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Base A99 Height question

Joe 610

New Member
Jul 18, 2022
22
24
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Good evening everyone. I’m new to the forum so forgive me if I’m not in the right place for this. I have recently set up a base radio at the house. I’ve toyed with cb’s off and on my entire life but only in mobile applications. I’ve done countless web searches to learn everything I can and usually find myself here so I figured it was time to join.

The setup I’m currently running is a Stryker 655, 25 feet of RG 213, to an A99 antenna. The results have been decent but like most I’m in the hunt to go further. Most of my contacts have been 20 miles or less. I’ve been heavily debating purchasing a Ranger RCI 99N4 for the obvious gain in power but before I spend that amount of money on the radio plus a new 60amp power supply I want to be sure my antenna is right.

Currently the A99 is mounted to the top of a 8 foot galvanized fence post. The post is connected to a 8’ copper grounding rod which is all the way in the ground except for about the top 4 inches. The top of the antenna should be sitting around 26 feet from the ground to the top. I have a 14 foot galvanized post that I’m thinking about putting in place of the 8 footer. That would put the antenna around 32 feet to the top. In my mind and with everything I’ve read it obviously can’t hurt to go higher but my question is will the additional 6 feet be a decent increase or will it not be worth it for the minimal increase? I know there are a lot of variables in play here but I’m looking for opinions. I’m new to all this base stuff and learning everyday. Thanks in advance for the information.
 

Welcome!
As you already know, with antennas, height is might. I have heard of people who have good results with the antenna only 10 feet off the ground.

If you are below 40 feet to the feed point, then anything you can do to get it higher should make a big difference. It would be beneficial to maximize your antenna before adding power. Maximizing the antenna will benefit both transmit and recieve. Adding power just benefits transmit.
 
20 miles might not be terrible depending on the terrain. What are you looking to achieve with higher power? Are you hearing people who can't hear you?

Welcome to the forum!
Yes there are people I hear that I can’t reach back. Now also with that said this is only on occasion where there is a local ish guy that I’m missing. I’m still learning about skip and have a general idea with how it works but does more power help with it?
 
Good evening everyone. I’m new to the forum so forgive me if I’m not in the right place for this. I have recently set up a base radio at the house. I’ve toyed with cb’s off and on my entire life but only in mobile applications. I’ve done countless web searches to learn everything I can and usually find myself here so I figured it was time to join.

The setup I’m currently running is a Stryker 655, 25 feet of RG 213, to an A99 antenna. The results have been decent but like most I’m in the hunt to go further. Most of my contacts have been 20 miles or less. I’ve been heavily debating purchasing a Ranger RCI 99N4 for the obvious gain in power but before I spend that amount of money on the radio plus a new 60amp power supply I want to be sure my antenna is right.

Currently the A99 is mounted to the top of a 8 foot galvanized fence post. The post is connected to a 8’ copper grounding rod which is all the way in the ground except for about the top 4 inches. The top of the antenna should be sitting around 26 feet from the ground to the top. I have a 14 foot galvanized post that I’m thinking about putting in place of the 8 footer. That would put the antenna around 32 feet to the top. In my mind and with everything I’ve read it obviously can’t hurt to go higher but my question is will the additional 6 feet be a decent increase or will it not be worth it for the minimal increase? I know there are a lot of variables in play here but I’m looking for opinions. I’m new to all this base stuff and learning everyday. Thanks in advance for the information.
Do not spend money on a new radio yet. Raise the antenna and adjust the rings to obtain a decent SWR and "go for it"!
 
Yes there are people I hear that I can’t reach back. Now also with that said this is only on occasion where there is a local ish guy that I’m missing. I’m still learning about skip and have a general idea with how it works but does more power help with it?
What is the distance to the local guy?
 
Do not spend money on a new radio yet. Raise the antenna and adjust the rings to obtain a decent SWR and "go for it"!
That’s what I’m thinking first. I want the antenna as right as possible. I’d go higher but there this thing called a wife to get it past . My SWR’s are pretty good. 1.3-1.4
 
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If it were me, I'd use the A99 for a fly rod and erect an aluminum antenna. Maco and Sirio make some very good units.​

Why exactly? Other than less static noise what advantage is there to simply changing the material to aluminum? Thanks!
 
Good evening everyone. I’m new to the forum so forgive me if I’m not in the right place for this. I have recently set up a base radio at the house. I’ve toyed with cb’s off and on my entire life but only in mobile applications. I’ve done countless web searches to learn everything I can and usually find myself here so I figured it was time to join.

The setup I’m currently running is a Stryker 655, 25 feet of RG 213, to an A99 antenna. The results have been decent but like most I’m in the hunt to go further. Most of my contacts have been 20 miles or less. I’ve been heavily debating purchasing a Ranger RCI 99N4 for the obvious gain in power but before I spend that amount of money on the radio plus a new 60amp power supply I want to be sure my antenna is right.

Currently the A99 is mounted to the top of a 8 foot galvanized fence post. The post is connected to a 8’ copper grounding rod which is all the way in the ground except for about the top 4 inches. The top of the antenna should be sitting around 26 feet from the ground to the top. I have a 14 foot galvanized post that I’m thinking about putting in place of the 8 footer. That would put the antenna around 32 feet to the top. In my mind and with everything I’ve read it obviously can’t hurt to go higher but my question is will the additional 6 feet be a decent increase or will it not be worth it for the minimal increase? I know there are a lot of variables in play here but I’m looking for opinions. I’m new to all this base stuff and learning everyday. Thanks in advance for the information.
Raise the antenna so the base is at least 30-40 feet above the ground. Make sure you are using hi quality name brand coax. Make sure no excess is coiled up. Check all connections!
 
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