will cb antenna work ?

[mechanic021]

will a cb antenna work for a ham radio until I can get a good ham antenna for in my truck? I have a 4foot fiberglass antenna i used for my cb I was just curious if it would work with my ham radio.

[K-9Search]

Hi,
Your cb antenna will probably work on 10 meters, but don't expect optimal results from it. What type of ham gear are you using in your rig?
Sandy (KG2MM)

[mechanic021]

I have a Realistic HTX-202 handheld with the antenna adapter so I can use the external antenna and my other radio I just purchds got here today. Its a Radio Shack HTX-212 This will be mounted in the truck permant. I am new to ham radio so I just got a couple cheap basic radios for now. I got them off ebay for next to nothing. I am going to go at the end of the month and take the test for my technician license.

[K-9Search]

Hi,
Well good luck with the test, you should do fine, just do some studying before hand, you will be amazed the amount of useful info you will learn. I have heard some good things regarding the HTX's, so that should serve you fine as an entry level rig. again good luck, hope to catch you on the air soon!!!!
Sandy (KG2MM)

[pickupman]

the CB antenna will work for receiving, but do NOT use it as a transmitting antenna for 2 meters, or anything other than CB, unless you tune it for 10 meters....

[mechanic021]

I picked me up a antenna today from radio shack and my htx 202 is picking up stations and people talking great now. I am going to be mounting my htx 212 and my cobra cb in the truck soon. Will it be aright to run like a 10 gauage or maybe even a 8 guage wire to a distribution block then branch it off to the 212 and my cb radio properly fused of course. Or should I run 2 dedicated power eads right from the battery for each radio?

[Ray Hutchinson]

Mechanic021,

Well, it's always best to run two dedicated, twisted, minimum #12 wires, direct from the battery, fused as close to the battery as possible. Also keep the fuses at, or near the radio, that the mfg supplied as well. Fuse BOTH leads (+ and -, to keep ,your starter, etc., from seeking a ground through your radio). The dedicated power wires are best for reliability in case of emergency, an electrical short in another circuit, you are more likely to be able to use your HR to call for help. Also, direct feed from the battery will help reduce electrical noise from the truck ignition, computer etc,, getting into your radio via the power leads. That battery makes a good filter!

Now, the above isn't necessary, just a better quality installation.

Good luck with your test!

[mechanic021]

thanks for the help !

[mechanic021]

also since im going directly to the battery with my power and ground leads can my ham radio and cb radio share the same ground wire if I run 2 seperate power leads? sorry for so many questions!

[Sandy]

You could run the same ground wire, if you run 12 gauge as Ray has suggested you shouldn't have much of a problem.

I use separate grounds and twist the power and the ground from the battery for each radio. This is another way of helping to reduce noise getting into the line, usually 10 turns per foot.

If you run the power from the battery, make sure you do as Ray has suggested with the fuse next to the battery, good safety point.

On my latest project I will be runnign a heavy 8 gauge power and ground, fused at the battery, twisted and then covered with a braid and heat shrink. (Overkill - I don't think so).
These wires will come into the vehicle to distribution points, a little easier to add radios to the setup. I have considered using a 7 Circuit, Painless Wiring, Circuit Boss to control the radios, time will tell.

I hope I didn't confuse the issue here, just trying to let you know your idea of the heavier gauge wire is good.

Later,

[mechanic021]

I have lots of 8 gauge laying around so I could just run an 8 guage wire to my radios cause I have a distro block as well. That will be less wiring an cleaner I think. Do antenna wires follow the same guidelines about running with power leads? dont put them together?

[Ray Hutchinson]

8 ga wire instead of 12? Sure, bigger is almost always better in power handling circuits. As for the antenna wires, theoretically, these are shielded leads, and can be run near power leads, but still, you likely don't have 100% shielded coax (a braided shield and a continous foil inner shield), so I always try to keep them routed separately when possible, especially avoiding long parallel runs.