A "102" dipole" won't make too good an antenna. Since you refer to a "spring/cable connector" in the same paragraph, I have to assume you're talking about a typical 102" CB whip antenna.

A dipole is a half-wavelength antenna, usually made of wire. It's split exactly in the middle, leaving 1/4 wavelength on either side of center, and directly fed with 50 ohm coax. Easiest and cheapest antenna to make, and if you get them up in the air at least half a wavelength, they work very well. Zero dBd gain, but efficient nonetheless.

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No trees were harmed in the sending of this post; however, many electrons were inconvenienced.

73 de K7KBN

thanks, I was thinking a 102 whip antenna but I do know of the other ones you are guys are talking about. I found those too and then you have the legs off of that if you want. Like 4 posts pointing down with the di-pole in the middle.

later,

Josh

PS. What about a 100watt amp?

BUILD A GROUND PLANE ANTENNA FOR 2 METERS AND MORE - SIMPLE AND EASY!

This is a side view of a typical ground plane antenna. Is this what you're talking about when you mention "...4 posts pointing down with the di-pole in the middle"?

This doesn't have anything to do with a "di-pole". The vertical portion in the middle is the radiator, while the other four elements are the ground plane.

Again, a "dipole" is generally a wire antenna, generally mounted horizontally. There ARE "vertical dipoles", but for frequencies lower than VHF they can get problematic.

I wouldn't worry about an amplifier of any size until you have the basics down a bit better.

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No trees were harmed in the sending of this post; however, many electrons were inconvenienced.

73 de K7KBN

josh,

feeding an amp into that little antenna you have is just going to burn it up, and then you will get out 0 miles.

if you were to go back to ebay, and purchase an antron 99 base station antenna, and put it up at the top of that 20 foot TV tower, you would be able to get out that 18-23 miles without an amp!

its all about the antenna.

after you get the antron, or other good base station antenna, (the antron is cheap, reliable, and really easy to put together and erect) then you can worry about adding an amp.

i would not buy a used on off ebay.
there are plenty of sites that will sell you a new amp for less than 100 dollars.
it will be about 60 watts, but thats all you need right now anyway.

remember, this is the correct order to buy your equipment in:

1. whatever radio you have now
2. good antenna and good coax!!!!
3. good quality radio
4. amplifier (if needed)

good luck,
LC

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well yeah, but what's really going on?

So I have been checking out base station antennas. most of them seem to come in three sections and have metal pols down the side aka like 3 of them. Some do not.

So my question is. What if I just get the antenna without the sides. What is the difference.

Also it uses a Pl259 plug I think. I know other radio equipment has that plug. Can I use it on my fm scanner and what not. I know CB is ofcourse am freqency but would be great if I could use it for fm or sw.

Thanks,

Josh

I've got a Pace SideTalk 1000B 23 channel just like the one pictured.... Still works too........ What you need to do is read up some on antenna basics. You can find this information on the net.. Each frequency needs an antenna or wire if that's what you're using to be a certain length in order to receive or to transmit the magnetic wave to the best of it's ability so to speak. Otherwise the wave doesn't go off the antenna like it should and it is reflected back to the CB which will heat up transistors beyond what they can handle causing them to burn out. Different frequencies are grouped into bands. The CB band is refered to as the 11 meter band and ranges from channel 1 or (26.965 MHZ) to channel 40 (27.405 MHZ). Antennas made for the CB should be at a length that will give you the lowest SWR reading across all of these channels with channel 20 probably being the lowest. SWR is the measurment used to see how much of the wave is coming back instead of going out through your antenna. The higher the MHZ the shorter the antenna will need to be.. The lower the MHZ the longer the antenna needs to be. For a CB antenna a 1/4" difference in length either shorter or longer will make a big difference in the SWR readings. So in answer to your question about running a Short Wave receiver, a CB, and a scanner into one antenna. You can, but you will not receive as good as you could if you used the proper antenna for the scanner and the proper antenna for the short wave receiver. You can get the proper adapter fittings at Radio Shack to fit the scanner to the CB antenna.. It's probably a BCN to a PL 259 adapter that you'll need..... Most Importantly... Never transmit on the CB if anything else is plugged into the same antenna at the same time or you'll have a big puff of smoke or in your case 3 big puffs of smoke if you have everything hooked up at once... CB's need to have the proper antenna if you're going to transmit on them.. You can make an antenna that will work for your CB if you study the antenna basics for a CB.. It's not all that difficult once you understand what's happening and can follow directions to the letter. You will also need an SWR meter (if your radio does not have one but your Pace does) to adjust the antenna to lowest SWR readings. Remember the lower you can set the SWR's the stronger your signal will be resulting in reaching out a greater distance when you transmit.... Good Luck