THE QUICK & DIRTY GUIDE TO CB RADIOS

GLOSSARY OF CB TERMS 1
FEATURES OF CB RADIOS 2
THE RULES OF PICKING AN ANTENNA 3
THE PERFECT MOUNT 6
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 7

Are you ready for Right Channel Radio’s crash course on Choosing The Right CB
Equipment? I'm Pat Haggerty, the owner of Right Channel Radios, the nation's #1
source for heavy-duty CB needs. The goal for this guide is to enable you to make
the best decisions when outfitting your rig with a CB system. We’ll be discussing the
features of CB radios, antennas, mounts, and what elements to consider in order to
get the best setup for your specific vehicle.

GLOSSARY OF CB TERMS
Before we get started, let’s get on the same page by reviewing some technical terms
we’ll be using below:

• Ground: the connection between the antenna mount and the body of the vehicle.
A mount must be grounded to the body of the vehicle meaning there must be an
electrical connection between the mount and the body of the vehicle.
• SSB: In radio communication, single-sideband modulation, or SSB, is a type of
modulation used to transmit the audio signal through radio waves.

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• SWR: Antenna tuning is also known as adjusting the SWR, which stands for
Standing Wave Ratio. SWR is the ratio of how much output power reaches its
destination versus how much is reflected back. When the output power is
impeded, the waves can be called “standing,” meaning they are not radiating
correctly. A low SWR means that your antenna is transmitting a satisfactory
amount of RF (radio frequency) power instead of sending it back into your
transmitter.
• Whip: The part of an antenna that consists of straight flexible wire or rod.

FEATURES OF CB RADIOS

Let’s start with a look at the different features of CB radios. Most CB radios
broadcast at 4 watts of power, so choosing the best radio for you is more about the
radio’s features and not about power. Here are the important radio features to
consider when choosing a new CB:

• Weather Alerts – Flip a switch and get a real-time NOAA weather update.
• A backlit display– A fully-illuminated display - ideal if you’re a nighttime driver.
• Public Address System–
Many radios have the ability For an overview of
to attach a PA horn or PA all the components
speaker to the back of the needed for a fully
radio and mount it in their functioning mobile
hood or bumper. With the flip CB installation,
of the switch, it will amplify check out our free
your voice and broadcast Complete System
outside your vehicle. Checklist PDF
• Channel Scanning – Rather here.
than manually searching, this
function looks for activity on
any channel for you and lets you know when something is happening on a
channel other than the one you’re on.

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• Bluetooth – If you talk on your phone a lot and want to talk hands-free on your
CB, a Bluetooth can help you do that.
• SWR meter – A built-in SWR meter can be handy for adjusting your antenna
conveniently. For premier performance, external SWR meters are the way to go.
• Single Side Band (SSB) – This is the one exception where you can get a radio
that broadcasts at 12 watts instead of 4 watts. The caveat is that the person on
the other side of your transmission also needs to have an SSB in order to
communicate with them. If you’re outfitting a fleet of vehicles or you know you’ll
be talking with other SSB folks, it’s a great option to consider.
• Size – Consider the size of your vehicle and the space you have for your CB as
you’re shopping.

And if you're ahead of the curve, feel free to check out our wide selection of
CB radios straight away and learn about our best selling CB radio, the
Cobra 75 WX ST, in our detailed CB radio guide.

THE RULES OF PICKING AN ANTENNA

There are three important rules to follow when you’re picking your antenna:
• The higher, the better! The higher you can mount your antenna, the better it will
perform.
• Longer is also better! If you utilize a 2-foot antenna on your vehicle, you won’t
get incredible performance. A 3-foot is the minimum we recommend while a 4-
foot is even better.
• Lastly, the coil of your antenna must be above the roofline so that you don’t run
into performance issues.

The four main types of antennas:

1) FIBERGLASS ANTENNAS
If you’ve had a CB before or off-road frequently, you are probably most familiar with
fiberglass antennas. These always attach to the vehicle via a separate mount. They
need to screw to the mount and use a separate piece of coax cable to connect to

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the radio. Popular accessories for fiberglass antennas are springs and/or quick
disconnects.

Fiberglass antennas are the most popular antennas

we sell for off-road use, especially with Jeeps and
other 4x4 vehicles. They are versatile, flexible, and
can be mounted just about anywhere. Plus, they’re
heavy-duty and hold up to the rigors of off-road
use better than most.

The coil for these is at the top, another big advantage if you have a Jeep or a
vehicle that doesn’t have a lot of metal to create a ground plane through which to
send a signal (a.k.a. the roof is fiberglass, aluminum or non-metal). The coil at the
top really helps with performance.

In terms of range, if you opt for a 3-foot antenna, you’ll probably get 3 to 4 miles.
With a 4-foot antenna, you’ll get a 4 to 6 miles range. *These are rough estimates
depending on conditions and location.

If a fiberglass antenna is right for your rig, we recommend the Firestik FS and the
Firestik Firefly.

2) MAGNET ANTENNA
The second type of antenna is a magnet antenna, which mounts magnetically to
metal body of your rig. The magnet has three parts: a coil, a coax cable that
attaches at the base, and a long, skinny metal whip that extends out of the
antenna.

All magnet mount antennas come with three components wrapped into one piece.
Magnet antennas are fantastic for vehicles with metal roofs. If you have a pickup,
they are probably one of, if not the best, antenna choice for your truck. They are
easy to install, mounted as high as possible (roof mounting is ideal) and centrally
located so you can get a great signal in all directions without any signal blockage.
However, since the coil of the antenna is in the base, magnet antennas are only

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recommended if you can mount the antenna on the roof. Mounting a magnet
antenna below the roofline is not ideal for performance.

For range, a 3-foot magnet mount will receive from 2 to 4 miles of range while a 5-
foot will get you 5 to 7 miles of range.

Our favorite magnet antennas are Wilson Lil Will and, for higher performance, the
Wilson 1000. You can also purchase a separate magnet base to mount a fiberglass
antenna.

3) CENTER-LOAD ANTENNAS
A center-load antenna has a very stiff metal shaft on the bottom with a plastic
casing in the middle that houses the antenna coil and a thin whip that extends
upward.

These are really common on big rigs and semi-trucks

and are commonly referred to as trucker antennas.
You can use them off-road, but be aware that they
damage very easily and we don’t recommend them for
off-road use. The plastic house for the antenna coil
doesn’t do well if hit by low-hanging branches or other
obstacles. Since the lower shaft doesn’t have any
give, you chance more damage to your antenna and to
your vehicle.

The coil in these antennas is normally 10-20 inches above the threaded base,
which makes it hard to place above the roofline. You will commonly see these
antennas mounted on the mirror bars of semi trucks. When mounted in the right
location, trucker antennas perform very well and often reach ranges of 7 to 10
miles.

Center-load antennas that we recommend are the Hustler SCB and Wilson 2000.

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4) NO-GROUND-PLANE (NGP) ANTENNAS
If you have a vehicle that doesn’t have a lot of metal, such as a fiberglass RV, 4-
wheeler, or side-by-side (UTV) you’ll want a no-ground-plane antenna. Instead of
relying on the metal of a vehicle to create a ground plane, NGP systems use the
antenna and the coax cable to create their own ground plane. An NGP system is
ideal in any situation where a standard CB antenna cannot form a ground plane. A
properly functioning NGP system will outperform a standard CB system installed on
a vehicle without enough metal. If you want to install an antenna on your truck
topper, fiberglass RV, Motorcycle or UTV, an NGP antenna is the way to go.

NGP antennas are normally sold in a kit as you need both the antenna and coax
cable in order to function. If this is right for you, we have NGP kits with a side
mount, roof mount, and 3-way mount.

THE PERFECT MOUNT

This may be obvious, but in order to put an antenna on your rig, you need a mount.
We have a wide selection of mounts made specifically for different makes and
models of Jeeps, trucks and other SUV’s. We also have universal mounts for older
model rigs. Many of the vehicle-specific mounts attach to the hood, but we have a
wide selection of mounts that will attach to your fenders, hatches, bars, and
aftermarket bumpers. These mounts are compatible with fiberglass and other
antennas with a treaded base. If you’re driving off-road, we strongly recommend a
spring and/or quick disconnect with your antenna as these will help protect the
antenna, mount and vehicle body.

Check out our CB gear wizard that gives you recommendations for mounts based
on your specific vehicle. It’s likely that there is a specific mount just for your vehicle
make and model. If not, we have a variety of different universal mounts categorized
by desired mounting location. Also, check out our guides for Jeeps or pickup
trucks, which go into more detail on mounting locations, antennas and overall CB
equipment summaries.

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 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CB Radios for Pickup Trucks Common Purchasing Mistakes

CB Radios for Jeeps
Choosing the Best CB Radio
Choosing the Best CB Antenna
CB Radio Fundamentals (Video)
Choosing the Right CB Equipment (Video)
Complete CB System Checklist
Complete Guide to CB Coax
CB Antenna Range Approximations
Frequently Asked CB Questions

We hope this guide gave you a basic knowledge about CB Radio Systems! Please
let us know if you have any questions — we aren’t known as the CB Experts for
nothin’ and we’re here to help you find the best CB system for your vehicle and
outdoor adventures!

Reach out to us by your preferred method:

Email: support@rightchannelradios.com
Phone: 866-931-8230 (We’re open
weekdays from 9am-5pm MST)
Contact Us Online Form

Happy Trails!
Pat Haggerty, Owner & Off-Roader

SHOP SHOP SHOP

RADIOS ANTENNAS MOUNTS