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CB and AM/FM antenna locations


Guest KenAVTech

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Guest KenAVTech

Yup I know CBs are kinda out dated but I’m a guy who likes things to work. 2003 Monaco Camelot 34PST. Has 2 Antennas one on the PS, one on the DS roof. Both are a pain in the butt to get off! )?&@“! ;0). Which side is which antenna??  ALSO why are neither bases ground to the rig through a ground plain or is the front cap aluminum cored and grounded to the frame. Which means the screws in the mount do the grounding maybe!?

Ken

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If the same as my 2001 Dynasty, the one on the PS is the CB antenna and there was an inadequate effort to provide a ground plane. I think some folks have glued a piece if flat sheet metal onto the roof around the antenna as a solution. unless I am mistaken, it doesn't have to be grounded to the antenna--just has to reflect signal. the one on the DS is for a cell phone and is a different type which needs no ground plane.  I am not an expert in this area--just researched it years ago when trying to improve my CB reception.

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Guest KenAVTech

Thanks for the info, I did determine today that the PS is the CB. The DS I have not determined as of yet, Im hopefully its the AM/FM antenna. but if  not any idea were they did put it?

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CB radios may be “old school”, but having one in the coach proved to be worth it’s weight in gold when (pre TPMS), a trucker called us on the radio to alert us to a flat trailer tire. Also, finding out about an accident in real time vs. Waze, etc., is a nice feature.

As for the ground plane, I have not been able to find info on what, if anything, the antenna is connected to other than the roof. Our coach is an 08 Camelot 42pdq.

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I see no evidence of a ground plane on our 05 Exec, even though there should be one.  My CB antenna is above the passenger seat and I've had to replace it 3 times from getting broken from hitting trees.  Our am/fm antenna is over the bedroom on the driver side.  If you have one up front over the the driver side it may either be for a cell phone or possible Sirius radio.  The question would be is how tall is it?  I think you'll find those old CB antennas are about 2ft tall and any ground plane for them should, at a minimum, be 2ft in Dia.  I've been contemplating replacing our crappy CB radio with a VHF/UHF ham radio (I still have my HAM license).  FM makes a world of difference.  That said, I believe the FCC is going to (maybe already has) to allow a portion of the CB freq spectrum to go FM so there may be some hope for it, until the truckers take over and ruin it.

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52 minutes ago, Donflem said:

Wow did you really say until the truckers ruin it. I say thank you and god bless the truck drivers. 🙏

God bless the truckers as well but they sure as hell ruined the CB radio frequency.  NONE of them know how to talk into a microphone.  It's nothing but trashy garbage and noise now.  Nothing like when it was first created.  For someone who doesn't want to go through the trouble of getting a HAM license then GMRS would be the next best bet.

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Guest KenAVTech

So I did a continuity check on the CB cable and the center was grounded to the shielding! So I took off the cb antenna and pulled the cable. Found out who ever put the CB side connection on screwed it up. might have been this way since 2003. 

I once have 2 antennas the CB on the PS is about 12” and coiled before it goes into the base. 

The DS antenna is about 15” and is very flexible. I pulled it apart and cleaned all the corrosion off , but I still need to do a continuity check and see if its the AM FM or ?

As for a ground plane I would think that the fiberglass roof would do the job. Small Composite Aircraft have antennas on them a our ground plane is a strap of aluminum that is grounded to the battery and the radios work fine. Im not a CB installer but I am an  aviation technician. If someone knows CB please splain it to me Lucy! ;0). All the CB shops in my area are closed until Monday.

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  • 2 months later...

Our CB cable is disconnected where it passes through the roof. It is a right-angle connection with a positive peg, but it doesn't look like any connector I've ever seen before. I have a 2000 vintage Windsor. Anyone have any ideas on what that connector might be called?

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