cutting antenas
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 8
From: North Texas
I have no idea how it effects the CB as I don't use it, but it had no adverse effect on the radio reception cutting the radio whip.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 157
True that. If you have an swr meter you can eyeball it. The swr works in a phase so chopping could throw it way off, a few millimeters down could put it right back. It's all in the length. The scary thing is, you can make a good cb antenna out of lawn chairs with the right swr rating once done.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,059
Likes: 4
From: Florida
That. I removed my CB antenna and used two pieces of shrink tubing (little square for the top and tube for the threads) to cover the threads on the mount.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,521
Likes: 57,074
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I took both antennas off and covered the "stubs" with a vacuum caps from one of the auto parts stores. I've never even turned my CB on but I do have a "shorty" antenna in the bottom of the tourpak for that "just in case moment.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 116
Likes: 4
From: Surrey, BC
The rubber cap comes off my 2010 antenna. I don't see why you couldn't lop a few inches off.
Like other's have said, the CB ones are different, but the AM/FM ones are fair game.
Like other's have said, the CB ones are different, but the AM/FM ones are fair game.
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Novice
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Savannah, GA
Lop away on antennas that receive-only (AM, FM). Lop away on a CB antenna if you never transmit on it. But, transmit on a lopped-off CB antenna? If you're lucky the CB radio will live through it. Better to use a short loaded antenna (plenty on the market).
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
It's amazing the misconceptions out there regarding antenna resonance and tuning.
Antennas that are used for transmitting and for receiving are both tuned and designed for use in a particular part of the RF spectrum. That goes for the two antennas on your Glide. Trimming a receive antenna (such as for FM or AM broadcast receive) won't do anything damaging to the equipment other than de-tune the antenna and decrease it's efficiency even more at the designed operating frequencies. Cutting an antenna used for transmission (in this case your CB antenna) if you don't know what you are doing and don't have the proper monitor/measuring equipment, and if your transmitter does not have reflected power protection, you will certainly damage the transmitter (usually burn out the final amp transistors) if a de-tuned antenna is used for any length of time.
But hey, it's an HD. Looks are always more important than performance, right?
Antennas that are used for transmitting and for receiving are both tuned and designed for use in a particular part of the RF spectrum. That goes for the two antennas on your Glide. Trimming a receive antenna (such as for FM or AM broadcast receive) won't do anything damaging to the equipment other than de-tune the antenna and decrease it's efficiency even more at the designed operating frequencies. Cutting an antenna used for transmission (in this case your CB antenna) if you don't know what you are doing and don't have the proper monitor/measuring equipment, and if your transmitter does not have reflected power protection, you will certainly damage the transmitter (usually burn out the final amp transistors) if a de-tuned antenna is used for any length of time.
But hey, it's an HD. Looks are always more important than performance, right?