I'm sitting on 2-2.75 depending on where I pull my readings (location-wise)
My setup is a 4' firestikII, 18' coaxial cable, uniden pro510 CB, and I take my readings with a radio-shack SWR meter with a 2' coaxial jumper.

My antenna is mounted on top of my car to the roofrack with a #12 Ga ground to the trunk.


I plan to re-locate my setup to the spare tire with a custom fabbed mount, but will be on the lookout for a 7 or 8' firestikII if I do that (unless the 4' provides great reception and transmissions)
Thanks
-Mark

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2008 VW Rabbit- 5-speed 5-cylinders
2000 TJ 4-cylinders 5-speed I'll let you know when I figure it out.
2006 Liberty SOLD.

I've got around 1.5 on the upper and lower ends, down around 1.2 on 19. But I bit the bullet and drilled my front left fender for a ball mount so I could get a good ground. I run a modded Alinco HF radio which seems to be more sensitive to all the noise the KJ makes - I put my antenna on the back gate originally and couldn't hear anything for all the electrical noise the fuel pump makes.

Looking at your setup, I would think you could drill the spare mount and put that bracket on there, then put a spring on the antenna so you could open the glass. And I would stay away from an 8' antenna, it'll be whipping all over the place offroad unless you tie it down. Once you get a good ground on your antenna and get the SWR down you'll probably find that the 4' firestik gets out just fine.

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Kevin
AD5VG
Just another red Jeep in the world...
L.O.S.T. #KB051963

Corwyn, would the antenna off the spare sit high enough? My reasoning for the longer antenna is the desire to get 60% above the roofline, or as suggested by firestik for the best forward and rear transmission.

It's a shame because on top (roofrack) seems to be pretty good despite the poor SWR, but I am waiting to hit something with the antenna... and break it off.

I might have my tire mount post done today to test that theorie out for myself...
Thanks
-Mark

_________________
2008 VW Rabbit- 5-speed 5-cylinders
2000 TJ 4-cylinders 5-speed I'll let you know when I figure it out.
2006 Liberty SOLD.

Hmmmm? I have my antenna, a 3 foot tuneable Firestick, mounted on the roof rail with a ground wire, and get a SWR around 1.5. I had my buddy, a radio nut, come over and tune it. We ended up having to put in a longer tuning bolt than what came with the antenna. It needed about another 1/4 inch.

We added a spring (before tuning) to help ease contact with low branches.

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2007 KJ Limited 4x4

29G, Tow pkg, full skids, bun warmers, moon roof
Amsoil Air Filter, CB, custom cargo box
OME / Rancho Lift / Rockcrusher rear Diff Cover / Super Skink Sliders (not installed yet)
245/75R16 GY MT/R's with Crager 16 x 8 x 5" BS wheels
L.O.S.T. # 005465

On top is better since you get a nice ground plane to reflect signals, but truthfully my antenna off the fender does just fine - I can get up to 10 miles under normal conditions and have talked to folks over in Cali on skip (but that's dependent on atmospheric conditions more than anything else). If you've got a 4' antenna mounted on the spare tire carrier with a 4" spring under it you'll have just at 50% of the antenna over the roof line. Should be enough to get decent range forward but toward the rear may not be as far. Best thing to do is put it on, tune it properly and see what you get.

_________________
Kevin
AD5VG
Just another red Jeep in the world...
L.O.S.T. #KB051963

Well, I made the adaptor today to locate the antenna off of my spare, I'm still using a clamp type bracket at the moment, complete with the ground-strap, and 90 degree coaxial bend.

I took a SWR reading on channel 19, and came up with 1.4... I could hardly believe it!!!

I'll have to get out and see how reception is, I still feel like it's a bit low relative to my roofline (I'm also sporting a Bike rack which adds to the illusion of the antennaa being lower than it actually is.)

Other than that, I do get the occasional interference, it's a whistling sound, but I am not sure if it's the fuel pump.... what does that kind of interference sound like?
-Mark

_________________
2008 VW Rabbit- 5-speed 5-cylinders
2000 TJ 4-cylinders 5-speed I'll let you know when I figure it out.
2006 Liberty SOLD.