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[Pete7539]

I cut 18" off both antennas. FM reception seems to be the same. I've never used CB and only anticipate using it within a 50' range of bike-to-bike only. I think it looks much better than those big-a$$ whips and it can still be locked into tour-pak latches if necessary. I've read the antenna thread and my question is will this setup fry my CB if I use it? From what I can gather, the stock setup isn't tuned properly anyway, so how far off can this be?............and yes I will keep an eye out, so I won't take an eye out!

[Bubba]

I cut 18" off both antennas. FM reception seems to be the same. I've never used CB and only anticipate using it within a 50' range of bike-to-bike only. I think it looks much better than those big-a$$ whips and it can still be locked into tour-pak latches if necessary. I've read the antenna thread and my question is will this setup fry my CB if I use it? From what I can gather, the stock setup isn't tuned properly anyway, so how far off can this be?............and yes I will keep an eye out, so I won't take an eye out!

Yes,  you change your SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) you could blow the finial output Transistors, due to mis tuning.

[Coyote.]

Pete,

I'm an RF (radio) design engineer. You've actually grossly detuned both the CB and FM antenna match. Both will have suffered. You may not notice the FM loss until you're out on the fringes of reception.

The likely hood of you damaging your CB unit is minimal. Modern RF transistors are much more rugged than they used to be. Your range will be poor though.

Why not just replace them with a pair of JM shorties and get the better looks without losing the performance?

[LRebel]

Has anyone tried these??  Not opposed to the J&M antenna and appreciate the reports on their performance, It is just that I have this weird obsession with chrome

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Triple-Plated-CHROME-16-ANTENNA-Harley-Davidson_W0QQitemZ180148564300QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1498QQcmdZViewItem

[Fired00d]

Has anyone tried these??  Not opposed to the J&M antenna and appreciate the reports on their performance, It is just that I have this weird obsession with chrome

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Triple-Plated-CHROME-16-ANTENNA-Harley-Davidson_W0QQitemZ180148564300QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1498QQcmdZViewItem

That's not weird around here, and don't let anybody tell you it is.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Chief]

Has anyone tried these??  Not opposed to the J&M antenna and appreciate the reports on their performance, It is just that I have this weird obsession with chrome

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Triple-Plated-CHROME-16-ANTENNA-Harley-Davidson_W0QQitemZ180148564300QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1498QQcmdZViewItem

That is the chrome counterpart to the black antenna I use when the TP is off the bike. There is a very pronounced lack of FM range when using that antenna compared to the J&M antennas I have on the TP. Coyotedata could talk to the CB difference better than I.

[LRebel]

That's not weird around here, and don't let anybody tell you it is.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Thanks d00d!

Finally a place where I can feel normal 

I may try these...??...yea, shiny chrome....yea chrome

[Coyote.]

Has anyone tried these??  Not opposed to the J&M antenna and appreciate the reports on their performance, It is just that I have this weird obsession with chrome

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Triple-Plated-CHROME-16-ANTENNA-Harley-Davidson_W0QQitemZ180148564300QQihZ008QQcategoryZ1498QQcmdZViewItem

Those antennas do not appear to be electrically long enough. The JM antennas are basically a long antenna wrapped helically around a non-conducting rod. This makes them electrically, the right length to tune properly.

The most common ways to shorten antennas is for them to be wrapped, like the JM ones, or loaded at the bottom, like the CB ones you see on cars. Like everything else, you can't get something for nothing. 

[LRebel]

coyotedata,
Thanks for the technical info.
I will probably never use the CB, but the loss of FM reception would be a problem.
Will be doing something (probably J&M's) soon, because I don't like the 4ft whips.  Went in a parking garage a few days ago and had to listen to the antenna's hitting the concrete supports overhead every 12 - 15ft.

[Pete7539]

Pete,

I'm an RF (radio) design engineer. You've actually grossly detuned both the CB and FM antenna match. Both will have suffered. You may not notice the FM loss until you're out on the fringes of reception.

The likely hood of you damaging your CB unit is minimal. Modern RF transistors are much more rugged than they used to be. Your range will be poor though.

Why not just replace them with a pair of JM shorties and get the better looks without losing the performance?

Thanks for the feedback; as for why I didn't do JM, thought I could save a couple $. Besides my wife would probably chit if I told her I was gonna spend any more. I'll have to put that on the x-mas list. Do you know how much a set costs?

[Chief]

Thanks for the feedback; as for why I didn't do JM, thought I could save a couple $. Besides my wife would probably chit if I told her I was gonna spend any more. I'll have to put that on the x-mas list. Do you know how much a set costs?

Better than that, here is link to the item: http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=HRUP-ATM&PF=6

You'll have to get used to explaining uncontrolled spending to your wife. Explain to her that you're sick and need help.

[Steve_G]

Hey the whip antennas are fine!  -Until somebody loses an eye!  -Retal- PLUS