Date:         Tue, 21 Jan 1997 08:02:56 -0500 (EST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         ERIC ZENO <emz@pgh.nauticom.net>
Subject:      Re: CB antennas


On Mon, 20 Jan 1997, James Cohen wrote:

> Just to have a last word on the antennas.  The glass mount CB antenna that
> Sean intalled will not get out "forward and to the right" as he said.
> Location of the antenna is not influenced by the vehicles body unless is
> uses the body as a "ground plane".  And that means that the antenna must be
> attached to the metal of the body.
> 
> The glass mount doesn't need a ground plane, so therefore the reception
> will be omni directional, and the body of the van will BLOCK the signal
> going to the front and left.

  Sorry to disagree but the wave length of a 1/2 wave CB antenna is 18 
  feet. The body is 9 feet and the antenna is 9 feet making a total of 
  18 feet. This is called a 1/4 wave antenna. Anything smaller has
  what is called a base load, (a coil), that simulates a 9 foot antenna.
  Therefor placement of any CB antenna is very important!

                                    Eric Zeno