| Author |
Message |
    
747
Intermediate Member
Username: 747
Post Number: 180
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 1:06 pm: | 
|
I've been looking into antennas other than the Wilsons that I have historically bought...
One of the ones I've been eyeing are the Cobra High Gear branded ones, Firestik, and Astatic...
Such as:
Cobra A400 (similar to a firestik - 3/8" Threaded)
Cobra HGA 2000 (similar to Wilson in appearance - and mag-mounted)
Astatic Linear Load 1k
Astatic Dial-A-Match
FireStik KW-7
FireStik II FS-5
If nothing specific to these particular antennas, any feedback on antennas from these companies in general would be great!
Thanks everyone! |
Oldpirate
Intermediate Member
Username: Oldpirate
Post Number: 109
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 7:31 pm: |
|
I used the Firestik KW-7 for a while but I eventually replaced the Firestik. |
747
Intermediate Member
Username: 747
Post Number: 181
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 7:42 pm: |
|
OldPirate,
Thanks for the feedback! Overall, I am trying to stick with either the helical wound style, or perhaps a single mag mount...
One other brand to ask about - Francis - I understand you used to be able to get them in 6 or 7 foot lengths? Are they any good? |
Wildrat
Senior Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 1107
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 8:31 pm: |
|
I had a Francis years ago and it worked well for me. I'm sure you can still get them in the longer lengths, probably have to Google search for them.
WR |
Chad
Senior Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 1148
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
|
I have 2 firestik's, a 2 footer for the escape pod and a 4 footer for the truck. The 4 footer does very well IMHO ad I have worked DX wiht it from a Bone Stock Magnum 257. Both have the tuneable tip, the 4 footer is one of their lightweight versions and had held up thru some incredible speeds and tornadic activity.
I'm not too impressed with the 2 footer, it's um..... 2 feet. But it works well for limited use on the interstate and is actually rarely installed.
Chad |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1889
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
|
747, The antennas you listed will all give pretty good performance. As far as power I would not use any more than maybe half a kilowatt. A whole kilowatt? maybe but I like to play it safe. Some of them list a ridiculous high wattage claim.
I have used many many of the Francis Hot Rods and the best are the 5 footer models probably good for half a kilowatt also. Francis has two 96 inch fiberglass whips. The Amazor and the Wheeler Dealer. Great antennas and when I ran the Wheeler Dealer it work great, but again still not a high power type antenna.
Like myself afer trying bunches of antennas. |
747
Intermediate Member
Username: 747
Post Number: 182
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 1:14 pm: |
|
Half a kilowatt? LOL way way more than I would ever run!
I don't think any of these would have any issues with my power levels :-)
Thanks all! Any other opinions? |
Allagator
Advanced Member
Username: Allagator
Post Number: 747
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 10:26 pm: |
|
747 I RAN A FRANCIS 7 FOOTER AND STILL HAVE 2 OF THEM ! THE MOST IVE RUN INTO ONE IS A TEXAS STAR 1200 !
IT WORKED FINE AND THE SWRS NEVER GOT HIGH TILL I HIT A TREE LIMB AND THEN THINGS STARTED GETTING HOT ! LOL
BUT THE 7 FOOTERS ARE RATED AT 1000 WATTS (THAT IS WHAT MINE SHOW FROM THE INFO THAT CAME WITH THEM !
BUT IVE SEEN A GUY RUN 2KW INTO ONE TO SEE IF IT WOULD MELT OR BURNUP !! IT WAS FUNNY CAUSE THE FIBERGLASS BUSTED LIKE IT WAS GLASS AND SOMEONE HIT IT WITH A BAT !
ANY WAY I LIKE THE FRANCIS 7 FOOTERS !
IF YOU CAN RUN A 102 I WOULD GO WITH IT INSTEAD !
JUST MY 1/2 CENT ALLAGATOR
CEF115 |
Oldpirate
Intermediate Member
Username: Oldpirate
Post Number: 113
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 1:18 am: |
|
I sort of lost interest in Firestik products after buying their replacement top section for the A99. We put the antenna up and things were going well and had swr sitting at 1.2-1.3:1 made some contacts stateside so things were looking good so congratulated myself on a job well done. Next morning the thing was showing infinite swr and no amount of antenna tuning would correct it. We pulled antenna down to find a nice burnt hole in the top windings the size of a pin head. From memory this top section was rated at either 750 or 1000 watts, we were using a Cobra 148 driving a 250 watt Palomar kicker. Would I buy another Firestik product, definitely not. I would find out what other antenna options that Copppers have available. We went back to using the original A99 tip and have had no problem in three years. Looking at coppers range of antenna the Wilson 5000 would be my first choice |
