Re: [A/S] cell phone ant.

[schuetzen - RKBA! <chasm@xxxxxxxxx>]

Patti

the frequency of the CB is much longer than the cell phone.  thus, the cell
phone antenna can be much shorter than the CB although, the CB can be loaded
with a coil to make it seem longer to the radio and of course, it can be a 1/4
wave in length or half of that, etc.

the cell phone and the CB antennae can be placed on one side of the glass or
plastic of a roof vent with a mating surface glued onto the inside of that same
piece of glass or plastic.  you see these on autos or trucks all the time.
the inner piece has a cable attachment for the CB radio while the cell CAN have
nothing but a built in receiving dealy in the inner surface which then transmits
thru the glass and on out thru the antenna.   The cell antenna is usually very
short, about 6".   The CB usually has - as already stated, a piece of co-ax
which returns to the CB set itself and is then adjusted thru an "equalizing box"
(this is tough explaining things in non tech words<G>) which tries to balance
the antenna length to the signal itself.   
The Cell antenna does not have that problem.  as stated, it can simply be placed
where it can pick up the signal from the cell phone and then transmitted on out
of the trailer.   The CB antenna benefits from having the long roof of the
trailer as a reflector to magnify the signal.  however, the Cell antenna does
not propagate that way - as I understand it - and usually just needs to be up on
top where it will not be blocked by the body of the trailer from a tower which
might be on the opposite side of the trailer.
The Cell is a line of sight while the CB is an atmospheric reflecting and - you
CAN get a skip condition allowing you to talk to the other coast of the US if
conditions are right.
enuff   there are experts on this list who can explain this better.
this is in lieu of someone not coming forth
cheers
chas