Is this for an antenna?
 

Hi,

I just got my ham radio license and I'm looking into installing a CB radio too, just because.

I'd like to research, purchase, and install this without my husband's help.

Question:
In the wall of the bed (driver's side) there's a grey disk that covers a hole (see photo). Is this likely part of a ball CB antenna mount? If so, is this the best location for the antenna?

Thanks,

Michelle

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

That's what it looks like it used to be at one time..

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

As far as a mounting location I wouldn't want it that close to the cab..it would beat the heck out of it...most bedside mounts I've seen are mounted at the side rear of the bed

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

Hello.

Your truck is awesome, I would never paint it, its perfect.
I agree that it probably use to be a ball antenna mount. Some people have mounted brackets for antennas on the bottom corner of their step-bumper. You can pretty much mount it anywhere, everyone has there own preferences on location. A whip off of the mirror looks cool too. I have had a CB radio in every daily driver I have owned. I have not put a Ham in my truck yet, but I plan to install a NMO antenna in the center of the steel roof, or on the top of the bed rail.

Congrats on getting your license! It took me a couple tries..

-Gavin
KK6UQP

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

Yay! Another ham radio user!

Thanks: Yes, I love the patina/paint/rust; no, I would never paint over it, although I am not in love with the grinder scribbles.

I've been reading about whip antennas, especially since I don't take this truck off-road. I like the look of the whip antenna tied down; does it get the same quality reception?

I just found this 1977 ad for the Delco|GM 8-track stereo with CB! Must find this!

73,

--Michelle
KZ6CAT

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

A 102" whip on a ball mount mounted on the rear bumper and then folded over towards the front of the car and tied/secured to the roof line, looks absolutely fantastic. Just like the antennas on the military humves. It's understandable why it's not a good choice for most. Height is the problem. If your running an antenna that large you can still get reception around town with it folded over.
Those factory GM am/fm/8 track/cb units are very cool! I think they are quite hard to find. Oddly enough, I just saw one of those units in a 70s GM car this morning.

-Gavin

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

Antenna placement can be a bit of a black art. For most CB applications, mounting center of vehicle and high up gives the best results. That 8' whip is a 1/4 wave antenna for CB use. It can also be a PITA if you use parking garages much. IIRC, a side mount location like is on your truck will favor transmission toward the opposite side. In your case, toward the passenger side. One of the reasons truckers tend to like the dual mirror mounts is the dual antennas create an oval transmission pattern in line with the length of the truck. Gives good results on mostly straight roads, fades in and out on curvy ones.

I got good results with my CB rig by mounting a base load antenna on a home made bracket mounted to the back side top of the cab above the window. Ran the coax along the window rubber and down to the lower part of the cab where I drilled a hole to get it into the cab. Still a PITA in parking garages since some have so little clearance.

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

I'm using a Firestik CB antenna mounted on the right side of the cab, aft of the door. You can tune it for optimal performance with an SWR meter. IMHO, the best CB antenna on the market. I've used 102" whips and just about everything else under the sun, but the Firestik is my fav.

Vince, aka W6HBP

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

theres one of those cb radios on ebay last night.

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

My dad had one of those am-fm/cb radios in his truck back in the 70s

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

73 km4hbu

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

Michelle,

Congrats on the ham license.

Something you might consider for good CB and ham radio performance is to bond the bed to the cab and both of them to the frame using braided ground strap. Also run a couple of straps from the exhaust to the frame. This can help with ground plane and RFI.

73
KF5WUF

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

Welcome to the Ham tweak! The comment about the direction of the signal is right on. I started CBing along about 1969 or so. Been Ham since 1992. Antenna placement is a problem no matter where you mount it. There are always compromises. Too tall, too short, on and on.
Just get [I] something[I] in the air and join us. Then change as you sort out your priorities and choices.
I won't say if��, but when, you decide, there'll be something that'll work for you.
Keep in mind thee sunspot cycles. What's bad for CB (11 meters) is great for 10 meters, and vice-versa. I have used a K-40 CB antenna center roof of pickups and Suburbans, retuned from 27.***MHz/11 meters to 28.*** mHz/10 meters with contacts to S America, Mexico, BC Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
I'm still learning and growing in the hobby.
Doug
KB5TTS

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

Just saying hello to all the hams and cb'ers.

W4CSB
Ham since 1984

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

My dad had a cool design. He had a roll bar mount and placed a 4' antenna on both sides. When we went somewhere, he would load the 8' antennas in a trailer till we were out of town or near where we would be going, then he would change to them.

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

They used a basic front fender mount antenna, has a curved rectangular baseplate to match the curve of the fender. That antenna plugged into the antenna splitter. My GMC still has its antenna, the cb/radio combination was long gone before I got the truck.

Alex.

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

I’m pulling the antenna off my truck. Let me see what all is there, and if you are interested I’ll let it go for little of nothing

Re: Is this for an antenna?
 

If you plan to have a cross bed tool box now's the time & mount the antenna to the rear of the tool box. Or if it's an old two lid box mount it in the center between the lids.