CB antenna: power or fixed-mast?

[MaineShark]

My antenna broke

It was a fixed-mast antenna, and I've been told that it was for a car originally equipped with the CB radio (the previous owner, however, replaced the radio with a modern CD unit). I intend to install a CB radio, so I would like to replace it with the CB antenna.

I've tried locating a replacement CB antenna, and the only one I can find is the power antenna unit from Corvette Central. Are the fixed-mast antennas available anywhere? Anyone know about the quality of the Corvette Central power CB antenna?

Also, how hard is it to wire in the power antenna unit? Any good ideas where I should locate the switch, since I will have to manually trigger it?

Joe

 

[page62]

Your car should have originally had a power CB/AM/FM antenna. So the wiring might still be in place. Take a look under the fender. You should see an electrical connector, as well as coax cables for both CB and AM/FM.

 

[MaineShark]

Nope, just the one antenna wire. Did a previous owner simply replace the stock antenna with the CB mast? Or was the CB wiring removed when the new CD player was installed? Guess I won't know until some time in the future when I drop the tank and see if the build sheet is still on top of it.

Guess I'll have to look into what it takes to do the conversion to CB.

Joe

 

[warren s]

Joe

If possible it would be much better to have a separate through the glass CB antenna, like the early cell phones had. Newer car stereos can be damaged very quickly buy even the small amount of power a CB (4 watts stock) puts out. If the antenna is hooked up wrong and the output of the CB goes into the radio its toast.

I have seen this before a few times because Corvettes dont have a metal surface so there are many creative approaches to antennas. The combo radio / CB antenna works very poorly even when it was new.

 

[GerryLP]

MainShark,

I am not sure about 1979 vettes, but my 1981 vette has the CB/Cassette/Stereo option, and the antenna was powered to retract. It also had a load coil on the very top of the antenna that had to be calibrated for improved reception of CB signals (it probably affects the AM side of the radio, for mine only received the strongest AM stations).

I had to replace the mast recently, but I could not find the load coil type of mast. Maybe it would be an item that Radio Shack would carry. The way to calibrate the load coil was to turn it by hand 1/4 turn at a time until the reception was improved (procedure is in shop manual).

 

[MaineShark]

I thought about the through-glass antennas, but it just doesn't look right - I want to keep this car pretty close to stock.

Some creative wiring should take care of the power problem when switching from AM/FM to CB.

Gerry: I figured that was what that coil was for. Good to know I guessed right. I'm really curious to get a look at the build sheet, now, to see if this antenna was original or not.

Joe

 

[Justin_cv87]

wow, this may be odd, but ive NEVER seen an antenna on a vette!! i dont even see power ones down on a vette... where is the antenna on a 96? any pics of vettes with antennas up?