| Author |
Message |
    
Jpatt24
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 7:00 pm: | 
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whats the difference ? which one is best ?
thanks jesse |
bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 10:53 pm: |
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nither they are equal a 1/4 wave ant is a 1/4 wave ant now if your wife likes color well then get fiberglass in the color SHE wants! |
B1kshad0w
| | Posted on Monday, December 31, 2001 - 10:08 am: |
|
The 102" whip is actually the best and a true quarter wave antenna. The thing is you have to mount it in the right spot on the vechicle. Usually the best spot is right on top where the dome light usually is on cars. The thing is, you'll be hitting every drive through pole, bank roof, etc. in site. If you get an firestick, and put it on say the trunk, (I see that alot, that or the mirrors) most of your gain will be towards the front of the car. If you put it on the mirror, You'll have gain in all directions but towards the side you put it on. That is why the best place to put it is on the roof. Also, the 102" whip doesn't do well if the ground is higher than the whip itself. I would have to get out my book to reread the exact reason for this. Common logic though would seem to dictate that if you tx into your ground you wouldn't get out very far.
Anyways, most use the wilson 1000/5000. Not because they are the greatest antenna out there, but because they are easy to mount, do well under overpasses, roofs, etc., and do pretty well as far as tx and recieve. |
Snowman404
| | Posted on Monday, December 31, 2001 - 3:23 pm: |
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The 102" whip has always been the best antenna for me.It has very low swr and can handle alot of power.
Snowman404 |
Hypower (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 2:24 pm: |
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Hi Snowman, I have been wondering the same. I have found most Aluminium homebase antennas outperform the fiberglass ones, if only due to the lower noise levels (this is only my opinion). I have an I-max 2000 and a penetrator and you can guess which one I use and which ones in the Gararge. Worth thinking about but it may not be the same for mobiles. |
Mrnobody
Junior Member
Username: Mrnobody
Post Number: 38
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 8:49 pm: |
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i run steel one and have for over 20+ years,
i have tried the fiberglass doesn't seem to hold up with the weather changes here in the northeast
just my 2 cents.
chris |
Poppathree
Junior Member
Username: Poppathree
Post Number: 20
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 9:34 am: |
|
jpatt, I run the 102" whip off the back bumper of a mid size car, but I installed a bracket to raise the mounting point almost up to the level of the trunk lid. This way I get out without being too high up....the antenna tip is 10'6" up which will clear bridges around here. I also like the steel because it always looks clean and doesn't weather, etc. Lee |
Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 11:40 pm: |
|
Both fiberglass and stainless steel 102" whips are at the top of the heap in mobile CB antennas. However, I think you'll find that a fiberglass 102" will work a little better for a couple of reasons:
1 - The actual conductor is a copper wire embedded in the fiberglass, and copper is a much better conductor than stainless steel.
2 - It's much more rigid and keeps a good shape at speed.
A fiberglass quarter wave whip should actually be 96" long because the copper conductor is so much better than stainless steel. A national electronics retailer sells a 102" fiberglass whip and they actually have a tiny bit more gain than an equivalent length stainless whip because of the better conductor. Shakespeare once made a 102" fiberglass whip with a silver plated copper wire. It still is the best antenna you could ever use for a mobile CB installation.
Of course sometimes comprimises have to be made and you might choose the stainless steel whip because it is more flexible and durable. I choose the stainless steel whip because it is a little more low profile than the stark white 102" fiberglass whip. I find that people nearly break their necks and point at the fiberglass whip while they don't even notice the stainless steel whip unless I'm driving slowly or stopped.
Then there is the option of trimming the stainless steel whip for other frequencies. I know a guy who uses 6 meters and trims stainless whips with bolt cutters so it's resonant at his main operating frequency - it works great, it's nearly bulletproof, and is inexpensive. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 890
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 10:42 am: |
|
Fiberglass whips use a small diameter wire that is lamenated into the fiberglass shell. This gives you quieter receive but also narrower bandwidth and lower power handling capability (for you hams). Disadvantages are that it will deteriorate over time, and striking something while in motion will usually destroy it. Advantage is that it can be painted and stays straighter in wind.
A steel whip uses larger diameter radiating material which gives you better bandwidth and higher (MUCH higher) power handling capability. Disadvantages are none. Advantages are that it will last almost forever and will not break when struck. |
Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 7:54 pm: |
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Tech833 - I never noticed a difference in bandwidth between the 102" stainless steel whip and the 102" fiberglass whip that I have used. I actually did a fair amount of comparison before I decided on the stainless steel whip due to durability and stealth. I easily used both antennas on 10m and 11m, and I believe that my MFJ 259 showed about the same 2:1 bandwidth curve, although it's been several years and I don't recall the exact numbers.
One thing I forgot to mention about the stainless steel whip that added to it's coolness factor - it made a cool sizzle sound when an electrical storm was approaching. It really freaked out non-radio people who heard it happen. |
Dieseldriver
New member
Username: Dieseldriver
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 2:29 am: |
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Does anyone out there know where you can buy a fiberglass whip...I need 4 of them to use for my Imax 2000 ground plane system? |
