Best CB Base Antennas – Top 7 Most Reliable

By: Jeremy Neisser

Installing an antenna close to your home or on your car is the best way to stay connected to the world, especially during an emergency scenario where the landline is shut down and you can’t call anyone for help. 

While this might not necessarily be a bad thing by any means, it does make it quite difficult for people who are new to antennas to know what product to pick.

Here is where I come in.

Best CB Base Antennas: My Top Choice

The most popular antenna models are center-loaded, whip, magnet mount and fiberglass. If you have trouble looking for the right product for your needs, then you need to consider where you are going to install it.

You can position it in multiple places but as a rule of thumb, you should always look to mount it in places that are higher to help signal.

Nonetheless, we have scoured the internet in search of the highest antenna models and we have picked the top seven bestselling ones to present today. What you should keep in mind is that even though we are presenting seven models, they all feature powerful performances which means that you can’t make a wrong choice here.

Just make sure to pick the model that fits your needs the best. Without any further ado, let’s get into it.

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Best CB Base Antennas 1-7:

1. Sirio CB Base Antenna

We are going to kick things off with the antenna sold by Sirio which is a renowned manufacturer in the industry.

This antenna model offers omnidirectional high power handling and it features a low radiation angle. 

What makes this model stand out is the fact that it is equipped with multi-element ground plane protection from static discharges “DC-ground” that is made from aluminum alloy (6063 T-832).

If the power of the Sirio antenna wasn’t enough to get you onboard, then you should know that it features a 5/8 ground plane frequency range that can be tuned from 26.4 to 28.2 MHz.  Furthermore, this model features a max power of 1,000 Watts (CW) and continuous 3,000 Watts (CW).  

The coil that is equipped on installed on the Sirio antenna is made of enameled copper wire of big section which has been specially designed to support high powers.

Another interesting feature that we want to highlight is that this antenna supports the exclusive System C.A.C.S which stands for (coil auto-cooling system).

This is an outstanding system that allows the auto-cooling of the antenna to run by finned support which keeps coil hanging up allowing for smooth air circulation. 

Last but not least, the antenna from Sirio is manufactured in Italy with high-quality materials such as telescopic fiberglass tubes for example.

 2. Comet Original GP-1 CB Base Antenna

If you are looking for something that is a bit cheaper than the antenna from Sirio but you still want to purchase a product that fits in the premium category, then the Comet Original GP-1 might be the antenna that you are looking for.

The construction of the antenna is entirely made of fiberglass that has been designed to withstand heavy-duty tasks and this is why thee Comet Original GP-1 is one of the most popular cb base antenna models that can be found on Amazon.

The highlight feature of the antenna is that it is a dual-band base vertical. Therefore, the Comet Original GP-1 supports 146MHz (3.0 dBi) and 446MHz (6.0 dBi) frequencies.

On the downside of things, finding a place to install the antenna might prove to be tricky because it has a length of 4’2” but fortunately, it weighs in at only 2 lbs.

The folks at Comet are so confident in the performances of their product that they are offering a full one-year warranty program.

This shows us that the Comet Original GP-1 is a great purchase because in case that something goes wrong with the hardware, then the only thing that you will need to do is to call customer service and you will receive a brand-new replacement for free.

3. Diamond Antenna 144S5 CB Base Antenna

Despite being cheaper than the previous cb base antenna on our list, the Diamond Antenna 144S5 is one of the best Yagi beam antennas ever made and it offers great performances.

The amazing thing about this antenna is that it is a lightweight model weighing in at 1.4 lbs which makes it ideal for base and portal use.

Installing an antenna is not a simple process and people more than often are required to call a professional for help.

Luckily, this is not the case for the Diamond Antenna 144S5 base station antenna which features a 5-element design that makes it super easy for people to install it. The frequency of this antenna is 144MHz to 148MHz and it features a power rating of 100 Watts.

If you are worried that wind might blow the antenna away due to it being so light, then you need to know that the Diamond base station Antenna 144S5 has a length of 37.5” and it supports a max wind resistance of up to 80 MPH.

This is quite impressive and it is possible thanks to the center element that is insulated from the ground.

Just like it was the case for the previous antenna featured above, the folks at Diamond want to make sure that customers are getting their full money’s worth and this is why they are offering a full one-year warranty program.

Therefore, buying the Diamond base station Antenna 144S5 is never a bad choice.

4. Hy-Gain SPT-500

If you can afford to spend a couple of extra bucks, then you might want to check out the Hy-Gain SPT-500. Hy-Gain is a reputable manufacturer in the industry and it has made its name by selling high-end products that deliver premium performances.

This is why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Hy-Gain SPT-500 is one of the bestselling antennas available on Amazon with a rating of 4.7/5 stars.

The Hy-Gain SPT-500 ships with a full-sized radiator that features a lower radiation angle than similar models while still concentrating the power close to the ground which is the place where you want it to be.

This antenna model measures in at 22 feet, 6 inches and its height is adjustable so that you can make it fit in any place that you want.

The larger diameter of the Hy-Gain SPT-500 is not only great for design, but also for providing a DC path to the ground to drain off the precipitation static which results in a low noise antenna that is still has a power rating of 1,500 Watts.

Moreover, the nominal input impedance of the Hy-Gain SPT-500 is 52 Ohms lighting protection.

We also want to mention that this antenna model weighs in at only 14 pounds and despite that, it can still withstand wind power of up to 80 MPH.

Therefore, you will never have to worry about the wind blowing it away or turning it upside down.

5. Solarcon A-99CK

Even though most antennas are made from aluminum and fiberglass, the Solarcon A-99CK is one of the best models that feature high-gain fiberglass alloy.

One of the highlight features of the Solarcon A-99CK is that it can handle 2,000 Watts of power without any problems and to make things even better, the Solarcon A-99CK is insulated up to 14,500 volts.

Therefore, the antenna is great for both export and commercial use.

The biggest problem with cb radio base antennas made from fiberglass is that they are super lightweight.

However, this is not going to be a problem if you decide to go with the Solarcon A-99CK because it weighs in at 7.8 pounds and it features a heavy-duty mounting plate that makes sure that the antenna can withstand great wind loads.

The reviews for Solarcon A-99CK are looking great which shows us that the performances that the antenna has to offer are of premium quality and that deciding to spend your hard-earned money on this product is worth it.

In addition, the wave antenna features 3.2dBi gains and it is paired with SWR tuning and broad bandwidth covers that are much better than the traditional CB radio channels.

 6. Comet Original GP-3

If the previous models are not what you are looking for since you need something that can handle heavy-duty tasks, then the Comet Original GP-3 might be just what you need.

Even though the price is a little bit on the high range, this antenna model makes up for that by offering DualBand/Repeater support and a max power of 200 Watts.

The coverage of the Comet Original GP-3 is 2m/70cm. Thus, the gain for Comet Original GP-3 is 4.5dBi at 2m and 7.2dBi at 70cm.

If you are wondering where to install the antenna, then you need to know that it’s length measures in at 5’11” and that it weighs in at only 2 lbs. Therefore, you will find space to install Comet Original GP-3 wherever you want.

The Comet Original GP-3 is made from heavy-duty fiberglass which guarantees that the antenna will last for lots of years and that there have been used premium materials in its construction.

 7. TRAM 1480

We want to end our list with something more affordable and this is why we have picked the TRAM 1480 to be featured on the seventh spot on our list.

The TRAM 1480 is 8 feet tall and it is constructed from heavy-duty fiberglass which proves to us that the antenna is of premium quality.

Thanks to the heavy-duty construction materials, the TRAM 1480 features a frequency range of 144MHz to 148MHz and 430MHz to 450MHz.

In addition, the highlight feature of this antenna is the 6 dBd VHf/8 dBd gain UHF and a maximum power of 200 Watts!

What makes the TRAM 1480 antenna stand out from all the other antennas featured on our list is the fact that it has two sections. This means that even though the outer casing is tough and durable, it can still be adjusted.

Another interesting feature that we want to mention is that the inner antenna connects in the middle and the connection is tightened with a provided hex wrench. This information will prove useful if you ever want to screw together or tighten the connector’s position.

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Best CB Base Antennas - Frequently Asked Questions:

#1 How high should a CB radio's base antenna be?

Right from the start, we want to mention that the antenna’s height is the most important factor in how effective its power can be. This factor is so important a poor antenna will always work better than a heavy-duty one if it's based at a higher location.

The reason behind this is that all communications at CB radio frequencies require a “line of sight” and even though radio waves have the power to penetrate walls, their power is sometimes limited if the antenna is placed in a bad position.

We are not going to present how the technology behind CB radio base antennas works and instead, we are going to directly give you the answer that you are looking for. In the United States, the FCC rules are stating the antenna is legal if it complies with the following rules:

• The antenna is no more than 60 feet above the ground;
• The antenna is no more than 20 feet above the top of the tree or building to which it is mounted.

#2 Are dual CB radio antennas better?

Do you use a single antenna and it doesn’t feel powerful enough for you? If that is the case, then you should be pleased to know that using dual antennas is going to double their power! This setup is mostly seen on big rigs and the antennas are mounted on either side of the truck. The positioning is making sure that most of the signal doesn’t radiate out from the passenger side while still doubling the power of the antenna.

What you will want to do in order to achieve the best radiating pattern dual antennas is to place them ½ wave apart from each other when installing. This is around 204 inches apart. We also want to mention that dual antennas can also be mounted close to the vehicle body and they won’t cause any unwanted signal reflection.

#3 Can you use a mobile CB radio antenna for base station antenna?

Yes, you can use a mobile CB antenna for base station antenna. However, there are a couple of important tips that you need to follow in order to make this possible. First, you are required to connect the power source wires of the CB radio to a power supply. This is required because CB radios are designed to run in vehicles and they require a power supply of 12/14 volts Direct Current (DC). You can attach the wires of the CB radio to the power supply by simply stripping the ends of the wire and wrapping them.

The second step is to attach an antenna to the CB radio. A useful tip here is that mobile antennas usually have mounting brackets that can clamp to the rain gutter of the car. Fortunately, you can simply straighten the brackets and use them to mount the antenna to the house walls.

#4 What is a good CB antenna?

It’s difficult to determine what makes a good antenna because above everything else, it needs to fit your needs. This is why we are going to present you the two types of antennas so that you know which one to pick. First, there are fiberglass antennas which are the cheapest models. They don’t always offer the best performances, but they are reliable.

We also have the whip antennas that can be either center or base loaded. What makes them stand out is the fact that they have a long steel whip and they need to be mounted high on a vehicle. To offer better coverage.

#5 Does a magnetic CB antenna need to be grounded?

Even though you have purchased the most expensive antenna, you will not receive outstanding performances if you don’t install it right. This is why one of the first things that you need to do after buying a new antenna is to ground the mount.

The mount on standard antennas needs to be grounded to the vehicle’s frame. Placing the mount on a bad ground will result in an un-table antenna and more importantly, sky-high SWR levels.

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