Give Up The Antenna And Get Cable?

Author: Jim Williams

I have been trying to convince my aunty for months to give up the antenna on her roof and turn over to cable. She is not hurting for money and cable television would truly help her fill up her day while she is at home taking care of her mother.

She does watch TV but she watches the same channel all day long. I keep telling her of all the cool things about HDTVs and how she could easily switch out her old antenna and change it with a newer antenna, which would give her higher quality pictures, but she won't make the switch.

I guess people just don't like change. I know it is not a money thing because she has a lot of it and I even offered to buy her one. Her response was, "I already have a television". I guess my big push for an HDTV comes from my own experience with them. We live in a very small municipality in Texas.

We don't have much in the form of amusement so we depend on our tv for our nightly recreation and parties. When I saw the clear pictures at our local Circuit City, I was stunned and immediately hooked. Then I heard about the antenna you can buy either for the outdoors or indoors.

I thought this was great because our cable company charges an arm and a leg for the new channels. All we needed to do was pay for the antenna one time. We installed the indoor one in a matter of minutes. As soon as we turned our HDTV on, it scans the channels and picked them all up, I was so excited.

Now, I watch all the great high quality picture shows on channels like TBS and the most popular ones like CBS and NBC. Watching television was never as pleasant as it is now. It's like the people are sitting in your den with you or you are with them in whatever place they are.

The History Channel makes you feel like you have transported yourself from the little town you live in to just anywhere in the world. I love this tv and I just wish my loved ones would see.

I don't know, I guess one of these days someone in the family will get in touch with the present and buy themselves a nice HDTV. Until then they will just continue to watch their little 21" out of date junkie Televisions.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/give-up-the-antenna-and-get-cable-396198.html

About the Author

Jim Williams recommends that you take a look at one of the few HDTV antennas on the market that actually works!
Resources: New York HDTV antennas Indoor HDTV antennas

Cable, Satellite Or OTA Antenna...What Will You Choose?

Author: Jim Williams

I own an HDTV...now what? If you own a high definition tv you can get high definition images! There are three options obtainable to you: over-the-air signals, cable or satellite.

Over-the-air signals... recall the old relic antennas on all the roofs back in a day. Well conceive it or not they are coming back in style! Only these are the hd antenna type that are specially fashioned to find signals that are digital and cipher in HD.

Another benefit over this antenna compared to the old analog is with and high definition antenna you will not get ghosting or noise. This is because the communication now will be in a digital format. So now you either get the signal or you don't!

That's the beauty of digital. Over-the-air (OTA) signals are free to receive. The only out of wallet cost would be for the hdtv antenna itself needful to obtain them.

To get HD programing from your cable/satellite company you would have to agree to their High def bundle. Be alert tho' that this subscription is not free. The company might require a minimum length of service and generally charge an extra fee to find your near-by hi def channels.

Does a HDTV mean I'm watching high definition? No. Just owning a high definition tv is the prime step in watching HD shows. Does your TV have a HD receiver? The tuner will either be built into the television or an external set-top box is required.

The set-top boxes can be bought in almost any electronics store, but most will originate from your cable or satellite server. Eventually you'll either have to subscribe to a bundle or buy an antenna for over-the-air (OTA) reception.

Once you have all of these requirements in order then it is up to you to find an HD broadcast to get started watching hd programing. What do all the numbers mean? HDTV programming is encoded with a type of resolution: 720p, 1080i or 1080p.

The numbers stand for the amount of lines embedded within the signal. The letter signifies the type of scan your TV uses to produce the image. The 'i' means interlaced and the 'p' means progressive. HDTV is the highest form of digital tv.

It has an aspect ratio the same as a film theatre display. This probably is the number one reason this format has become such a hit. The added is the lucidity (resolution). HDTV is the highest accessible digital source to date. Enjoy the new digital future!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/cable-satellite-or-ota-antennawhat-will-you-choose-411892.html

About the Author

Jim Williams recommends that you take a look at one of the few HDTV antennas on the market that actually works!
Resources: HDTV antenna RV Antenna

Satellite Dishes Are Easy To Install

Author: Leroy K. Calstard

Connecting your TV or other home equipment to antennas and satellite dishes are a popular way to Satellite TV nowadays. If you invest in a dish or antenna, you can have loads of choices of programs in your house. You can get a great signal from miles away and have all kinds of stations in your house. If you install either of these items yourself you will save money.

You will need to take a few things into consideration before you install it on your roof. You will want to do it right and know how to do it so that you won't have to have further complications later on. If you know how to do it the right way then you can use these great products without having to get on your roof more than one to do the job right. If you want to save money and have a few hours to spare then installing it yourself can be worth it.

No matter what you are putting on your roof, make sure that there is a good path for it to receive information. You should be able to have an area that is not disrupted by trees, other homes, or anything else when you put it up on your roof. The entire satellite dish must be unobstructed.

Make sure you have easy access to your satellite or antenna when you are putting it up, but make sure there are no electrical lines anywhere near it. This could be dangerous to you or anyone else going up there for repair work. Try to be careful about placing it somewhere that may cause leaks into your house. If you place it somewhere easy to reach then you will save time and money in the future dealing with repair work.

Make sure you have the proper equipment when you are trying to get this job done right. Try to make sure that the dish or antenna is as close as it can be to your TV. You will also want to measure how long the cable is to make sure that it can reach the dish or antenna from inside your home. You may need to add another cable if you must. You might need a drill and screws for drilling things in place and then securing them.

Make sure you know the right way to have the dish point. If it is the wrong direction you will not get any signals. You should have your dish at a 25 or 50 degree angle. You can use a compass to figure out which way to point your dish.

Make sure you practice good safety habits when you are on your roof installing your antenna or satellite. You don't want to fall or slip and hurt yourself. You should have someone help you with this project.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/satellite-dishes-are-easy-to-install-129635.html

About the Author
Leroy Calstard writes articles for http://www.insidewoodworking.com , a web publication on the topic of cordless tools . His articles on ryobi power tools are found on his website .

Consumer Reports - DVD Recorders

Author: Brooke Yan

At the highest-quality setting, the quality of most DVD video recordings is better than that of a VCR. DVD recorders also offer more ways to navigate recordings, with no need to rewind or fast-forward. With certain disc types, DVD recorders can perform functions that no VCR can match, such as letting you watch a program from the beginning while recording is already under way. They also offer a way to convert camcorder tapes or homemade VCR recordings to a digital format. The DVD recorder market is still in its early stages, so it's likely there will be further changes involving disc types, and prices for machines and for blank storage media may drop further.

As of August 2005, there were no DVD recorders capable of recording high-definition (HD) content. HD DVD recorders are in development and could be on the market in 2006. (There are some digital video recorders capable of recording HDTV programs. They are mainly available from satellite and cable companies. However, these use hard discs, not removable DVDs.)

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

DVD recorders are available from many of the same manufacturers that make DVD players. Apex Digital, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, and Toshiba are among the biggest brands. Some DVD recorders store content only on DVDs. Others can also use VHS tapes, hard drives, or both. Price range: DVD-only recording, about 0 and up.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

As with any other video recorder--including digital cameras--a recorder's storage capacity varies in actual usage. DVD recorders store content at different compression settings and thus at different quality levels. For the best image quality, you have to record programming at the device's lowest level of compression, yielding as little as one hour of recording time. To get the maximum capacity advertised--typically six or eight hours--you have to use the highest level of compression, which gives the lowest quality.

All rewriteable DVD formats let you edit, to varying extents, what you've recorded. DVD-RW (in VR mode) and DVD-RAM recorders let you edit more extensively than does DVD+RW. Besides letting you watch one program while recording another, recorders with DVD-RAM capability and some with DVD-RW in VR mode let you watch an earlier section of a program while you're still recording it.

As with VCRs, DVD recorders may use VCR Plus to ease the setup of time-shift recordings. Some also come with Gemstar or TV Guide On-Screen, free interactive program guides that get three days of listings at a time from your TV signal. They offer point-and-click setup of recording events.

In addition to commercial DVD titles, DVD recorders often support playback or display of numerous other disc formats. They include CD-R/RW discs containing standard CD-audio information; the recordable DVD formats DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and DVD-RAM; Video CD (VCD); and DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD). They can also play CD-R/RW discs containing MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) files and JPEG picture files. Make sure a model you're considering plays the discs and formats you use now, or may want to use in the future.

DVD-based movies often come in various formats. Aspect-ratio control lets you choose between the 4:3 viewing format of conventional TVs (4 inches wide for every 3 inches high) and the 16:9 ratio of newer, wide-screen sets.

A DVD recorder gives you all sorts of control over the picture--control you may never have known you needed. Picture zoom lets you zoom in on a specific frame. Black-level adjustment brings out the detail in dark parts of the screen image. If you've ever wanted to see certain action scenes from different angles, multi-angle capability gives you that opportunity. Note that this feature and some others work only with certain discs.

A DVD recorder enables you to navigate the disc in a number of ways. Unlike a VHS tape, most DVDs are sectioned. Chapter preview lets you scan the opening seconds of each section or chapter until you find what you want; a related feature, chapter gallery, shows thumbnails of section or chapter opening scenes. Go-to by time lets you enter how many hours and minutes into the disc you'd like to skip to. Marker functions allow easy indexing of specific sections.

To get the best picture quality when playing DVDs, you need to hook up the recorder/player to the TV with the best available connection. A composite-video connection to the TV can produce a very good picture, but there will be some loss of detail and some color artifacts such as adjacent colors bleeding into each other. Using the S-video output can improve picture quality. It keeps the black-and-white and the color portions of the signal separated, producing more picture detail and fewer color defects than standard composite video.

Component-video, sometimes not provided on the lowest-end models, improves on S-video by splitting the color signal, resulting in a wider range of color. If you connect a DVD recorder via an S-video or component connection, don't be surprised if you have to adjust the television-picture setup when you switch to a picture coming from a VCR or a cable box that uses a radio-frequency (RF, also called antenna/cable) connection or a composite connection.

Two newer outputs found on some models, Digital Video Interface (DVI) and High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), are intended for use with digital TVs with DVI or HDMI inputs. They may be used to pass digital 480p and up-converted higher-resolution video signals. Those outputs potentially allow content providers to control your ability to record the content.

Another benefit of DVD recorders is the ability to enjoy movies with multichannel surround sound. To reap the full sound experience of the audio encoded into DVD titles, you'll need a Dolby Digital receiver and six speakers, including a subwoofer. (For 6.1 and 7.1 soundtracks, you'll need seven or eight speakers.) Dolby Digital decoding built-in refers to a DVD player that decodes the multichannel audio before the audio receiver; without the built-in circuitry, you'd need to have the decoder built into the receiver or, in rare instances, use a separate decoder box to take advantage of the audio. (A Dolby Digital receiver will decode an older format, Dolby Pro Logic, as well.) Most recorders also support Digital Theater System (DTS) decoding for titles using the six- or seven-channel encoding format. When you're watching DVD-based movies, dynamic audio-range control helps keep explosions and other noisy sound effects from seeming too loud.

DVD recorders also provide features such as multilingual support, which lets you choose dialog or subtitles in different languages for a given movie. Parental control lets parents "lock out" commercial films by their rating code.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Decide whether you want to record on removable media. DVD recording is the best option for those who want to share video recordings with other users or to have unlimited storage, allowing recordings to be saved indefinitely. They're also space-efficient, since they can play pre-recorded movies, replacing a separate DVD player. But if none of these attributes is important to you, consider a hard-drive-based DVR instead. If you've decided on DVD recording, here's what to consider in selecting a unit:

Choose between a DVD-only recorder or a combo unit. DVD-only models can cost about half the price of units with a second recording platform such as a hard drive or VCR. The combos are pricier and bulkier but more versatile.

Look for "time slip" capability. It allows you to pause your viewing of a TV program you're recording, while the unit continues to record. You can resume viewing where you left off. Time-slip models also let you view a previously recorded program while recording another. An inherent feature of all hard-drive-equipped recorders, time slip is also available on stand-alone DVD recorders that record to DVD-RAM discs, one of five disc types recorders use. (All models use at least one write-once and one rewriteable disc type; DVD-RAM discs are rewriteable.) But there's a downside to DVD-RAM discs: They can be played on fewer other recorders or players than discs using formats that are more widely compatible. Some models that record to DVD-RW discs in VR mode also have time-slip capability.

Decide what kind of TV-programming capabilities you want. When it comes to programmed recording, a typical DVD recorder can do everything a VCR can. And as with VCRs, some DVD recorders can control a cable or satellite box, allowing you to program the unit to record from various channels without setting the box to the correct channel before each recording. DVD/hard-drive recorders designed to work with TiVo, the subscription programming service, also offer automatic recording of your favorite shows (or performers) whenever or wherever they're on. But that added functionality has a cost: a monthly fee of about or a one-time fee of about 0 (at time of publication). TV Guide On-Screen is a free interactive program guide that is available on some models. While not as versatile as the TiVo programming guide, it does offer point-and-click recording ability.

Decide the importance of video editing. A DVD-only model that records to DVD-RAM discs or to DVD-RW discs in VR mode allows scenes to be subdivided and rearranged onscreen. But the discs aren't compatible with all players, and even if they do play, edits you make on those discs might not show up. DVD/hard-drive models, except for tested models allied with the TiVo service, give you the ability to edit video on the hard drive. You can then burn images to a range of disc types for maximum compatibility with other players.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

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How Does A Radio Antenna Work

Author: Jack Wylde

Antenna is very essential for a radio. The air surrounding us in very silent. The activities that are electromagnetic cannot be captured by the ears of normal human being. All the waves including the one from TV, radio, communication through wireless and even transmissions of the internet are in this environment where we all live, sleep and eat. The human body is not affected by this kind of electromagnetic waves. And hence it does not have the capability to sense its travel. So it is very essential to use a device that could capture all these signals. But how do auto radio antennas work?

But what exactly is known by a radio antenna. A device which is is used for capturing this waves which wander the air surrounding us is known as an Antenna. An antenna has a tubular structure which is generally made up of stainless steel. Most of these antennas are generally telescopic. They can change their length and height as they wish. Longer antennas and lower frequency broad casts are required for transmission of AM radio.

The mechanism in which this works is so simple. Its just like how to turn the dial for selecting the type of music which you would like to be played in your system. There are many stations when you tune some may be very strong but some may be weak. On turning the dial you can see the signal fade in or fade out. There is specific license for all the radio stations to work on. It is given by the FCC.

The olden model cars still have a antenna which resembles the one that can be seen in the old hand usage type of radio. They are made up of thick and long steels rather than a small thin one being used these days. They are also very strong and heavy. In the case of self radios that are self contained there is same location for both this and then the tuner of the radio but this is not the case with new age cars.

A connection should be established between this antenna and the tuner. So for that one needs to use a very thick wire that can be buried in the body of the car. There should be absolutely no interference as with any phone or any other connections. There is automatic powering system in few types of antennas. Through the tubes of the antenna one can use a small motor that can be useful in operating a small strip of gears which are very simple in usage. There are many new types introduced in the market. These days steel of paper thickness is also available in the market.

A very important caution to be taken is to fold the antenna as much as possible before sending it to any kind of wash or for service. Because that may cause any kind of breakage or repair to it leading to a problem in reception of signals.Hence one must know how do auto radio antennas work?

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/how-does-a-radio-antenna-work-1903772.html

About the Author

Find the best Auto parts at bargain prices and much more information on Car Audio for the right music system. Powernetshop.at have the best product evaluation on the internet.

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What is Free to Air Satellite & Fta? is it a C Band or Ku Band Satellite System?

Author: Robby Dosetareh

Satellite TV is perhaps the most common way to watch TV.  There are a few programming providers like DISH Network, DirecTV, Bell ExpressVu, and Sky Mexico, just to name a few.  Those programming providers usually charge a monthly programming fee to viewers to allow them to view the channels that the programming provider has purchased the rights to to broadcast on their satellite, using their own proprietary satellite receivers.  Most use a standard 18 inch satellite dish and a circular LNB to pick up the signal from the satellite broadcasting between 12.20GHz and 12.75GHz frequency.  These satellites are NOT Free To Air.

Free To Air ( FTA ) is exactly what the name says.  It's channels that broadcast with out being scrambled or having any type of encryption.  Usually, the TV station pays for the satellite transponder time and broadcast it to the viewer free of charge.  There are approximately 75 satellites that can be picked up from N. America, of which about 45 carry Free To Air channels.  Channels vary from wild network feeds from CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, BBC, and many more.  Other channels are 24-hour entertainment channels like Fashion TV, Arabic TV stations, Farsi | Persian TV, Vietnamese TV, Thai TV, Supreme Master TV, Korean TV, Christian TV via Spiritcast Christian Satellite Television, Aghapy TV, Russian TV, Afghani TV, Senegalese TV, Kurdish TV, Turkish TV, RTN TV networks and literally, much much more....

Free To Air is broadcasted both in C band and Ku band.  The difference between the two is that with Ku band you can usually use a smaller than 120cm ( 1.2 meter ) satellite dish or smaller.  With C band, in order to get proper signal, you should use a 180cm (1.8 meter | 6 foot ) satellite dish or larger.

Many Free To Air satellite distributors in the USA like WS International ( www.wsidigital.com ) sell Ku band satellite dish motors that you can use to pick up multiple satellite signals using a single satellite dish solution.  The antenna motor operates using the Free To Air satellite receiver sold by the distributor and no extra wiring is necessary.   

For most parts of the USA 30 inch satellite dishes like the Winegard DS-2076 is an excellent dish to pick up signal from most of the satellites broadcasting.  In Southern Florida and northern part of Washington state, a WS9036 90cm satellite dish is required. 

To get more information about Free To Air, visit www.wsidigital.com or www.galaxy-marketing.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cable-and-satellite-tv-articles/what-is-free-to-air-satellite-fta-is-it-a-c-band-or-ku-band-satellite-system-543371.html

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What Is A Walkie Talkie?

Author: Simone Icough

Typical walkie-talkies resemble a telephone handset, possibly slightly larger but still a single unit, with an antenna sticking out of the top. Where a phone's earpiece is only loud enough to be heard by the user, a walkie-talkie's built-in speaker can be heard by the user and those in his immediate vicinity. Hand-held transceivers may be used to communicate between each other, or to vehicle-mounted or base stations.

For those of us who grew up before the 1990s may recall that no respectable private eye or detective story was complete without a walkie talkie being used while following a suspect or chasing a criminal!

If you enjoy outdoor activities, enjoy riding your motorbike at weekends, work at a college or school, perhaps you work in a pub, club? Are you at home caring for a child perhaps? if you answered yes to any of the above then you would find a walkie talkie a very useful gadget. You may also need a walkie talkie if you move around a lot in your job. The benefit over mobile phones is that they are license free and do not have any associated call charges.

Some walkie talkies have a wider range than the average baby monitor, if you are at home all the time and the baby is asleep upstairs and you need to visit a neighbour? Walkie talkies have a wider range and suit this situation perfectly, a "baby monitor" mode is available for some walkie talkies so you can leave one in the baby's room and take the other with you, when the baby wakes or begins to cry you will know at once!

For the workers in the pubs or clubs, or for teachers and staff members in schools would find walkie talkies very effective and useful when communicating with colleagues. For all of these working environments emergencies can happen and resposding to those emergencies could be an issue, unless you had a walkie talkie! You can clip a walktie talkie to your clothing, they are light weight and easily carried about your person.

You can use a walkie talkie while out on youre bike (like Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman did on The Long Way Round) and fit the earpieve into your motorcycle helmet, also available is a Push to Talk button that is mounted on the motorcycle handlebar. The range for these types of Walkie Talkies is over a mile, come rain or shine. The walkie talkie can also compete with the mobile phone market as no roaming applies to a walkie talkie so you can avoid their hefty prices.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/satellite-radio-articles/what-is-a-walkie-talkie-777281.html

About the Author
Provider of two way communications. Long Range Radios from Codan and Barrett including accessories and training.

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Car Antenna Questions And Answers

Author: Jack Wylde

In this article we will discuss How Do Auto Radio Antennas Work. We will also discuss its importance and its working. We shall understand more about radio waves and its properties and how transmission happens through it.

In this paragraph we will understand what is an antenna.Human ear cannot perceive radio waves directly. This is because they fall in the electromagnetic range which cannot be picked up by a normal human ear. Then we may have a doubt how the information gets transmitted especially through radio and television. We may also have doubts regarding wireless communications like cell phone and transmission of data through Internet. But it is possible to catch these waves by a device. It is this device we name as an antenna.

Radio antennas receive electromagnetic waves. These look like tubes made of stainless steel because they conduct well. They also have the property of expansion and contraction at a desired height.

There is a major classification in this. Amplitude modulation and frequency modulation. The broadcast of AM signals happen at shorter frequencies and broadcast of FM signals happen at a higher frequency range. Only antennas that are long can pick up lower frequency signal and only antennas that are short are capable of broadcast of FM signals that happen at a higher frequency.We all happily enjoy music in radio. We have never thought how such a broadcast happens. Nowadays many stations have come up. As we keep tuning we will observe clearly how these antennas picks up radio waves of a particular station. Each station works at a particular assigned frequency. A license has to obtained from FCC which regulates the communication of radio stations. Only waves that are strong can be caught by the antenna of the radio.

There are lot of differences between an ordinary radio antenna and radio antenna of car because the car is not stationary. A heavy wire should be connected that runs through the body of the car that remains shielded. We may have doubt why shielding should be done. This is done to prevent interference of external waves. These external wave can be anything right from cell phone or even various power lines in the road. Only when this interference is stopped there can be smooth flow of radio waves to tuner from the antenna of the radio in the car.

Nowadays technology has become so advanced technology like presence of gears in the tubes of the antenna. These tubes are operated by means of a motor. This is to receive the signal by the antennas when the radio is being switched on. There are other differences also between stationary radio antenna and that of a radio antenna of a car that is moving because the steel used in construction of antenna in car is more stronger and rigid. Some vehicles are also trying to use the same technology used in mobile phone for transmission of radio wave signals. However this is still in experimentation stage only.

Thus we have learnt How Do Auto Radio Antennas Work

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/car-antenna-questions-and-answers-1903885.html

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Find the best Auto parts at bargain prices and much more information on Car Audio for the right music system. Powernetshop.at have the best product evaluation on the internet.

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Choosing a Cb Antenna

Author: Right Channel Radios

&copy 2008 Right Channel Radios

There are a large number of CB antennas on the market and it can be a daunting task selecting one. When choosing a CB antenna it’s important to consider the antenna’s mounting location, brand type, length, mount size, coil location and ground plane.

Mounting Location Considerations

Mounting location is a difficult topic to advise upon due to each individual’s unique circumstances and preferences. Antennas can be mounted a number of places including on a vehicle’s roof, mirror bars, hood channel, bumper and trunk. Each method has advantages and disadvantages and it’s up to each individual to weigh these relative to their own needs and preferences. There are a few general rules to keep in mind when considering mounting options:

• Antennas mounted higher on the vehicle tend to perform better
• Antennas should have their coil above the roof-line of the vehicle (coil location is discussed later in this article). For optimal performance, 2/3 of the antenna should be above the roof-line.
• It’s critical that the antenna mount be well grounded to the vehicle chassis. If a grounding jumper is used to ground the mount, it should be as short as possible. If installing an antenna on an RV or a vehicle without a sufficient ground, please refer to the “No-Ground Plane Antennas” section of this article.
• Single antennas (vs. dual co-phased antennas) tend to perform better when mounted near the center of the vehicle.

While it’s not always possible to follow all the previous suggestion, following as many as possible will result in better antenna performance.

Antenna Brand

We recommend picking a quality CB brand as the antenna is the most important determinant of system performance. A good quality fiberglass CB antenna can be purchased for around $20, so there’s really no reasons to scrimp on such an important system component. While this is by no means represents a comprehensive list of quality manufacturers, Firestik, Wilson and K40 all make high-quality antennas we’re very comfortable recommending.

Length

Longer CB antennas work better than shorter antennas, so select the longest length that can be comfortably used. Accessories such as quick-disconnects are available that allow for fast and tool-free CB antenna removal when additional clearance is required (garage parking, drive-throughs, etc).

Mount Size

It’s important that a mount be sturdy enough to support a selected antenna. While a small roof magnet mount would be well suited for a short 2’ fiberglass CB antenna, it would be a very poor choice for a heavy center-loaded 5’ long antenna (as the momentum of the antenna while driving would likely cause the magnet mount to come loose). When selecting a CB antenna, make sure the chosen mount will be able to provide adequately support.

Antenna Types by Coil

CB antennas can generally be grouped into three categories by load position. An antenna’s load position refers to the location where the antenna wire is wound into a coil. The optimal antenna length for CB frequencies is 102” as this represents one quarter of a wavelength. However, mounting a 102” (8.5 foot) antenna to a vehicle is usually not an option.

To get around this problem, manufactures wrap coil tightly along the antenna body in order to compensate for the reduced antenna length. In other words, a longer length similar to that of the 102” whip is achieved on a shorter CB antenna by wrapping the antenna wire close together, forming a coil. While this isn’t nearly as efficient as using a regular 102” antenna, it allows for shorter and more practical CB antennas.

Antennas can be categorized based on their coil location:

Base-Loaded Antennas

As the name implies, base-loaded CB antennas have their coil located at the bottom of the antenna. Many all-in-one magnet mounted and roof antennas are base-loaded. An all-in-one antenna refers to a product that contains the antenna, mount and cable in a single unit.

• Pros: Offers one of the simplest mounting and installation methods with the all-in-one models. Additionally, base-loaded models are able to utilize a thicker coil and generally have a higher watt capacity rating than top-loaded fiberglass CB antennas.
• Cons: The least efficient type of antenna relative to other load positions. An antenna’s coil needs to be above the highest vehicle surface for optimal performance and this results in fewer effective mounting options for base-loaded CB antennas. The coil load may be placed below a vehicle’s highest surface, but performance will suffer.
• Popular Applications: Car and pick-up truck roofs and trunks.

Center-Loaded Antennas

These antennas have their coil located in the middle of the antenna. This description is slightly misleading as the coil is usually located near, but not at, the bottom of the CB antenna. Most center-loaded antennas utilize a thick stainless steel shaft that makes up the bottom 1/3 to 1/4 of the antenna. The coil sits above this shaft, usually in a plastic housing, and the remainder of the antenna consists of a long and thin steel whip. Many popular professional trucking CB antennas are center-loaded.

• Pros: Center-loaded CB antennas offer a slightly higher coil load than base-loaded antennas and are more efficient. They also will usually have a higher watt capacity rating than top-loaded fiberglass antennas.
• Cons: Less efficient than top-loaded fiberglass CB antennas.
• Popular Applications: Large trucks and tractor trailers.

Top-Loaded Antennas

Top-loaded CB antennas tend to be made of fiberglass. While the coils of base and center loaded antennas are usually contained in a plastic housing, top loaded fiberglass antennas utilize a thin wire that is wrapped along the antenna’s exterior shaft and covered with a protective layer.

• Pros: Generally the cheapest and most effective CB antenna type. It’s possible to mount top-loaded antennas lower on the vehicle as their coil (which resides at the antenna’s top) is more likely to remain above the roof-line.
• Cons: Due to the thinner coil wire size, top-loaded CB antennas generally have lower watt capacity ratings. This generally isn’t an issue when using most CB radios as 99.9% of all antennas are able to handle the 4 watt transmission limitation of all stock CBs. The lower watt capacity of fiberglass antennas is only an issue for those using a modified CB or a more powerful HAM radio.
• Popular Applications: Cars, trucks, tractor trailers and RVs. Top-loaded fiberglass antennas are generally the most versatile and popular CB antenna type.

No-Ground Plane (NGP) Antennas

When installing a CB antenna on an RV, boat or any vehicle with no metal chassis, a no-ground plane antenna kit is required. A traditional CB antenna utilizes the metal chassis of a vehicle when transmitting the radio’s signal. Without a good ground plane, the antenna will provide extremely poor performance.

No-ground plane (NGP) antennas have the required ground counterpoise built in to the coax cable and allow for operation without an external ground. Traditional ground plane antennas tend to have a 15% to 20% stronger field strength than similar NGP antennas. Subsequently, it’s always preferable to use a traditional ground-based antenna if a good ground plane is available. NGP antennas come in kits that include a specially modified NGP coax and antenna and subsequently aren't interchangeable with standard ground-based equipment.

Summary

There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a CB antenna. As long as all are properly considered, it’s a relatively simple process to select a CB antenna that will perform well for a given vehicle or environment. Additional CB articles as well as a large selection of CB antennas can be found online at www.RightChannelRadios.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/communication-articles/choosing-a-cb-antenna-404251.html

About the Author

Right Channel Radios specializes in CB radios, CB antennas and related CB accessories. You can find numerous educational articles as well as a wide selection of CB related products online at www.RightChannelRadios.com.

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Explorer and Starchoice Team's Up

Author: Maxim Hamlin

Located in the greater Montreal area, Explorer RV satellite systems Manufactures their own state of the art RV satellite systems.

Our team of Explorer RV satellite systems engineers, industrial designers and communication specialists, sets new standards in the RV satellite systems industry.

Since 2001 Explorer satellite systems as developed their own unique RV satellite systems software and hardware with specifications exceeding general standards in the RV industry.

Why did we decide to build the Explorer RV satellite systems?

Available RV satellite systems were not stable enough to handle a sophisticated system like STAR CHOICE.

How did we build our RV satellite system?

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Getting there!

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Our strength!

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Target!

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Results ?

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cable-and-satellite-tv-articles/explorer-and-starchoice-teams-up-339618.html

About the Author

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