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The strongest lobe of the polar radiation plot will be in the direction where there is the most metal in the ground plane. So, mounting at the center rear of the roof means that the strongest signal will be radiating straight forward. For the best averaged performance you want to put your antenna as close to the center of the roof panel as is possible.
When installing multiple antennas on different bands, just try to keep them as far apart from each other as is practical. There's nothing you can do to change the fact that the antennas will be in each other's near fields. So you do what you can and rely on the radios to have adequate selectivity.
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Eh, it'll be noticeable as long as there is 1/4 wave radius around the antenna but even then it's hard to notice a difference for most users.
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Thanks. Gives me some ideas.
I'll be using the V71 for APRS and some local repeater usage and simplex while on the trail. I have a Mobilink and a spare phone running APRSDroid. The CB will be used in the rare occasion I'm with a group that does comms via CB.
I'm building out the XJ for that ever so popular overland stuff. Been meaning to do it for years now, finally have the means.
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Mine was built as an expedition rig. I found that it cost 3 mpg to run a Yakima rack (rack came with the vehicle) and the only real purpose of the rack was to hold some lights, the jack and a spare tire carrier. To me it wasn't worth it as I also found it extremely awkward getting a 32" tire off the roof with factory Rubi wheels on it so I built a spare tire carrier for my JCR rear bumper.
Here are my specs for the build:
JCR Offroad Stage 2 front bumper (first gen)
JCR Offroad Stage 1 rear bumper (first gen, second fits 2nd gen lines better)
JCR Offroad Stage 1 sliders
Rusty's drivetrain skids
Homebrew fuel tank skid
SYE (save yourself some money on this and source from local driveline store)
Safari Snorkel (previous owner's only remaining contribution)
3.5" Rubricon Express lift (previous owner went with the 3" front, 3" AAL on flat packs, I replaced the rear leafs with 3.5" models from Rubricon Express)
1.5" Lift Shackles (done after the spare tire was moved to provide a .5" rake)
Aussie rear locker
JCR Offroad tail light housings
Goodyear Duratrec LT265/75-16E (on 16" Rubricon wheels sourced by the previous owner) which it has been wearing for 4 or 5 years now
Drivetrain is otherwise bone stock (3.55:1 gearing)
New radio plans:
Rip everything but the Cobra 25 out
Install VHF XTL5000 with W3 HHCH
Mount speaker in overhead console
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I'm wondering how a ball mount CB antenna would work in that situation. 102" whip w/ a 6" spring is 1/4 wave from what I understand and you could put a ball mount on the right rear quarter panel.
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Only advisory for that, you increase the chances of serious sheet metal damage if you happen to rub a tree or rock. If running a more traditional CB antenna on an XJ, I'd recommend a JCR antenna mount which mounts using the tail light housing mounts.