Base Antenna set up

[scrapbmxrider16]

So i realized that a neighbor of mine was a Ham radio operator and still has his tower up but no antenna. I know he hasn't be on the ham in ages, so I'm gonna go over and ask if i can take down the tower and have it. this tower has to easily be 40ft. I just want to know what are some of my options on running a base antenna on it and should i amp my base CB.?

[209 first class]

what a bummer, no one answered... your options are many, the time tested and proven base antennas are antron 99, imax2000 for omnidirectional. id start with one of those. your ham neighboor i hope is gracious ! godd luck with it. 2zero9

[Visegrip]

Good to hear !
I hope he lets you have it.
Unfortunately they usually don't let you HAVE it, in my experience you usually have to pay for it lol!
Like 209 said the antron 99 and the imax 2000 have proven to be good antennas.
Not to mention they don't cost too much.

I myself will be taking down a tower in the next week. Best of luck to ya

[Lost Sheep]

Like he said, the A-99 and the I-Max are both great choices for beginner antennas, not to mention the Macco V58. You will get better performance out of the I-Max or the Macco V58, mainly because they are 5/8 wave antennas. They will also have slightly more Db gain than the A-99. You also have another option for a base antenna. A beam. Beam antennas are much larger and much harder to install, and they generally require a heavy duty mast or tower to mount them on. If you do get that tower you'll be set. Beam antennas have MUCH MORE Db gain than vertical antennas, which reduces the amount of power needed to make long distance contacts. For example, the A-99 3.5 Db gain, A Joe Gun 4 element beam 15 Db gain. Those ARE NOT exact figures, but they're close, and that is a BIG difference. That info should help you decide whether or not you run an amp on your base setup. Amps are not needed to operate a base, but they do help ALOT, especially with a vertical antenna. The downside to amps are that they are illegal for one, they are expensive and they can cause annoying TV, radio and phone interference. Regardless people run them everyday, all the time. If It helps your decision any, I run one on a daily basis in my mobile and on my base setup. If you don't want to run power or maybe just a small amp, the beam antenna is the way to go. Another plus about a beam is that they are directional. You just point and shoot. You just cant go wrong with a beam if you're not running power. They will definitely make the trip. Hope this helps.