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Message |
    
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 208
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 10:42 pm: | 
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Anybody here familiar with me knows my mobile setup is in my 2004 Sterling Dumptruck. If you didn't, now you know.
OK. I'm currently running the Wilson 5000 Mag Mount. I personally don't see any difference between it and their 1000 version. Seems like a waste of money to me. Anyway, I came across a 102" whip recently. I'd like to weld a piece of flat iron on my chassis between my cab and bed. Extend it to the edge of my exhaust stack and brace it off my passenger side step. I'd like to mount the 102 on/into the flat iron. I'd like to brace it off the upper stack mount to help reduce the whip laying back or sideways.
Should I stay with the mag mount, which I've had several ground problems with, read my other post, or should I go with the 102? Will I see any difference in range, be it receive or transmit?
Thanks!! |
Nobodyknows
Junior Member
Username: Nobodyknows
Post Number: 30
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 11:57 pm: |
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If you can get the 102 up high so it will clear the cab then i'd say the 102 is the way to go. Also if the height of the whip isn't a problem for you than go for it. You will see better tx and rx with the 102. I've had several cars, trucks fitted for a SS 102 in my time and it can't be beat!!
Never ran a Wilson because they seemed over priced to me for what it was. I had a mag mount (Rat Shack)on the roof of my S-10 Blazer and it was ok.. Drilled in a SS 102 whip in the roof recently and was amazed at what i was missing out on.
Others out there swear by the 102 over wilson and i just swear by the 102 period.. |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 210
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 8:13 pm: |
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I can't get the whole antenna above the cab of the truck. That won't be possible, but most of it will be well above it. Do you think this would still work? I've always been told you needed 3 feet of your antenna above the highest point of the vehicle. I guess instead of mounting it on a piece of flat iron welded to the chassis, I guess I could use a mirror mount and mount it to the grab handle on the side of the cab.
I haul a lot of asphalt with this truck, so I can't get it too high, cause I have to go under those silos to load. |
Crackerjack
Advanced Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 669
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 8:48 pm: |
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It is common to fold the whip, when needed. Radio Shack used to sell the little clips that hooked the whip to the rain gutter or the driver side window. You just reach up and let it free when you want to.
The 102" should give you the best range and signal to noise ratio, and go with the heaviest spring you can find.
If you are using an amp, get the mount from Coppers
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodF50-00092+
It will handle the power. And if you can, find the one with the larger insulator. I can't find it in the presant catalog. |
Hollowpoint445
Intermediate Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 449
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 8:58 pm: |
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Ideally the entire antenna should be in the clear. If you mount it where there is metal close to it you're going to have matching problems that will be variable as the antenna moves.
If you can't get the 102" whip above everything else you'd be better off going with another antenna that you can get above everything else. |
Pig040
Advanced Member
Username: Pig040
Post Number: 827
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 12:05 pm: |
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MOst applications for a 102 inch whip the antenna is not above the car, if mounted on the back at least the bottom two or three feet are blocked, on the side even more, three feet above the plane is fine, as long as you have a match. Experiment away!! |
Hollowpoint445
Intermediate Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 453
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 8:06 pm: |
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If I couldn't get it in the clear I wouldn't even bother. You won't get the full benefit of going to the 102" whip and you may as well use a coil shortened whip. |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 977
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 11:33 pm: |
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not going to get into a debate over which antenna is best, but i do remember saying that a 102" whip will rarely be able to perform to its fullest capabilities due to numerous reasons/variables & many of the shortened antennas can be made to outperform 'em.
thankyou,  |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 217
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 11:49 pm: |
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Well, on Sterling trucks, the doors are fiberglass. So you can totally forget running a mirror mount antenna. Forget putting a ground wire and all that jazz too. It doesn't work on these trucks, or atleast I can't get it to work. I've tried the Wilson 1000 and 5000 on mag mounts. I don't really want to to drill a hole in the roof of a brand new truck. Plus I've tried taking down the headliner for another project and the overhead console bolts are stripped from the factory (yeehaa).
The 102 I have laying around is the one that is made into the mount and you can't cut the bottom. I don't have a spring, but could get one. I have seen them mounted on bumpers and I don't see why it wouldn't work. My mag mounts aren't performing like they should or like I think they should. I can't put a 102 on the gutter or mirror mount. It would be tore off easy once I hit an overpass or go under that asphalt plant.
Would mounting it on a mirror mount and mounting that on the grab handle work? Should I mount it directly on the step frame which is grounded directly to the chassis? How long should the coax be and which grade. I've been told that the loss of RG8X at 100' isn't enough to worry with... |
