| Author |
Message |
    
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 869
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:37 pm: | 
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Which Antenna do you think is best for the city?
A Monkey Made or a Predator 10K? These are the antennas I have right now, I will be open to other suggestions though. I do have a Wilson 5000 also, but it would need a shaft mount in order for me to use it. I also have a 5 foot Wilson silver load laying around also. I would really like some feedback from the veterans on this. I can't really find one that works well on receive. Transmitting I have no problem, but my receive bites on this Jeep Wrangler. |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 337
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:48 am: |
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Wildrat,
THis is going to ppen a can of worms as we all feel that one type of antenna is better than another, but to serioulsy answer your question there really is not such thing as the best antenna. The truth of the matter is just because antenna A works for one person does not mean it will work just as well for you. The only real answer is to try it and see.
Now the receive problem may not be your antenna but maybe the receive side of your radio needs some anttention. What radio are you using, how old is it and when was it last tuned up?? It just maybe your radio is not up to specs on the receiver.
Borrow a friends radio, that you know receives well and try it on your antennas and/or try your radio on a friends antenna and see how they work. |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 884
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 1:50 pm: |
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Probably the one that does not hit buildings and wires. Likely a Wilson antenna of your choice. Nothing tall and bulky. "Watch out for that tree!"
mikefromms |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 870
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 2:04 pm: |
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I am currently using about a 14 year old radio. It's a SS 3900 Gold Face. I did have the S9 in the Jeep. The receive was better with the S9 but then I would expect it to be. The 3900 has always had pretty good receive till the Jeep installation and it did get better when I changed the bracket to Stainless and ran a big ground wire down to the frame. The main reason for asking the question is because someone on the radio told me that the Monkey Made was better for skip because of the flat coils and the 10K was better for the city because of the round coils. I figured I would ask here hoping that one of you more knowledgeable radio guys would jump in here. |
1861
Intermediate Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 487
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
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I WOULD GO WITH 10-K FOR EITHER TYPE TALKING . |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 340
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 4:53 pm: |
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It really should not make any difference if the coils are flat or round as the only purpose for the coil is to make the physically short antenna the correct length electrically. |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 874
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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thats what I thought also, but you never know till you ask someone who does.
Thanks |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1571
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 12:58 am: |
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you gotta wonder where claims like this start.
i imagine somebody just made it up, and it just got passed along.
matt |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 376
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 10:37 am: |
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when ya say city driving ya mean drive thrus parking garages and such.cause in a little city not far away from me alot of them use the lil wil or k30 .now obvious performance will be reduced as expected but if your just talking around town thats all ya really need |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1436
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 3:20 pm: |
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Never heard of one antenna being better than
another for city. Hummmmm |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1355
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:35 pm: |
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I wonder if a recieve problem could occur from limited groundplane? Jeeps are about the toughest installs ever. Wildrat I would check out some of the Jeep websites.Those Jeep guys are really creative and I bet someone has had the same problem as you. |
The_bandit
Junior Member
Username: The_bandit
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 1:18 pm: |
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Wildrat, both of the antennas you mentioned are simply shortened 1/4 wave antennas... Performance should be equal to or slightly less than a full length 102" whip.
The Wilson 5000 is a very nice antenna.. I use it on my Impala with excellent results and I can honestly say it's one of the best compromise antennas I've ever ran.
The 5 foot Silver Load might be the best choice out of all the antennas you mentioned since the majority of the loading is at the top of that antenna which will get the majority of your signal up above roof line and should increase your receive.
As for the Jeep Rangler, they sell kits on Ebay to install antennas to the rear spare tire carrier.. these mounts are usually longer and get the antenna feedpoint out from behind the tire.. you may just have to watch for the clearance issues with trees, power lines, etc.
Also, with the Jeep Wrangler if you choose to mount it to the spare tire carrier, don't trust the hinges to give you an adequate ground. Run a Ground Strap from one side of the hinge to the other to give it a more permanant ground. It's a little extra work, but in my experience it's been well worth it. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 128
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:14 pm: |
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Hi. I agree. The Wilson Silverload (NOT the flex series) are pretty decent for the price. I used one. It is top loaded. Maybe throw a small "heater box" inline to help boost it a little. |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 877
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 7:14 pm: |
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What happen to my post? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10004
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 8:03 pm: |
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Wildrat,
Doing a search here is what I found by typing "Wildrat" in the Search Box (to the left of the Forum Here) for the last 3 day's.
1. Ask The Tech: Antennas: Which Antenna best for the city?
• toughest installs . Wildrat check Jeep websites
• Wildrat, antennas mentioned
Matching Posts: 2, Relative Score 99%
2. CEF Net Connections: POST YOUR CEF CONNECTIONS HERE FOR THE WEEK OF 05/14/06 THRU 05/20/06
• CVC#29 / CEF#674 / Wildrat / FL. #12 ~ CVC#52
Matching Posts: 1, Relative Score 49%
Last 4 Days:
1. Ask The Tech: Antennas: Which Antenna best for the city?
• toughest installs . Wildrat check Jeep websites
• Wildrat, going ppen worms
• Wildrat, antennas mentioned
Matching Posts: 3, Relative Score 100%
2. Members Pictures: WILDRAT
• Wildrat, about meg. worth
Matching Posts: 1, Relative Score 34%
3. CEF Net Connections: POST YOUR CEF CONNECTIONS HERE FOR THE WEEK OF 05/14/06 THRU 05/20/06
• CVC#29 / CEF#674 / Wildrat / FL. #12 ~ CVC#52
Matching Posts: 1, Relative Score 32%
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10006
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 8:01 pm: |
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Wildrat,
Doing a search here is what I found by typing "Wildrat" in the Search Box (to the left of the Forum Here) for the Last 3 day's.
1. Ask The Tech: Antennas: Which Antenna best for the city?
• toughest installs . Wildrat check Jeep websites
• Wildrat, antennas mentioned
Matching Posts: 2, Relative Score 99%
2. CEF Net Connections: POST YOUR CEF CONNECTIONS HERE FOR THE WEEK OF 05/14/06 THRU 05/20/06
• CVC#29 / CEF#674 / Wildrat / FL. #12 ~ CVC#52
Matching Posts: 1, Relative Score 49%
Last 4 Days:
1. Ask The Tech: Antennas: Which Antenna best for the city?
• toughest installs . Wildrat check Jeep websites
• Wildrat, going ppen worms
• Wildrat, antennas mentioned
Matching Posts: 3, Relative Score 100%
2. Members Pictures: WILDRAT
• Wildrat, about meg. worth
Matching Posts: 1, Relative Score 34%
3. CEF Net Connections: POST YOUR CEF CONNECTIONS HERE FOR THE WEEK OF 05/14/06 THRU 05/20/06
• CVC#29 / CEF#674 / Wildrat / FL. #12 ~ CVC#52
Matching Posts: 1, Relative Score 32%
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 379
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 8:35 pm: |
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i re-read your first post i didnt see your list of antennas just put on a preadaor 10k and youll be good 2 go |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 878
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 2:06 pm: |
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I'll try putting this out here again. I bought two 7 foot fiberglass, top load, tunable, 3/4 wave antennas that I am going to co-phase on the back of the Jeep. People will say co-phasing these or ant antennas on this or any vehicle less than 9 feet apart will not work properly. Reading information on a web site that has fire in it's name and also stix in it's name also says that although it will not be an optimal installation it will however work. So since this hobby is for fun and for experimenting, I am going to give it a try. If it still does not satisfy me then I will put a ball mount on the front passenger side where the am/fm antenna is and put one of my antennas from my collection of antennas and put a antenna switch in the system and switch between antenna systems. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1610
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 7:26 pm: |
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wildrat,
cophased antennas will either shoot the signal forward and backward, or out either side of your vehicle depending how far they are apart.
either way, you are creating big nulls in your signal path.
IMO, the only reason to run duals is if you WANT a directional signal path.
who knows, some people might want this!
matt |
The_bandit
Junior Member
Username: The_bandit
Post Number: 22
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 3:27 am: |
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wildrat, 3/4 wave antennas have the same amount of gain as a 1/4 wave antenna... it's a cheap ploy by the manufacturers.. try to find a 1/2 wave or even better a 5/8 wave for a good antenna.
KV is right about cophasing... you can even get fancy and switch the directions by adding a switch and switching more or less coax to one antenna to affect the directivity |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 881
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 4:52 pm: |
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The jeep is very directional now. If you are behind me I don't hear you. I will probably put that ball mount up front and have a switch. Tell me more about your idea bandit, so I can get a better idea on what to do, I know what you are saying about the signal direction, making it kinda like that old antenna from the 70's, that something scanner. I thought you had to make sure on co phasing that the coax was the same length on each leg. Maybe I'll get the big book out. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1357
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 7:59 pm: |
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Bandit,
On a mobile antenna where the antenna wire is wound in a coil, it makes NO difference if it is a 1/4 wave, 1/2 wave, or 5/8 wave or anything else. Unless the antenna is PHYSICALLY that length, the gain is unchanged from one wire length to the next. The only difference might be in the bandwidth.
As for a Jeep installation, the U.S. govt. has tried hundreds of possibilities for HF antenna mounting on Jeeps, and the one that always wins? Ball mount on either rear corner (preferably passenger to be on the opposite side of the fuel filler nozzle).
Co-phasing antennas on a Jeep will make it not only perform poorly, but what little performance there may be will only be in 1 direction, forward! For a mobile, that is not what you want.
Best stick on a Jeep corner ball mount is a tall fiberglass helical wound stick, like a Firestik type. Copper sells a great 5-foot fiberglass helical antenna, it will work just great for you! If you can find a 7-foot stick, and the extra height is O.K. with you, go that route. It will even work better than a 102" whip (more omni-directional). |
