i'm using a radioshack through glass scanner antenna hooked to a pro 2055. well somewhere between all my traveling i seem to have lost that little plastic tip on it. Should i worry about it now being a lightning rod and try to replace the plastic top on the antenna or will everything be ok with out the tip? also where could i get a replacement tip for it ?
lost the tip on my antenna
- Thread starter drew6553
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blinddog50
Member
Don't worry about it.
Your car is grounded thru your tires.
The tip is there only for looks or to keep someone from poking their eye out.
You know it to happened somewhere, sometime so liability lawyers said put a tip on it.
Your car is grounded thru your tires.
The tip is there only for looks or to keep someone from poking their eye out.
You know it to happened somewhere, sometime so liability lawyers said put a tip on it.
Actually the tires have nothing to do with it, it could be sitting on bare rims and you will still be ok as long as all of the windows are rolled up and you don't have a convertable. The frame is what protects you 
As for the tip, I've lost the tip on one of my antennas and it has been doing fine for months. I wouldn't worry about replacing the tip unless you can do it very cheaply.
As for the tip, I've lost the tip on one of my antennas and it has been doing fine for months. I wouldn't worry about replacing the tip unless you can do it very cheaply.
RevGary
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INFO -Static Dissipation.
The ball on the top of the antenna serves an electrical purpose. Under conditions of vehicle speed verses ambient air humidity, the antenna will develop a static charge - the same as helicopter rotor blades slicing through the air, but to a much lower potential voltage. The ball on the end of an antenna is there to dissipate the static buildup. The air traveling across the ball is at a slightly different speed than the rest of the antenna and that difference of static potential causes the static charge to flow toward the ball where it is dissipated into the airflow. While this dosen't make too much difference at speeds less than 40 MPH, it CAN make a difference at highway speed in allowing tthe incoming RF signal to be clean rather than being influenced by a random static "NOISE" charge on the antenna whip. This information was first brought to my attention in 1961 by way of the ARRL Antenna Handbook. If you can locate some SMALL lead fishing sinkers of the appropriate size, crimp one onto the antenna tip if you feel that your highway speed incoming signals are less than they used to be.
The ball on the top of the antenna serves an electrical purpose. Under conditions of vehicle speed verses ambient air humidity, the antenna will develop a static charge - the same as helicopter rotor blades slicing through the air, but to a much lower potential voltage. The ball on the end of an antenna is there to dissipate the static buildup. The air traveling across the ball is at a slightly different speed than the rest of the antenna and that difference of static potential causes the static charge to flow toward the ball where it is dissipated into the airflow. While this dosen't make too much difference at speeds less than 40 MPH, it CAN make a difference at highway speed in allowing tthe incoming RF signal to be clean rather than being influenced by a random static "NOISE" charge on the antenna whip. This information was first brought to my attention in 1961 by way of the ARRL Antenna Handbook. If you can locate some SMALL lead fishing sinkers of the appropriate size, crimp one onto the antenna tip if you feel that your highway speed incoming signals are less than they used to be.
jhooten
Member
Gary,
Yes the metal corona ball will do that. The plastic tip is to mitigate the puncture hazard and has no effect on static build up.
Drew,
Don't worry about it.
Yes the metal corona ball will do that. The plastic tip is to mitigate the puncture hazard and has no effect on static build up.
Drew,
Don't worry about it.
n4yek
Member
Maybe that statement was an oops, but your car is NOT grounded through the tires.blinddog50 said:
Your tires actually insulate your car from ground, that is why you always hear
"if your in an accident and a power line is on your car, don't get out. You will provide
the path to ground if you do."
Just a thought for safety.
Danny
N4YEK
blinddog50
Member
Thatsa' whata' I meant. Sorry!
Al42
Member
Not so much an eye ...blinddog50 said:
If you accidently (I can't see anyone, no matter how stupid, trying this deliberately) get the antenna up your nose, the tip of the bare can easily travel up into your brain, where the results will usually be lethal. The plastic tip is large enough to make this extremely unlikely.
Antennas have rubber tips to insulate them from lightning bolts. That way it will hit the car and not the antenna which is why tires are also made of rubber. Just be careful you don't run over the antenna or it will puncture a tire and the rim touching the ground will not afford any protection from lightning.
"If you accidently (I can't see anyone, no matter how stupid, trying this deliberately) get the antenna up your nose, the tip of the bare can easily travel up into your brain, where the results will usually be lethal. The plastic tip is large enough to make this extremely unlikely."
You can off an enemy like they do in the movies or on the other hand if you're lucky enough to get the plastic bit stuck up your nose you can sue for millions. Actually a finger produces the usual results and the things you can do with it are simply amazing.
Things I hear on the scanner that make my skin crawl, a 13 year old kid drinking with his buddies in the woods consumed 13 shots of vodka and is now unconcious, the ambulance is on it's way. This condition is life threatening, tell your kids about it and keep an eye on them! Yeah, I'm scanning and typing at the same time and thought I'd relate it to you. Funny how quickly I sober up when I hear something like that.
"If you accidently (I can't see anyone, no matter how stupid, trying this deliberately) get the antenna up your nose, the tip of the bare can easily travel up into your brain, where the results will usually be lethal. The plastic tip is large enough to make this extremely unlikely."
You can off an enemy like they do in the movies or on the other hand if you're lucky enough to get the plastic bit stuck up your nose you can sue for millions. Actually a finger produces the usual results and the things you can do with it are simply amazing.
Things I hear on the scanner that make my skin crawl, a 13 year old kid drinking with his buddies in the woods consumed 13 shots of vodka and is now unconcious, the ambulance is on it's way. This condition is life threatening, tell your kids about it and keep an eye on them! Yeah, I'm scanning and typing at the same time and thought I'd relate it to you. Funny how quickly I sober up when I hear something like that.
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