Date:         Wed, 23 Jun 1999 18:28:37 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject:      Re: CB Disappointment
Comments: To: Brent Christensen <bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM>

Either get that long whip bumper mount antennae or go to a marine supply and
get an antennae that does not need a ground plane.  An antenna mounted in
the center of the roof on the front storage rack will also work but not as
well.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Christensen <bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, June 21, 1999 11:55 AM
Subject: CB Disappointment


>Well, after feeling really proud of my self for having come up with such a
>cool-looking mount for my K40 CB antenna, I am sorry to say that it does
not
>work at all.  :-(
>
>I fabricated a mount that clamps around the top horizontal tube of my new
>Paulchen rack, and then mounted the CB antenna to that.  I used a K40
>because #1 they have a great reputation (and my CB is a K40) and #2, the
>antenna base and mast come of with a 1/4 turn bayonet mount.  (Easy to jump
>out and pop it off to get under parking structures, etc.  I stow it in the
>long area above the sink and cabinets).
>
>Well, after spending many hours running the cable behind the cabinets,
>fabricating the mount, grounding it to the body, etc. I was rewarded with
>how really spectacular the antenna looks mounted to the top center of the
>Paulchen rack.  Unfortunately, there is NO reception.  Nothing.  Nada.  I
>tested it for ground, and yes, it is properly grounded.  I tested it with
an
>SWR meter and it is off the scale (bad).  However, I did suddenly get some
>weak reception when I had the SWR meter attached.  (???)  I tested out a
>cheapie magnetic-mount Radio Shack antenna and it got reception, but poorly
>(until I went and stuck it to the roof of the Cherokee).
>
>I didn't realize that the lack of a real ground plane would have such a
>PROFOUND impact on reception.  How do bumper-mounted antennas work?  I
>thought the rack and the body would at least provide a LITTLE bit of
>reception, but I mean there is NOTHING!
>
>Any suggestions???
>
>
>Brent Christensen
>'89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
>'95 Cherokee Sport