Auto two way radio antenna

What is car radio antenna? Car antennas. are considered a significant automotive accessory as these are able to provide an uninterrupted transmission of wireless signals and radio waves in your vehicle. People often look for a replacement when their car antennas get damaged or become non-functional.

How to choose auto two way radio antenna？

FIBERGLASS ANTENNAS

These are probably the ones you’re most familiar with, especially if you’ve had CBs before or are in the off road market. Here you'll see a long, ¼” diameter fiberglass that sticks out. These always mount to the vehicle via a separate mount. They need to screw to the mount and they need a separate piece of coax cable to connect to the radio.

These are the most popular antennas we sell for off-road use, especially with Jeeps and other 4x4 vehicles. They’re versatile, flexible and allow you to mount them just about anywhere. Plus, they’re heavy-duty. They can 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 are using a soft-top jeep or a vehicle that doesn’t have a big ground plane since your antenna will use the metal from the vehicle to send a signal. The coil at the top really helps with performance.

In terms of range, if you have a 3’ antenna, you’ll probably get 3 to 4 miles. For a 4’, you’ll get a 4 to 6 miles range. These are rough estimates depending on conditions.

MAGNET ANTENNA

Magnet mount antennas, like you'd probably guess from the name, utilize a magnet base to secure the antenna to the vehicle. They come with everything you'll need in one package as the coax, magnetic mount and whip antenna are all included.

The coil for magnetic CB antennas is in the magnetic/plastic base assembly at the very bottom of the antenna.

APPROXIMATE RANGE:  3 TO 7 MILES

Transmit and receive range will vary dramatically based on conditions and the mounting location of the antenna. For a rough approximation, you can expect the following range from these lengths of magnetic antennas.

• 3' Magnet Antennas: 3 to 4 Miles
• 5' Magnet Antennas: 5 to 7 Miles

PROS - GREAT PERFORMANCE & EASY INSTALLATION

If you have a vehicle with a metal roof, it's hard to beat the performance of a tall magnet mount antenna on your roof. The central mounting location and height of the antenna (at the highest point on the vehicle) will result in the best performance you'll be able to get in any single antenna install apart from a 102" whip.  

In addition, it is super easy to install. Unlike other antennas that require special mounts that often require drilling into your vehicle, a magnetic mount antenna installs simply and cleanly to your rooftop. Just set it in place and you're done!

CONS - CLEARANCE AND DURABILITY

While you'll enjoy impressive performance, you're more likely to have clearance issues with a magnetic mount antenna given its high mount location.

Magnetic mount antennas utilize an antenna whip that inserts into the magnetic/plastic base. Unlike a fiberglass antenna, these whips are very thin, similar in diameter to a paperclip.

If you hit the top portion of the whip on an antenna or tree limb, it will likely bend out of the way. But if you catch the whip lower down, you're very likely to severely bend or even break it. So magnet mount antennas aren't a great choice if you know your antenna will be taking a good deal of abuse.

Antennas can be mounted in a variety of places, including on a vehicle’s roof, mirror bars, hood channel, bumper and trunk. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, so it is up to the individual to weigh these options relative to his or her own needs and preferences. Here are a few general rules to keep in mind when considering CB mounting locations:

• Antennas mounted higher on the vehicle tend to perform better.
• The antenna's coil should be above the roofline of the vehicle (coil location is discussed in the next section).
• For optimal performance, at least half of the antenna should be above the roofline.

It’s critical that the antenna mount be well-grounded to the vehicle chassis. If a grounding jumper is used to ground the mount, it should be as short as possible. If installing an antenna on an RV or a vehicle without a sufficient ground, please refer to the “No-Ground Plane Antennas” section of this article.

Single antennas (vs. dual co-phased antennas) perform best when mounted near the center of the vehicle. When mounted to one side or another - especially if not mounted high enough - dead spots can occur where the vehicle blocks the antenna from effectively transmitting or receiving.

Finally, longer antennas work better than shorter ones, so select the longest length that can be comfortably used. Quick disconnects and other accessories allow for fast and tool-free CB antenna removal when additional clearance is required (garage parking, drive-throughs, etc).