How do you cut a mobile antenna?

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JRichard

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Oct 1, 2005
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Miramichi, NB, Canada
I just picked up a tunable quarter wave antenna. I'm looking to cut it to 156MHz which according to Larsen is around 17". My question is, the antenna is black with a small portion at the bottom not coated with anything. Do I trim this thing down from the bottom or top? I'm thinking the uncoated part is there for a reason.
 

pddispatcher

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Measure the total whip.

Some say you can't go by the cutting charts specified by the company because of reflectivity and so on that gives you SWR readings but just find a wide open area nothing around it in the area and you'll be fine.

So measure the whip from the bottom where it screws in to secure it to the top of the whip.

An Antenna Analzyer is ideal for this to be accurate or truely any VHF **Accurate** SWR Meter.
 

pddispatcher

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Sure,

Take that protective thing off sometime or another its going to fly off anyway so it really doesn't matter.

All it is is a black piece of rubber that does nothing.

Take it off / Leave it off / Measure from the bottom of the base where the whip begins to the top and make the appropriate cut at the top of the whip
 

pddispatcher

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Hacksaw can work OK

Myself.. I've used a grinder to grind the whip down with no problem at all.

Make the measurement mark it and then cut it or whatever

Any good cutting tool will do the job sir.
 
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