CB Radios – The Antenna Ground

CB Radios – The Antenna Ground 

In order to obtain a quality signal for your CB radio you need an antenna. And for this antenna to provide regular transmission and receipt of communications it needs to be properly installed. And for this to happen in most cases you need to establish a ground plane.

What is the CB Antenna Ground ?

Simply put, the ground plane is a metal surface the antenna requires for proper mobile operations. Once installed, the vehicle’s body or metal frame acts as a reflective unit. In other words, a generated transmission signal bounces off its surface in order to race toward the atmosphere and its destination.

Because the transmission radiates downward, the metal surface needs to be underneath the antenna. The flatter and larger this area the better. This gives the signal adequate space to launch.

The Ground and SWR

Once the plane is established and the antenna attached, it must be tested for the proper Standing Wave Ratio (SWR). This number needs to be at a  1:1.5 ratio for proper operations. However, if you don’t have a proper ground plane, this can cause a high SWR. In turn, the signal could feed back into the CB radio and cause internal damage.

Need more information on antennas and ground planes? Contact the specialists at CB Radio Supply to get a better understanding as well as select the right antenna.