Essentially, you have five location choices: the roof, gutter, rear deck, front cowl or rear bumper. Where you decide to locate your antenna will determine the type of antenna you install. Again consult your Midland CB dealer for advice and guidance, and measure your needs against the attributes of the various Midland antenna models he carries.
Antenna installation.
Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully.
,Warning: Never operate your CB radio without attaching an antenna or with a broken antenna cable. This will result in damage to transmitter circuitry.
Tuning your antenna.
Some antennas are factory tuned. However, performance can usually be improved by slightly lengthening or shortening its length, using a Standing Wave Radio (SWR) meter. For the exact procedures to be used refer to the antenna manufacturer’s installation manual.
You can buy an SWR meter separately or have your antenna checked by your Midland CB Dealer’s service department.
Factors affecting CB range
Essentially, they are the same influences that optimize or limit AM and FM broadcast signals.
Terrain: Hills, valleys and buildings naturally interrupt and shorten CB signals. In short, any thing that is between you and the person you want to talk to can shorten your CB range. You can expect to maintain maximum transmitting/receiving performance in flat, open country.
Weather: You can expect that CB range will be reduced – perhaps drastically – in times of atmospheric disturbance, such as in a thunder storm or heavy snow. Sunspots too are known to adversely affect CB performance.
Noise:
A very common source of excessive noise is the ignition system. In many vehicles today the electric fuel pump is another possible source of noise. If you suspect this is true, turn off the ignition. With the CB in receive mode the noise is no longer present this is a source of the noise. In some cases the noise can be reduced or eliminated by making sure the CB radio chassis is grounded. This is in addition to the power cord. In extreme cases additional grounding of components might be necessary.
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