WHAT IS A “GROUNDPLANE” & WHAT ABOUT ANTENNAS FOR FIBERGLASS OR NON METALLIC SITUATIONS?
A – Most mobile antennas are actually “half” of the antenna, the other half is the body of the car or truck, which is connected to the shield side of the coax cable. This “other half” is also known as the Ground Plane of the antenna. If the Groundplane isn’t adequate or large enough, poor SWR readings & performance will result. There are special “No Ground Needed” antennas designed for Boats, Fiberglass Door Trucks ect. Some of these antennas require a special included cable that can’t be cut or replaced, others can be used with any cable. If a regular CB Antenna is mounted fairly close to the vehicles ground, such as on a truck’s fiberglass door, sometimes running a thick ground wire from one of the mounting bracket’s bolts, to a good chassis ground, can sometimes work & allow the use of “standard” mobile CB antennas.
A – Most mobile Vehicle antennas are actually “half” of the antenna, the other “half” is the body of the car or truck, which is connected to the shield ground side of the coax cable. This “other half” is also known as the Ground Plane of the antenna. If the Groundplane isn’t adequate or large enough, poor SWR readings &/or performance will result. There are special “No Ground Needed” antennas designed for Boats, Fiberglass Door Trucks ect. Some of these antennas require a special included cable that can’t be cut or replaced, others can be used with any cable. If a regular CB Antenna is mounted fairly close to, but not on, the vehicles ground, such as on a truck’s fiberglass door, sometimes running a thick ground wire from one of the mounting bracket’s bolts, to a good chassis ground, May sometimes work, & allow the use of “standard” mobile CB antennas in these situations.
