Multiple antennas!!!

[Gander]

So I just can’t figure this out, maybe yall can help.

1987 V10 shortbed. PO swapped out the windshield about a year ago. It’s got the antenna built-in. It’s ALSO got a passenger fender mount mast antenna AND a mount on the back of the toolbox for a CB antenna (CB radio and antenna aren’t there now but I’d like to add one).

So here’s my question. The windshield antenna works fine for FM, can I run a CB antenna on the fender or is that too close to the windshield? Or maybe a splitter between the windshield and fender antenna would improve AM reception and mount a new CB antenna where one used to be on the toolbox? Ideas?

 

[DoubleDingo]

I'd say run the windshield antenna and add the cb antenna to the toolbox.

 

[Gander]

I'd say run the windshield antenna and add the cb antenna to the toolbox.

Ok. So any ideas for the fender mount? Would adding a splitter to join it with the windshield antenna help with AM reception or make my FM reception worse? FM comes in great for me right now but AM reception isn’t that great.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Ok. So any ideas for the fender mount? Would adding a splitter to join it with the windshield antenna help with AM reception or make my FM reception worse? FM comes in great for me right now but AM reception isn’t that great.

You could always get a splitter for the cb/radio signal and just leave the windshield antenna disconnected.

 

[Matt69olds]

I use to be big into CB radio. I still occasionally play around with them.

I have never gotten very good performance from the radio/cb antenna combination. Like many things in life, “multi function” means it does many jobs, just not excelling at any of them.

If you want the best performance, pick a radio antenna (windshield or fender) and keep the antenna for the cb on the tool box.

I have a Wilson 5000 on my truck. The antenna is much longer than the typical antenna, my truck sits pretty high so the antenna is constantly hitting things. My wife HATES the radio!

My solution: the Wilson 5000 has a removable antenna mast. The base stays on top of the truck. There is a screw on the”shower cap” that protects the antenna contacts. I normally have the antenna removed and stored behind the seat. When I want to either annoy my wife or actually use the radio, I unscrew the shower cap, install the mast, and the radio functions normally.

 

[goldpack]

mine came with a windshield antenna from the factory, one of the previous owners swapped my 1986's windshield. ...the one they bought was without a antenna.

original radio still works,...antenna nub sticks out of the top of the dashboard,... tape deck plays. a little bit slow but still works. (so yeah, been reading the antenna threads here,.... I think that nub is co-axial cable).

..even a loose di-pole wire antenna taped over the visors would be "something" of an improvement,..although a cheap mast may still be great for just a little more

 

[Gander]

So my solution to this problem was to use the windshield antenna for am/fm and add a stud/quick disconnect/spring/3’ Firefly antenna to the GM accessory fender antenna mount. Works great, no problem between CB and my AM/FM radio. I think I was just overthinking things. Anyway, all’s well that ends well.