1st Gen Antenna

[videoarizona]

Thinking out loud here...

 

Sent an email to two antenna companies asking their advice regarding which antenna would be best for my VR. Been two weeks. Not a peep from either one.

Both Firestik and Francis haven't responded.

 

Amazes me how customer service with some companies has gone by the wayside.

 

I have the original and was thinking of replacing the antenna "system". Cable and stick. Currently no resistance noted between antenna post and ground. Oh and the stainless inside top piece is broken off as well. So can't tune it. The teeny set screw is stripped so nothing I can do short of drilling it out and using a larger set screw. Little things I'm finding in this new to me, VR. Sigh!

 

So...time to check it out.

[Prairiehammer]

I, too had the stripped screw in the load coil (for adjusting the SWR) as well as a missing ball tip and a somewhat bent upper SS part of the antennae. I replaced the factory antennae with a Firestik FL3B Firefly and a low profile base, HS818TNKT with 18' Coax w/ removable PL259 and Terminator stud. Got both in under 24 hours from Walcott CB.

http://www.walcottcb.com/firestik-fl3b-firefly-fiberglass-cb-antenna-black-p-897.html

http://www.walcottcb.com/18-coax-removable-pl259-and-terminator-stud-p-199.html

 

[utadventure]

With the splitter as part of the 1st Gen system, I couldn't get a good SWR match on my '86.

 

I did the Marshall Mod (two antenna system) and put 4' Firestik antennas with adjustable tip and have had good radio and CB since.

 

Worth the change over.

 

Dave

[Squidley]

FWIW Firestik is a great antenna, used them several times...

[saddlebum]

I used the same setup as in post #2 except that I used a 4 foot wilson with tunable tip. It is thinner, taller and lighter than the firestick and has an added wire at the base you can ground to help eliminate ignition static interference noise. Also on the package it states that you can ground it to assit in better swr if you cannot get it low enough. I did not have to ground it on mine and I got 1.3:1 match. Here is the link.

 

http://wilsonantenna.com/products/cb-antennas-kitswhips-tips/sp/wilson-4-silver-load-fgt-series-fiberglass-whip-black/

Edited July 10, 2014 by saddlebum

[videoarizona]

Sounds simple enough. Thanks!

 

Ordered both as per Kevin's suggestion.

Guess now I get to get the seat off and figure out the antenna run. Want to keep it as clean as possible.

 

Thanks, again, gentlemen.

Edited July 3, 2014 by videoarizona
added order

[Goose68]

Has anyone tried the No ground plain fire stick antennas, and if so are the worth the extra price?

[videoarizona]

Okie dokie.

 

Finally got antenna back on and did the SWR thing. After losing a little ground clamp for the antenna adapter end (1st gen VR is a hidey hole of spare parts), I found a CB store in Tucson! Went in and he found the proper adapter end for me....whoo hoo!

 

After mucho soldering and crimping....finally got a good ground on the end adapter and put the whole shebang together.

 

Attached the SWR meter...and wow! I got real lucky.

Ch 1 and 40 - 1.8

Ch 19 - 1.2

Output of radio transmitter is a true 3.9 watts. Not to shabby for a 1989 CB with old technology output amps!

 

And yea, I did the SWR right where the PL259 plug comes out of the mixer box and into the CB radio. So the SWR was taken with the antenna, cable, mixer box and short cable to the meter all factored in...jumpered then to the CB ant in.

 

So thanks for the suggestion Kevin about the FL3 Firestik and cable. I did coil the extra in a nice figure 8, tied it, and lay it under the seat. I bet that helped a lot with ground plane since the cable plays a bit part in the CB world.

 

I'll be curious how the radio works now. Just need some cool dry weather to try it out!