CB Radio Antennas - Best Homebase Aerials

CB Radio Antennas - Homebase

There are a number of well known CB Radio antennas on the market and some are extremely expensive while others are much cheaper and possibly much less effective.

Here we will review a number of the more popular home base antennas which are available with links to where they can be purchased.

Siro Gainmaster

The Sirio Gain-Master is a fibreglass base station antenna for CB and 10m amateur band. designed by electromagnetic simulation to achieve the best gain and optimise its radiation pattern and bandwidth. The Siri Gainmaster is manufactured in Italy with high quality materials.

The design of the element works like a central fed dipole so all RF currents on the radiator are in-phase and the ground plane radials are not required. The coil at the bottom works like an RF-choke for the best decoupling from mast and feed line. Made of telescopic fiberglass tubes, it is DC-grounded for the best protection from static discharge.

Thunderpole 5

The 'Thunderpole 5' is a high performance base station antenna. The top section has a tunable whip which can be trimmed to suit your preferred frequency band from 25Mhz to 30MHz 

The usable frequency band makes it ideal for use on the CB and 10 metre band as well as DX'ing. Made from fibreglass in 3 sections with a top stainless steel whip. The total length (including the whip) is 18 feet. The weatherproof fibreglass design means you will be able to enjoy years of use from this antenna.

BUY THUNDERPOLE 5

Antron 99

The 18' Antron 99 Base CB antenna is perfect for the CB user who wants a base CB setup but isn't interested in taking out a loan to buy the equipment. This antenna is a popular choice for small businesses that use base CB location for their specific areas but don't need to talk across the country. Tuning the Antron 99 is simple with the Adjust-A-Match tuning feature, which lets you move two rings up and down the antenna to set the frequency. The Antron 99 is perfect if you're looking for an effective, high-value antenna.

Solarcon Imax 2000

 3-section Fibreglass Base Antenna covering from 15 metres right up to 28 MHz (with a tuner). On 27 MHz it is especially efficient and a popular choice for long distance working.

Specifications:

• Power : Tested to 5000w
• Bandwidth : Typically 2Mhz bandwidth with 2:1 VSWR
• Relative gain : 1-2 dB higher than the best of its competitors
• Wind rating : 100 mph
• Wavelength : 5/8 wave
• Connection : SO239 (PL259)
• Length : 24' (3 x 8' sections)
• Mounting : 2 x U-bolts (supplied)

BUY SOLARCON IMAX 2000

Excalibur

The Excalibur is perfect for when a Full size homebase antenna can not be erected.

The Excalibur is perfect for Balcony or loft mount.

Performance of the Excalibur is not bad at all considdering the size.

4 to 5 Miles can easily be achieved if mounted outside and up to 2 Miles if mounted in the loft.



BUY EXCALIBUR

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Rig Review - Icom ICB 1050

Rig Review - Icom ICB 1050

Rig Review

Icom ICB-1050

This really nice little rig wears the badge of Icom who nowadays produce some of the better HAM radios.  This is a very old school CB Radio with a great look and finish.  It comes with just a volume and squelch control but looks great for what it is.

Type          40 Channel FM
Design       7/10
Price          7/10
Usability    5/10

Overall    19/30

You Tube Video

Icom ICB-1050





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National CB Radio Day

National CB Radio Day – 2nd November 2017

2nd November 2017 marks the 36th year since CB Radio was legalised in the UK and to mark the occasion each year a national Radio Net is organised.

Its the time of year when CB Radio enthusiasts up and down the country get together on air to celebrate the anniversary of the legalisation of CB Radio in the UK and reminisce about how exciting it was back then to be part of one of the largest phenomenons to hit the country in the early eighties.

Its also a great opportunity for CB Radio users to dust off their old CB Radios from the eighties and give them a try on the night and its great to hear people sharing stories with each other on how they first got into CB Radio and the funny stories they remember from back then.

CB Radio first became popular in the UK because of the import of illegal american AM Rigs and it took many years of lobbying and campaigning before the British government was forced to introduce new legislation to legalise the production and use of legal FM CB Radios for use on the offset 27Mhz frequencies in Britain.

Back then a licence was also required to operate a CB Radio legally and these licences were made available at a cost of £15 from local post offices although years later CB Radio was reclassified as licence free and is now legal to use without a licence.

Although CB Radio is not as popular as it once was there are still a great number of old CB Radios in circulation and the 2nd November is still a very popular event up and down the country with people joining the event from all over the nation.  There are scores of second hand CB Radios changing hands on EBay every week and this is a great place to get hold of a cheap CB Radio and get yourself set up in the hobby.

As well as the Net running on the FM Frequencies there is also activity taking place on the more recently legalised AM Frequencies and also on SSB for those with the more modern CB Radios which were legalised only a few years ago.

If you have access to an old CB Radio then the 2nd November would be a great time to get it set up and give it a try especially if you can get up on a local hill or somewhere where you can get the best reception and see what you can hear on the night.

The main net is scheduled to run from 7pm up until 10pm on the evening of the 2nd November and is set to run on Channel 36 of the FM Frequencies

So why not join in on the day by tuning in to one of the frequencies listed below and come and join in on the celebrations to mark the anniversary of the legalisation of CB Radio in the UK

MAIN NET:    36 years of legal UK CB radio

DATE:           Thursday 2nd November 2017

TIME:            19:00 – 22:00 hours (BST)

FREQ:            Ch36 UKFM (27.95125Mhz). 

Optional: 

AM Calling on Ch14 EU (27.125Mhz)*

SSB Calling on Ch27 EU (27.275Mhz)*

CB Radio Chat - CB Radio Online?

CB Radio Chat - CB Radio Online

A frequent comment from friends and associates when talking about CB Radio is that since the rise of the internet, being able to talk on the radio isn't needed anymore.

It's true that CB Radio could be considered the first true 'social network' and for many people it belongs in the annals of yesteryear but with the advent of mobile connectivity and free downloadable apps for your phone it is possible to keep in touch with friends whilst out and about either individually or in a group.

Sure, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are the front runners in the race for mobile communications but what about our old 'Push To Talk' networks that were spawned from the 'Old days of Radio'

Step forward then, 'CB Radio Chat' which is available as a free download for either iPhone or android phones and features a single button to allow you to 'Push & Talk' with others on the same platform around the world.

The software offers various 'languages' really meaning different geographic areas allowing you to talk with people in your chosen area.  Each zone then has up to 26 'channels' which also shows the number of people on each channel to talk to.

Much like real CB Radio it has its share of foul language and insults but it could have more serious applications since it is free to install, allows you to talk in a group on mobile networks and could be used to make contact with other users out of range of your usual radio equipment.

Anyone up for a regular CB Radio Chat net?

Download links :- Android / iPhone

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Rig Review - Elftone EL CB-4000

Rig Review

 

Elftone EL CB-4000

I purchased this as a boxed item and I was initially struck by the old style graphics used on the box.  It was another brand that I hadn't come across before.  Our example was in excellent condition and I was also very impressed by its receive.

Equipped with an RF Gain and a dim feature it had some of the features that come with some of the higher end rigs of its day.  Because it was in its original box along with its original mounting kit and thumb screws.

Type          40 Channel FM
Design       7/10
Price          7/10
Usability    7/10

Overall    21/30

You Tube Video

Elftone EL CB-4000





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