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The Bearcat 980 SSB is a CB transceiver, so it needs a correctly installed 27 MHz antenna system rather than a scanner antenna. The important choice is not a claimed mileage figure: it is whether the antenna fits the vehicle or base installation, has the right mount and feed line, and can be tuned to a low SWR after installation. A full-size vehicle roof or metal body provides a very different ground plane from a fiberglass RV, while a home station needs a purpose-built base antenna. Every mobile antenna below needs a suitable mount and coax, unless the product is explicitly a kit.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sirio Performer 5000 PL | $50–$75 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Sirio Performer 5000 3/8 | $50–$80 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Stryker SR-A10 | $90–$130 | Amazon |
| 4 | Firestik II FS2 | $30–$40 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Firestik II FS3 | $35–$45 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Firestik II FS4 | $35–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Firestik II FS5 | $35–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Firestik FS4-SMK Single Mirror/Rail/Side-Mount Kit | $75–$100 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Firestik FG2-DD No-Ground-Plane Roof-Mount Kit | $90–$115 | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Firestik IBA-5 Indoor CB Base Antenna | $100–$130 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Sirio Performer 5000 PL
A long, base-loaded mobile CB/10 m antenna with a PL-259 male base for a magnetic mount or fixed SO-239/UHF-female mount. It is a serious roof, trunk, or truck installation choice when 6.45 feet of height is practical.
- 27–30 MHz tunable CB/10 m range
- 1,965 mm (6.45 ft) height
- PL-259 male base; mount and cable sold separately
- 1,500 W CW continuous and 5,000 W short-time rating
- PL version works with common SO-239 magnetic and fixed bases
- Specified SWR bandwidth is at least 2 MHz at SWR ≤2
- Tall whip needs clearance planning and a solid metal-ground-plane installation
Sirio Performer 5000 3/8
The same high-power Performer platform in a 3/8-inch threaded version for a dedicated 3/8-24 stud or mirror mount, rather than a PL-base mount. Sirio specifies it as a trucker antenna for 27–30 MHz.
- 27–30 MHz tunable
- 3/8-inch threaded connector
- about 2.08 m tall
- 1,500 W CW continuous; 5,000 W short-time
- Fits the common 3/8-24 hardware ecosystem used by mirror and stud mounts
- Vertical omnidirectional design suits a conventional mobile CB install
- It is only the antenna; matching mount, coax, and vehicle bonding still determine the system
Stryker SR-A10
A 3/8-24 threaded mobile whip specified for 26–30 MHz, covering the CB band with tuning room. At up to 166 cm, it is shorter than the Sirio Performer while remaining a full-height mobile option.
- 26–30 MHz frequency range
- 3/8×24 male thread
- stainless-steel whip
- maximum 166 cm length; 10,000 W CW rating
- Direct fit for a 3/8×24 mobile stud mount
- Wide stated tuning span can accommodate a Bearcat 980 SSB setup after SWR adjustment
- Whip-only product: it does not include the mount, coax, or an SWR setting
Firestik II FS2
A compact 2-foot top-loaded fiberglass CB antenna for an installation where a longer whip is physically impractical. Its tunable tip is intended to be adjusted after mounting, not treated as preset for every vehicle.
- 2 ft (61 cm) 5/8-wave top-loaded design
- 300 W rating
- EZ bare-hands tunable tip
- 3/8-24 threaded base
- Low height for tight-clearance vehicles
- Uses standard Firestik 3/8-24 mounts and accessories
- The short physical length is a compromise versus longer mobile antennas
Firestik II FS3
A 3-foot version of Firestik’s mechanically tunable fiberglass FS series, a middle ground for mirror, rail, or side mounts where a 5-foot antenna is excessive.
- 3 ft (92 cm) 5/8-wave top-loaded design
- 650 W rating
- tunable tip with retaining O-ring
- 3/8-24 threaded base
- More height than the FS2 without moving into a 5-foot whip
- Official MSRP is $35.99
- Requires a conventional ground-plane installation, not a no-ground-plane cable system
Firestik II FS4
A 4-foot tunable fiberglass antenna that is a practical compromise for pickups, SUVs, and mirror-mount locations. Firestik specifies the FS4 at 900 watts and uses a standard 3/8-24 base.
- 4 ft (122 cm) 5/8-wave top-loaded design
- 900 W rating
- mechanical tunable tip
- 3/8-24 threaded base
- Extra length over 2- and 3-foot options without the full height of an FS5
- Official MSRP is $37.99
- Still needs an appropriate metal ground plane and SWR tune after installation
Firestik II FS5
The 5-foot FS-series option for a conventional vehicle mount when maximum practical fiberglass-whip height is the priority. It retains the same tunable-tip and 3/8-24 mounting approach as the shorter FS models.
- 5 ft (152 cm) 5/8-wave top-loaded design
- 1,000 W rating
- EZ tunable tip
- 3/8-24 threaded base
- Longest and highest-rated Firestik II option in this group
- Official MSRP is $37.99
- More likely to strike branches, garages, or low structures than a 3- or 4-foot antenna
Firestik FS4-SMK Single Mirror/Rail/Side-Mount Kit
A complete 4-foot Firestik II kit rather than just a radiator: it packages the FS4 with a three-way bracket, 18-foot Fire-Flex RG-58A/U coax, screw-on PL-259 connections, and a microphone hanger.
- 4-foot FS4 tunable-tip antenna
- three-way bracket for mirror arm, rail, or flat vertical surface
- 18 ft RG-58A/U Fire-Flex coax
- two screw-on PL-259 connectors included
- Removes the common mistake of buying an antenna without a compatible mount and feed line
- Useful for a truck mirror arm or rail installation
- The bracket location and vehicle metal still affect SWR; the kit is not a pre-tuned guarantee
Firestik FG2-DD No-Ground-Plane Roof-Mount Kit
A specialized 2-foot kit for vehicles whose body cannot provide a normal RF ground plane, including fiberglass, plastic, wood, or aluminum construction. It uses a purpose-built NGP antenna and 17-foot feed line rather than a standard FS antenna/cable combination.
- 2 ft no-ground-plane fiberglass antenna
- designed for fiberglass, plastic, wood, or aluminum vehicles
- 3/8-24 base
- 17 ft coaxial feed line and roof mount
- Addresses a real installation problem that a standard ground-plane antenna cannot solve
- Official MSRP is $92.99
- NGP components must stay matched as a system; do not substitute ordinary coax casually
Firestik IBA-5 Indoor CB Base Antenna
A purpose-built indoor base antenna for the Bearcat 980 SSB when the radio is used at a fixed location rather than in a vehicle. It is built around a five-foot Firestik II-type radiator and has a 3/8-24 threaded base.
- five-foot Firestik II-type radiating element
- tunable-tip mechanism
- indoor base-antenna format
- 3/8-24 threaded antenna base
- A more appropriate fixed-location route than trying to make a vehicle antenna work unsupported indoors
- Official MSRP is $104.99
- An indoor placement and building materials can limit antenna performance; it still requires careful SWR checking
Buying tips
- Tune and measure SWR after the antenna, mount, coax, and final vehicle location are installed. Firestik explicitly says transmitting antennas are not plug-and-play.
- A standard mobile antenna needs a suitable metal ground plane; use an NGP kit only where the vehicle construction genuinely lacks one, and keep its matched components together.
- Keep the antenna at least 24 inches from other antennas where possible, and never judge an antenna by a promised range—terrain, installation, power, and conditions all matter.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.