The Best CB Antennas (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance

CB radios have long been a staple of roadway and job site communication. They’re faster than searching for contacts in your phone, safer than texting and driving, and—perhaps best of all—they don’t come with an expensive bill every month. Without the right antenna, your CB radio is nothing but dead weight. From fiberglass and magnetic mount antennas to whip and trucker antennas, there are plenty of options available, and each one is designed for specific needs and uses. It’s important to pick the right one so you can keep reliable communication within arms reach. 

Whether you need to replace a broken antenna or upgrade your current setup, the perfect antenna is waiting to start that next cross-country road trip with you.

The Best CB Antennas

Best CB Antenna Buying Guide & FAQ

While CB radio may no longer be in its heyday, plenty of drivers and motorcycle riders still find a use for it every day. This inexpensive communication system only requires an initial investment to get started, and once that investment is made, it’s easy to get things rolling. As part of a CB system’s initial setup, the right antenna will make all the difference in an individual system’s success. When properly mounted, a good CB antenna can provide users with a range of 10 miles (or more), making on-road situational awareness easy to achieve without the long-range chatter common to ham radio usage.

Whether you use channel 19 to monitor the roads, want channel 13 for small group communication, or rely on access to channel 9 for emergencies, having the right CB antenna is critical to both sending and receiving any message in any situation.

Why Do You Need a CB Antenna?

When it comes to monitoring road conditions, checking weather reports, or calling for help when a Jeep rolls over, a CB radio is the perfect tool for the job. Most drivers today rely on cell phones for their communication needs, yet even today, the CB radio can be an invaluable tool on the road and off it.

Imagine breaking down on the side of I-70 in the middle of Kansas or rolling a 4×4 on the Rubicon Trail. In Kansas, a driver might be lucky enough to roll to a stop near a cell phone tower, but the Rubicon Trail is much less forgiving. In either situation, a reliable CB setup can make the difference between a frustrating inconvenience and a seriously dangerous situation. Of course, a CB radio is only as good as its antenna as these antennas maximize the potential of both box and handheld radios.

• CB antennas can give radios a range of up to 10 miles (or more).
• CB antennas can extend the range of small, low-range handheld units.
• CB antennas provide users with clear signals for both broadcasting and receiving messages.

Popular Types of CB Antennas

Almost anytime a manufacturer designs a CB antenna meant to tackle the open road, they will be forced to make compromises. While the standard 102-inch whip antenna will work wonders, most vehicles cannot accommodate this towering design. In order to create a road-friendly wire, most engineers will create one of three main designs: whip, ground plane, and no ground plane antennas. Ground plane and no ground plane antennas are by far the most popular with ground plane units featuring the widest amount of design variations.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass CB antennas usually employ a ground plane design and may just be the most rugged design on the market. Due to their semi-flexible construction, these antennas are more resistant to low-speed impacts and high winds than any other antenna. For off-road enthusiasts, these antennas are perfect for use in rough and wooded terrain.

On the flip side, fiberglass antennas may have a more limited range than similarly-sized antennas. These antennas may use a highly-efficient top-loaded coil to overcome their lower power output.

Fiberglass CB antennas usually require buyers to purchase the necessary mount and coax separately, which can make their pricing a bit deceiving to the inexperienced buyer.

Magnet Mount

As the name sounds, magnet mount CB antennas attach to the host vehicle via an extremely strong magnet, and ground plane designs take advantage of their powerful magnets to ground themselves in both senses of the word. These antennas are designed primarily for both casual CB operators and those who intend to use a single antenna on multiple vehicles. They can also be useful for amplifying the range of handheld CB units.

While their magnets are incredibly strong, these base-loaded units can still be blown off a vehicle by strong winds, making antenna height at extra important consideration during the selection process.

What to Consider When Buying a CB Antenna

Surprisingly, selecting a CB antenna requires some careful consideration. Each unit is built with specific uses and capabilities in mind, and buyers should choose one accordingly.

First, users should consider their antenna’s intended use. Is it intended for open road cruising and hauling, or will it be mounted on a rugged 4×4 setup? Will it be permanently installed in the user’s vehicle, or is it intended as a temporary setup for cross-country road trips? What kind of range will this radio setup require? Does the antenna need to be grounded to the vehicle? The answers to these questions will determine the physical specifications of the perfect antenna and the specifics of mounting it.

Second, users must consider more technical factors, such as the power (wattage) of their radio unit. Pairing an antenna and radio with different power ratings actually could do more harm than good.

The Most Important Features of CB Antennas

In addition to the physical aspects of a CB antenna, such as height and mounting system, users should also pay close attention to the more technical features of an antenna before purchasing it. Electronics of every kind can be irreparably damaged by those looking to hack the system or take a few shortcuts. While seemingly dull, an antenna’s grounding requirements are critical to understand.

Electrical Grounding

In the world of CB antennas, there are two basic types: ground plane and no ground plane (NGP). What’s the difference, and why does it matter?

Ground plane antennas function similarly to a car battery when being used to jump-start another car. While one jumper cable runs power to the dead battery, the other attaches to that vehicle’s frame (usually via a ground attachment point) to disperse excess electricity in a safe manner. Ground plane CB antennas work similarly, directing excess power to either the body or the frame of the host vehicle. This can be done through a dedicated ground attachment or through magnet mounts.

NGP antennas are designed to mount on vehicles with no substantial metal surfaces, such as RV bodies. While these units do not require grounding, they do require NGP coax and are less powerful than comparable ground plane antennas.

Best CB Antenna FAQ:

While seemingly simple at first blush, automotive CB antennas still require a little bit of knowledge for proper selection and use. As with any component to an electrical system, CB antennas are specifically engineered to meet exacting standards, and while the standard 102-inch design works extremely well, the variations found in shorter, more auto-friendly designs can add just enough wrinkles to confuse both the uninitiated and the long-term user.

Our Top Pick

When it comes to finding the perfect compromise between size, range, price, and ease of use, the FireStik 4-Foot Tunable Tip CB Antenna comes out on top of the competition. This four-foot, hand-tunable unit is rated for 900 watts of power, and while it lacks a base and coax cable, the standardized thread pitch on its base ensures that it will work with virtually any base option on the market.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right CB antenna can be a bit tricky, but for the majority of users, the FireStik 4-Foot Tunable Tip CB Antenna is an excellent option. On the flip side, if a tight budget rules the roost, be sure to pick up the Tram Center-Load CB Antenna Kit.