| Author |
Message |
    
Copper_Fan
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2001 - 8:43 am: | 
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i need a new antenna a problem i have is on my Soft Top Jeep (1998 TJ Wrangler) i am limited to mounting,,currently my antenna mount is behind the spare tire on the back with the bracket coming out of the center of the spare wheel hub hole
with a 102" whip i am VERY VERY DIRECTIONAL if im not facing you forget it i cant hear you or talk to you unless your close,,, i was looking at a coil type antenna i see a 24 inch model would bring the top of the coil to just about even with the top of the soft top itself will this help cure being so directional? i seen those mounts that mount lights on the windsheild brackets and you can mount a antenna there on the Jeeps but i dont think i would like one there... and the front bumber is out cause of my winch,,,,any thoughts or should i deal with my "102 inch Stainless Beam"??? LOL |
HAM CBer
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2001 - 9:20 pm: |
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The reason you are so directional is because the ground plane distribution is all to one side of your antenna. Obviously, you already know that, but some others reading this may not, so there it is.
A center loaded antenna like a Wilson will still be directional. A helical antenna like a Firestik will not be as directional as your 102 inch whip. Try one of the older 7 foot 3/4 wave Firestik models. They will out-talk and out-hear a 102 inch whip anyway. If you run power, don't get carried away with the Firestik. They heat up pretty fast.
Forget about the windshield antennas. YUCK!! Might as well just use a dummy load for an antenna... |
Robbie Krausen
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 6:49 am: |
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You could also use a No Ground Plane kit above the roof line.....that might get you out a little farther and it won't worry about the ground plane being off to the sides, making it non-directional....most companies have a NGP (no ground plane) antenna setup...check out www.firestik.com
Robbie |
HAM CBer
| | Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 3:46 pm: |
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Only problem is that the NGP antennas do not perform well at all. This is lowband, and a ground plane is essential for good signal strength on the horizon.
I have played with the Firestick and some other NGP antennas including marine varieties for lowband. Very disappointing.
On UHF and to some extent on VHF, a NGP antenna does quite well. |
Bill Mirenic
| | Posted on Monday, November 12, 2001 - 12:58 am: |
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I had a jeep with the same problem and what I did to solve it may not be what you want to do but here goes. Firestik makes a very handy little mount that bolts to the lip under the edge of the hood just in front of the cowl and co-phasing with two 4 ft firestik 2 antennas made for a clean install and gave me good omni directional results.
Hope this helps. |
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