Issue matching a Wilson Short Load 36 inch replacement whip antenna

[Greg43545]

I have a Wilson1000 60 inch whip which I have been able to match to my Cobra 29 NW LTD Classic radio using an external match meter to under 1.5 to 1

Recently I purchased the Wilson Short Load 36 inch replacement whip antenna.

Using the same coil and match meter which I was able to match the 60 inch whip to 1.5 to 1, the best I can match the short whip is slightly under 3 to 1, which is unacceptable.

Has anyone experienced this issue with that antenna, and if so, how were you able to remedy it?

 

[mmckenna]

The coil is designed to match with the 60" whip. Putting a 36" whip on the same coil is going to result in an antenna that's resonate at a much higher frequency. There's no way you'll get a reasonable SWR from that setup on CB frequencies.

You either need to stick with the 60" whip, or buy the complete new 36 antenna, including the coil.

 

[KB4MSZ]

Or make new friends on the 8 meter band.

 

[prcguy]

The short load is a center loaded whip designed to replace the 60" long whip on the Wilson 500. 1000, 2000 and 5000.

The coil is designed to match with the 60" whip. Putting a 36" whip on the same coil is going to result in an antenna that's resonate at a much higher frequency. There's no way you'll get a reasonable SWR from that setup on CB frequencies.

You either need to stick with the 60" whip, or buy the complete new 36 antenna, including the coil.

 

[FiveFilter]

Yeah, it appears the center coil is to compensate for the length difference and allow it to be usable with the original load in the base. To the OP, if the instructions don't tell you how to tune it for an acceptable SWR, I suppose you do it like other antennas: trim to satisfaction using an SWR meter or analyzer. Hopefully, it's too long, electrically, so that trimming shorter is the way. If it's too short, then you could try raising it out of the base enough. Or, add some sort of extension to the top of the whip.