Copper Talk » Ask The Tech » Antennas » Whip vs. stick « Previous Next »

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Gremlin
Posted on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 2:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am now running a 102" whip and would like to go with a stick(for apperance perpose) and was wondering which one would give me the best reception.
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Dx431
Posted on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 3:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What type of vehicle and equipment are we talking about here?
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Buck
Posted on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 5:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Personaly I think the whip(fiberglass or steel) is the best antenna you can put on a mobile. I understand that it isnt practicle on some autos but it is still the best
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Taz
Posted on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 6:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

102 inch steel whip would in a vehicle. but at a base a big stick such as an imax-2000 or an a-99 would
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Dx431
Posted on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 9:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I agree. The whip is the best as far as TX and RX. I have used a few different antennas and have always gone back to the whip. Nothing makes my HR2510 work as well as the whip. If you want to try something, try a Solarcon ant.They don't look bad and work exceptionally well. JMHO
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Taz
Posted on Monday, August 12, 2002 - 11:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Agreed!
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Tech833
Posted on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 12:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You will find that the Shakespeare top loaded mobile antennas work almost identical to a full-length 1/4 wave whip. Also, they cost less than all the fancy this-and-that mobile CB antennas while easily outperforming them. The Shakespeare antennas are available direct.

Valor used to make a top loaded antenna that used a steel lower shaft and fiberglass coil form. I'm not sure if these antennas are still made today.

Those antennas with the tanker truck wound coils are all looks and power handling. The overall RF efficiency is low.
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Dx431
Posted on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 12:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Tech833,if you're talking about the open coil Penatrator mobile ant,I know exactly what you're talking about. The SWRs are higher than a kite and the performance is poor.But, they look cool!hahaha
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Taz
Posted on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 7:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Go with a whip 102"
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Dx431
Posted on Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 7:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Taz, the 102" whip is my choice....is and always will be for as long as I drive a pick-up.
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Taz
Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - 12:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

good i like them they are good for beating the other cbers who want to fight you cause your radio gets out better than theirs. then your antenna whips em in the rear! hehehehhahahahaha
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Funtimebob
Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 9:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was able to (in fun) out talk a friend of mine parked next to me using a steel whip with my K-40 on the trunk of my car. of course i didn't mention to him at the time that the majority of his signal was being blocked by the body of his van and highly directional :) or that my radio was tuned up :) "arent" I a stinker!! :)
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Scrapiron63
Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 10:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I ran the whips for 20 years on trucks until the good baseloaded antennas came out about 10 ago. Something like the Wilson 1000, 2000, is much better for me. Put it on the roof of a pickup and they will out perform the whip, especially moving, the whip bends over, you lose the height advantage, plus the SWR's change because of the whips relationship to the metal truck. Like you said, the whip is also directional, unless you mount it on top of the cab, and who wants that. lol, A nice baseload on the cab looks much better, and maybe you want be recognized as one of them there lowlife cb'ers. hehe
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Gremlin
Posted on Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 6:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That's what I figured(the whip) but the ol lady don't like the looks of it. Me personally I like the range, so far 20 miles on a barefooted Cobra 29, now its a Galaxy 959 and I still have the same range.
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Dx431
Posted on Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 9:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If the "BOSS" (hehe) doesn't like the looks of the whip, then I suggest going with the Wilson 1000 mag mount. You will get about the same range and it doesn't look to bad either and you can easily remove it if need be.
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505
New member
Username: 505

Post Number: 7
Registered: 9-2006
Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 12:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

How many watts can handle a 108" whip i would like to know,because i don't see nothing post about that
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Unit199
Advanced Member
Username: Unit199

Post Number: 538
Registered: 8-2003


Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 8:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Whatever your coax will handle.
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210
CVC#18
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 2392
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 12:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I agree with Harve. The 102 inch whip will take a lot of heat. Only problem that concerns me is the spring that is needed to make up for the missing length used for 11 meters. The spring would be the weakest link. I have a little spring that is for antennas up to 8 feet and it would get warm on long keydowns! I just don't have a lot of faith in any of the springs I have found and most of them are not even hexed on the ends so you can tighten them with a wrench! So all you can do is hand tighten!
I wish there was a spring on the market that is the last one I would ever need.At least 6 inches in length, Built to last, heavy heavy duty, one solid piece of metal and a ground strap 1 inch wide welded inside. Something I can look at and have no doubts about! You would think with all the big keydown antenna builders like Predator, Coily and Monkey Made we would have something like this already. If we do please let me know.
KEEP IT REAL!
Kenny
cef491(27.115lsb)
2sf491(27.555usb)
Indiana
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi

Post Number: 752
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 4:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Hotwire, what is the purpose of the 1" wide ground strap you talk about?
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Unit199
Advanced Member
Username: Unit199

Post Number: 539
Registered: 8-2003


Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 5:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

IMHO I have yet to find any antenna that will out perform a 102" whip. Unless the antennas are tested under the same conditions, mounted the same place on vehicle, same radio, same location, you have no way of comparing and saying one works better than another antenna. This is the only way to test them fairly.
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210
CVC#18
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi

Post Number: 753
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 7:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gremlin, what it the stick you are looking at? I use to talk 20+ miles with a Wilson 1000.
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 2393
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 12:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Marconi, OK I'm sure that you are aware of the braid that is inside of the spring. It is there to keep SWR in check when the whip,whips around. The braids that I see are small, some are dinky in fact. I want a BIG braid just because it is possible as long as it works right.

Curt, You are 100% correct that the 102 inch whip belongs on top the vehicle. I have never been able to get away with an antenna that high although I wish I could. Currently with my van I use the 102 inch whip and it is mounted about a foot below the roof line and I still hit everything causes the antenna to come back down and smack the van.
I have, according to 3 different meters a 1.1 swr. The 102 inch whip, the 4 inch long spring and the 2 inch tall antenna mount gives the whole radiating element a total of 108 inches tall. If I take away the spring the swr goes up, not much but if your planning to run an amp you better have your antenna right!
Without typing a bunch of math problems you know anyway 102 inches is electrically perfect somewhere in the 10 meter band and 108 inches has its sweet spot somewhere in the 11 meter band where cb is, the band I'm refering to of course.
I don't pull this stuff out of my hat and I try to the best of my ability to know what I'm talking about especially on this forum with all of its highly knowlegeable fellows.
With this particular antenna this is what I have concluded to though many years of head scratching and much has been made more understandable from reading my beloved Lou Franklin books.
I have know doubt if installed well you obtained 1.1 SWR. I do know that every antenna install is different and seems that most of my 102 inch whip installs require a srpring. Hey man! You might need a spring someday.
I put my money on the springs.
Oh and no doubt I agree that many new antennas of the present day will give the big whip a run for the money but you can always be sure that the 102 inch stainless steel whip will never let you down! 73
KEEP IT REAL!
Kenny
cef491(27.115lsb)
2sf491(27.555usb)
Indiana
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 2394
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Marconi, Big typo on my part just noticed. I meant a braided cable! A ground strap connected to your antenna would be a bummer! You got me!
KEEP IT REAL!
Kenny
cef491(27.115lsb)
2sf491(27.555usb)
Indiana

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