennas performance. Just means a mag mount won't stick on it. Bumper is the way, will barely make any difference to the range.