102" whip spring or no spring

[Rlpetty43]

after averaging a new 5ft fire stick II every two years I have decided to go 102" whip I am wondering should I get a spring or not? I know they flex really well but It may spend a lot of time tied down. thoughts?

[4.3LXJ]

I am certainly no expert on this part of the forum, in fact when on these threads I am considering taking up Greek. However as far as the antenna is concerned, by all means put it on a spring. You never know when that low hanging tree limb will descend to grab it or that ceiling in the parking garage. Besides, a really fun thing to do is put a light on the top of it and take it wheeling at night. Looks really crazy :D

[xj-jake]

I'd probably second a spring on this. Even though it's long and flexible, if you have luck like mine you'll probably catch it on something and mess it up. Spend the few bucks on the spring and have the piece of mind.

[Rlpetty43]

Thanks for the input, do either of you two run a stainless steel whip? I was kinda wanting first hand information. I have a stainless still whip on my 2 meter radio (which is far shorter than a 102" whip) and it has no spring and does just fine.

[prerunner1982]

The antenna itself has enough flex to it that the spring itself probably isn't necessary, however the antenna is 102" where a 1/4 wavelength on 11 meters is 108" so the spring actually makes up the rest of the 1/4 wave. If you can get just the antenna to tune up right then I think you would be fine.

[prerunner1982]

Somewhere Tony (Mudderoy) has a picture someone took of his Jeep going down the highway with his 102" stainless steel whip laid all the way back looking more like an NVIS antenna than a vertical.

[prerunner1982]

Found it. Ok, maybe not alll the way back but much faster and it probably would have been.
http://www.xjtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5512&d=1402178537

[Rlpetty43]

that is what I was thinking as well that is probably what I will do.

[Rlpetty43]

I just pulled the trigger on a MFJ-1966 which is an 108" stainless steel whip. I was concerned the 102" might be to short to get it to tune properly. I will post up my results once it comes in and I get it on the antenna analyzer. I am also pondering a new radio.

[prerunner1982]

Not a bad price either. Let me know how it works out, I may go this route.

[prerunner1982]

I was concerned the 102" might be to short to get it to tune properly.

For the record a 102" whip with no spring tunes right around 29.7Mhz.

[Mudderoy]

Found it. Ok, maybe not alll the way back but much faster and it probably would have been.
http://www.xjtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5512&d=1402178537

That was about 80, so it was within 10 of top speed. :P

[xjzaped]

That was about 80, so it was within 10 of top speed. :P

Reasons why I just run a fender mount Larsen for CB…I can get up to 100 with mine no problem.

ETA: Not that I'd do it…it begins to become a case of herding between ditches at 90.

[Mudderoy]

Reasons why I just run a fender mount Larsen for CB…I can get up to 100 with mine no problem.

ETA: Not that I'd do it…it begins to become a case of herding between ditches at 90.

This "CB" antenna is connected to an automatic antenna tuner. I can tune the 102" whip from 40 meters to 6 meters. Using a loaded antenna would move me more into the dummy load category at 20 meters and 40 meters.

It doesn't work great on 75 meters but it will load and I can make contacts.

I have an extension I can put on the base to increase the antenna length to over 12 feet. So it's long for a reason.

[xjzaped]

Personally I'll use a screwdriver before a tuner but that's just me. I refuse to run HF mobile.


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[prerunner1982]

HF mobile is fun.

[Mudderoy]

Personally I'll use a screwdriver before a tuner but that's just me. I refuse to run HF mobile.

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Screwdriver has a higher "Q" and lots of HAMs feel your way, in fact several of them told me not to do what I did, however on the air I've received many questions about what I'm running because they can't believe how good I sound. It's subjective I know but as long as people can hear me and keep being impressed I'll be really happy that I have a $50 antenna hanging out there than a $300 to $700 antenna that I have to take apart to park in my garage at home or pull into the parking garage at work.

[prerunner1982]

I'd probably rather have a screwdriver too but can't justify it when what I have works fine and since it gets smacked into trees daily (you should see my driveway) if it gets broken I am out $15....

[Mudderoy]

I'd probably rather have a screwdriver too but can't justify it when what I have works fine and since it gets smacked into trees daily (you should see my driveway) if it gets broken I am out $15....

And who wants to steal a $25 CB anyway? ;o)

[xjzaped]

Screwdriver has a higher "Q" and lots of HAMs feel your way, in fact several of them told me not to do what I did, however on the air I've received many questions about what I'm running because they can't believe how good I sound. It's subjective I know but as long as people can hear me and keep being impressed I'll be really happy that I have a $50 antenna hanging out there than a $300 to $700 antenna that I have to take apart to park in my garage at home or pull into the parking garage at work.



I've never bought one…built a few and the results are similar to yours. People can't believe it's mobile and 100W or less.


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