Cb connection

[CMORGANSKOOL]

What size is my CB antenna cable connector? The Fe300 came with an antenna that has a small male connection that is not Rf size. I bought an adapter for trucks that’s too big and an then bought a smaller sma female to Rf that’s too small. Anyone have an idea what size the adapter should be?

 

[Pizote]

CB connectors are PL-259.

My guess is that the radio that the bus had installed was not a CB but something in the 2M range. The connector you pictured is an SMA connector frequently used with HAM radio and business radio.

You will need to provide a picture of the connector on the bus to identify which one you will need.

 

[Bluesky-SKO]

The antenna on your bus might work for CB, or it might not. Antennae are tuned, so if it was not a CB antenna ymmv.

 

[Pizote]

The antenna on your bus might work for CB, or it might not. Antennae are tuned, so if it was not a CB antenna ymmv.

Not only does the antenna need to be tuned, it needs to be for the correct band. CB is on the 11M band, business radio is on the 1.9M (close to 2M but a 2M antenna will be out of tune).

You cannot use a CB antenna for HAM or with other bands - the SWA ratio will be out of sorts and cause poor transmission and burn out your transmitter.

Be careful of the coax cable too - you need to match the coax with the standards. Each type of coax has a difference resistance and capacitance. If you put a CB on coax tuned for 2M, you will not get optimal SWA and the aforementioned issues can occur.

 

[CMORGANSKOOL]

This is all good information. It may not have been a regular cb. The mounting bracket was there. The antenna is small like 12-16 inches. I figured I could just use that antenna. Good info. Thanks. I’ll order a new cb antenna.

 

[CHEESE_WAGON]

This is all good information. It may not have been a regular cb. The mounting bracket was there. The antenna is small like 12-16 inches. I figured I could just use that antenna. Good info. Thanks. I’ll order a new cb antenna.

I recommend the Wilson Trucker 2000. Good bang for the buck. When I was OTR, I was getting 3-4 miles ahead and about 2-3 miles backward with one. Cobra 29 LTD, peaked and tuned, properly tuned antenna at just about 1.1 SWR.