| Author |
Message |
    
Bc910
Advanced Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 516
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 9:45 pm: | 
|
Hey guys my current antenna is a RS large coil type and I love it!!! All reports were BETTER than my old wilson 1000! However I messed up tuning it (I cut to much off  ) and RS has discontinued them and they seem to be no where to be fount
I want a SS whip but that would be WAY to tall! I was thinking of a Wilson 5K trucker (too much $) or a Wilson (I forget what they are called) firestick "like" much cheaper but I never had good luck with firesticks
Any way what do you guys think would be good? Keep in mind I want cheap (as possible) but good and not to long!
Thanks
BC |
Vanillagorilla
Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 50
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 10:25 pm: |
|
Magnet mount or hard mount? If you've got a 3/8 x 24 threaded mag mount handy (heavy duty!)then the Frances 5 1/2' or Wilson siverload are very good. I have a Wilson 2000 trucker hard mounted to the roof of my Grand Chero and it changed my world.  Mine uses the 10" mast and you can get it up to I think 24" shaft if needed. If you'll have it on your trunk or pickup toolbox you'll wanna get that load coil above the roofline for optimum performance.
Even if its in the center of your roof remember that the higher the load coil on the antenna the better the RX/TX... maybe not enough to notice but it is better. I guess it depends on how much you have to spend. I "Think" I remember reading that Tech 808 likes the new Astatic antennas. Don't quote me on that but I do remember something to that effect. Lets see if he chimes in here.
Good luck~
Hank '905
CEF 559 |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 841
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 11:55 pm: |
|
i guess bc doesn't like my choice of big, obnoxious, oversized, watch-out-for-low-bridges types of antennas.
the astatic 3k WAS pretty good, i suppose if you're not running ANY power!
friend uses a 5' skipshooter with 21-2879's & has not replaced it after 8+ years!!! he watches the bridges better then i do though. i had a 7' YEARS ago-the bridges did it in!
PREDATORPREDATORPREDATORPREDATORPREDATORPREDATOR
sorry |
Bc910
Advanced Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 517
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 12:30 am: |
|
I like the astatic antennas too, just want something cheaper hopefully. I was thinking of the silverload 'couse of where my antenna mount is the top loaded silver load would be great! but they remind me of firesticks and like I said, I have never had good luck with firesticks!
Pat, that I know of, I have never seen a skipshooter, I'll check the net, see what I can come up with
BC |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 391
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 12:45 am: |
|
Hey Bc I use a 6 foot Wison Silver Load. It has a tunable tip and my swr is 1.1. on all channels. I have shot skip coast to coast with it and always get good reports. On my car now I have tried many different antennas and this one is the only one I like. BTW I have a 5.5 foot and a 3 foot silver load as back ups. You are welcome to borrow one to see how you like. Shoot me an email if interested. |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1955
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 6:21 am: |
|
BC that's a wilson silver load,I got a 5 footer with tunable tip gets out decent and incredible ears. |
Bc910
Advanced Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 519
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 8:48 am: |
|
I've allways wondered, what is the little wire with the eyelet coming from the base of those antennas? Ground maybe?
BC |
Bullet215
Junior Member
Username: Bullet215
Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 10:33 am: |
|
Hey BC....
Don't forget about Hustler CB antennas! They are budget friendly but not truck stop junk.
I've been talking on the model XLBLT 4 trunk mount version for 3 years now... both local and DX skip talking with AWESOME results on TX/RX. The power handeling is around 200 watts but they have any design antenna you could want even ham band frequency antennas. The model 1C-20 is a CB hole mount "black base loaded" with a chrome tapered spring similar to the police cars style......here's the web sight to take a look Hustler CB antennas Products:
http://www.new-tronics.com/main/index.html
Good Luck and keep us posted... |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 394
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 12:09 pm: |
|
Say you cant get the wilson silver load swr low enough, That little wire when ground to the mount will lower your resonant frequency down 20 channels! I never needed it though. Just use a rubber band to hold it up. |
Rover
Intermediate Member
Username: Rover
Post Number: 185
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 12:51 pm: |
|
Why not make your own "Big Coil" antenna? You can find all the parts at your local Lowe's, or Home Depot!
Here's a list of parts off the top of my head.
8' of 1/4" copper tubing.
1 3/4" X 3' copper tubing
4 1/2" X 1/8" Brass bushing
1 piece of 3/4" PVC tubing.
2. large (center hold large enough to accept 3/8"
stud) crimp connectors.
4 3/8 X 24 TPI stainless studs (hamfests or cut heads off bolts)
Insert brass bushings into ends of the 3/4" tubing
making sure they are straight (I hate antennas that sit "crooked"). Secure these inside the pipe
with JB Weld. Drill and rivet if desired.
Insert bushings into a piece of 6-8" long PVC the same way. these will serve as your supports for your coil.
Wind about 6-7 turns of the 1/4" coppper tubing around a 3-5" form. Solder on the crimp connectors on each end of this coil you have made.
Position the connectors on the ends of the coil.
Attach the coil to the lower 3/4" mast then install whip on top. This lower mast can be whatever length you wish--the coil can even be base-loaded if desired (not the best, tho) Use about a 40-55" whip (Rad shack still has them here) Tune this antenna in the normal way. If it doesn't want to tune, try winding a small coil at the bottom and attaching from the bottom of the antenna to ground. Oh..........about 10 turns of about 1/4" dia oughta do it. Trim or add as desired to get 50 ohm match at the feedpoint.
You'll have as good an antenna as any manufacturer! |
Big_l
Member
Username: Big_l
Post Number: 51
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 9:14 pm: |
|
10K |
