| Author |
Message |
    
Apocolypse400
| | Posted on Sunday, October 06, 2002 - 9:43 pm: | 
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Like most other radio operators I have SEVERAL mobile antennas. With my recent cross over into the SSB world, and a new radio, I am tryin to find the best antenna for my application.
Wilson Silverload 3ft fiberglass 26.855 swr 1.6 27.525 swr 1.5
Tram RK1 50" bottom loaded 26.795 swr 1.5 27.615 swr 1.5
FireStik 4ft Fiberglass 26.625 swr 1.5 27.765 1.3; 27.385 the swr meter barely moves!!!!!
Antenna is located on the back passengers side bed rail 2ft from the rear of a 4x4 regular cab Pickup. The Firestick seems to be the most broadbanded of the bunch but bad things are said of the fiberglass antennas. Would I get any better perfomance out of anything short of a 102" steel whip?
Thanks,
Steve
4 double 0 SE Kentucky |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 2:44 am: |
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If it an't broke dont fix it ! |
Tech833
| | Posted on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 3:40 pm: |
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Steve,
The Firestik antennas are a very good choice, especially in your installation where the antenna is not located right in the middle of the roof of the truck. Do not let someone tell you that the latest 'wonder stick' is better than what you have now.
If you ever decide to become an amateur and use 10 meters and run higher power, you may think about changing the Firestick. However, until then, you have a very fine antenna and can't do much better than that.
When your Firestik finally dies of old age, check out the fiberglass wound antennas at Copper too. |
Apocolypse400
| | Posted on Monday, October 07, 2002 - 11:56 pm: |
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Thanks guys,
I had the Tram on simply because it LOOKS better, but I switched to the firestik this weekend. I added a 2" stainless steel super heavy spring.
What would I gain by moving the antenna to the center of the bed on a bracket between the bed rails?
Steve |
Tech833
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 12:06 pm: |
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Nothing. The void around the base of the antenna inside the pickup bed will cause an odd counterpoise and may harm the performance. Moving it to the center of the roof would improve your performance though.
The only exception would be when using a magnet mount on the roof. A permanent 'through hole' mount always performs better than a magnet mount.
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Dx431
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 2:04 am: |
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May I make a tiny suggestion? If you're moving the monting point to the center of the bed rail directly behind the cab, install the 102" whip. I have this set up on my 4x4 ext. cab short box and have a 1.2 swr. With a bare foot hr2510 I talk all over the country.
Just a suggestion......
431 |
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