| Author |
Message |
    
Great_lakes
New member
Username: Great_lakes
Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 7:30 pm: | 
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What is the best MOBILE antenna out there ?
I always heard that you can't beat a 9 foot whip mounted in the center of the vehicle's roof.
Or can you?
There are a lot of different mobile antenna desighns out there. What are your top performers?
( I'm not interested in wattage capability )
Thanks!
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Heavyweight
New member
Username: Heavyweight
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 8:38 pm: |
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I myself have tried many antennas and unless you have a problem with the hight then a 102 steel whip is the way to go.The only thing i dont like is the fact that when you moving down the road the swr is moving up and down.I tried mounting it on the roof,on the bed rail and on the rear bumper and i cant tell that one works better then the other,right now its mounted on the rear bumper and i have talked all over the U.S.from N.C. |
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 329
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 11:05 pm: |
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I just run a cheap 58" metal whip antenna.
Works good enough for me...LOL...
But, those 102" whips are hard to beat.
JIM/PA/CEF 375 |
Leonard
Intermediate Member
Username: Leonard
Post Number: 119
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 8:50 am: |
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Greatlakes I have tried SS 102 and K-40 and wilsons.
I agree the SS 102's are hard to beat, But I like the wilson 1000 mag mount just a tad shorter if you know what I mean.
Len CEF# 189 So,Minnesota |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 162
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 10:21 am: |
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Hey Great Lakes! I have a mountain of antennas in my garage. Like all have said, 102ss whips are about the best. Standing wave is sometimes an issue with these. Right now I use a 96 inch fiberglass whip. It works as good as the 102 but I personally get a better VSWR. Now if size is the problem and VSWR is to high I have the solution. Prefer the 6 foot Wilson Silver Load or the 5.5 foot. With the Silver Load I had 1.1 VSWR across the band and talked all over the country. Now this is only my personal opinion. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 2313
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 12:16 pm: |
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I bought the 6 foot $19 copper centerload and it is BETTER than my 5 foot baseloaded by one s unit. |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 489
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 5:44 pm: |
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The Anntron 1700 is a fine mobile antenna as is the Wilson line.
mikefromms |
404
Junior Member
Username: 404
Post Number: 38
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 8:43 pm: |
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Predator 10K. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5132
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 10:35 pm: |
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Great_lakes,
From our personal experience in using all of the antennas below over the years with well over 1 million miles of OTR driving and personal and business use in our vehicles.
And in customer satisfaction of over 30+ years in the radio business.
#1 ~ Stainless Steel Whip
#2 ~ Astatic 3-k / Wilson 1000 or 5000
#3 ~ Anttron 1700
#4 ~ K40
#5 ~ Monkey Made
#6 ~ Francis 5' Fiberglass Whip
#7 ~ Predator 10K (Single and Double Coil)
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Diggerodell
Member
Username: Diggerodell
Post Number: 81
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 8:25 pm: |
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the wilson 1000 roof mount works great for me!!!
bobby |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 566
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 9:59 pm: |
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unfortunately, the 102" steel whip is not a very efficient antenna when moving @ 65mph without tying it upright. on the roof of a minicooper or even lamborghini it will still probably bounce off of everything in sight & break the string that was holding it upright. so in my little corner of the world it isn't an option.
the astatic 3k WAS my 1st choice til 300 watts of dead key & 900 watts of swing apparently shorted it out internally(what was that about a 3000watt rating?)
monkey made is so heavy they charge you extra at the tolls.
not enamored of the wilson or k40's.
never used the a1700.
i think the 5' skipshooter is wound with heavier guage wire to handle more wattage then the francis 5', but i'll give ya that 1!
right now i'm back with my single coil 17" shaft predator & should have my 22" dual coil(because overall length is shorter or they raised the RR trestle!)so predator has regained #1 in my book.
& if astatic fails to even respond to my query 1 more time... |
404
Junior Member
Username: 404
Post Number: 39
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 10:41 pm: |
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The 10K would be my 1st choice.2nd would be the steel whip.Wilson 3rd.
Just my .02 |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 191
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 7:16 am: |
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I could be wrong but I'm starting to think there is no way to determine how well one antenna works over another. There are to many factors that come into play such as location on vehichle, area of land and surroundings, qaulity of radio and ground and the vehicle its self and how well the counterpoise is working. Last but not least day to day atmospheric conditions. There could be more but I think everyone can see what I'm getting at. This is just an opinion to ponder. |
Stogie
Member
Username: Stogie
Post Number: 50
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 3:59 pm: |
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On my big truck I have tried just about everything I could find, and the best results are with a Signal Engineering Goldenrod +45 when parked and a Halo with a 18" extender when moving.
I run two antennas with individual coax to a switch box, the antennas are mounted on mirror mounts using a quick release mount. I test by switching from one to the other, then swap sides and try again.
The wilson 5000 trucker is junk IMHO, the 2000 is a better choice.
Here is my list in order of performance.
1. Golden Rod 45+
2. Halo
3. Predator 10k
4. Monkeymade (puts out well but noisy on the recieve)
5. Wilson 2000
6. K40
7. Large halo (could not get SWR's down)
8. Francis Fiberglass
9. Wilson 5000 trucker
The signal Engineering is by far the most broadband, and has the best recieve. Only drawback is it's height, right at 13'6". (and there are two overpasses going through Houston that low on the westbound side. |
