What is this mobile antenna?

[kayn1n32008]

They probably go faster on Friday afternoons, too.

‘Friday’ being the end of the hitch? Absolutely. Forget the speed of sound, we’re talking Warp speed. Some guys try and set land speed records between Ft. Mac and Edmonton... passing vehicles and forcing on coming traffic onto the shoulder, and other douche-baggery. Not uncommon to hear of guys getting caught upwards of double the speed limit.

 

[kayn1n32008]

I will say that I drove through Texas a few years ago. Was headed to San Antonio for a meeting. I drove from California sticking to non-interstate highways as much as I could.
I was astounded at how fast people drove, and even more so by the large trucks, oil field guys, and people with very large tractors on trailers were going. I though I was good doing 75mph, but I'd have people blow by me in large vehicles, often towing, going way faster than I was.

Oh yea. I cruise at 125km/h(speed limit is 110km/h) on the highway between Calgary and Edmonton and get passed like I am standing still. Not uncommon.

When I came back from visiting my sister this year, my wife’s Aunt was dying, once I got past Jasper National Park(90km/h speed limit) I bumped it up to 130km/h(110km/h limit) to get to Edmonton. Passed a Sheriff Highway Patrol unit and RCMP highway patrol unit and they did not even blink at me.

I made it to the hospital with a little less than an hour before she passed away.

We patch folk definitely know how to hammer down.

 

[kayn1n32008]

On good gravel roads if I’m not paying attention and find myself going over 100km/h quite regularly. Depends on the county/MD. Some are better at maintains roads than others.

 

[mmckenna]

On good gravel roads if I’m not paying attention and find myself going over 100km/h quite regularly. Depends on the county/MD. Some are better at maintains roads than others.

Yeah, I've done that on good gravel roads here in the south west USA.

Usually the noise of the road drowns out the antenna noise, so I tend to not realize it.

Back on topic, I can understand the need for a good external antenna, I know out in the sticks cell coverage is spotty. Jobs that are dangerous like that where lives can depend on getting help makes it important. I'm sure getting better data throughput is important, too.

Still not sure the butt-ugly antenna is necessary. I bet there's some marketing behind it, making it large, stand out and complex looking probably adds to sales.

I used to have a BDA in one of my old trucks. We had an area we often camped in where my cell phone would not work. Adding the good external antenna and BDA in the truck would get me acceptable service. I kind of miss it and have though about adding another one, but most of them are so cheesy looking that my pride gets in the way. Also, I'd much rather have a phone with an antenna port. The re-radiated signal inside a metal cage isn't my idea of a good approach, although I know it works well enough.

 

[tunnelmot]

Yup. I see those "Donkey Sticks" everywhere. They're almost like the new CB whip for the oilfield crowd. Even getting popular on personal rides. Mostly on rusty truck stop 3/8" spring mirror mounts bolted to cross bed tool boxes. Some shops install a tidy looking NMO low-pro can or blade but these seem to be the latest trending fad.

 

[Firekite]

They looked to me like little pear burners (propane torches). I asked a guy a few months ago about it and he said it was a cell antenna the company installed on his truck for when they’re out in the oil fields in the middle of nowhere.

I will say that I drove through Texas a few years ago. Was headed to San Antonio for a meeting. I drove from California sticking to non-interstate highways as much as I could.
I was astounded at how fast people drove, and even more so by the large trucks, oil field guys, and people with very large tractors on trailers were going. I though I was good doing 75mph, but I'd have people blow by me in large vehicles, often towing, going way faster than I was.

My 5er is relatively small (24 ft), and I put higher speed rated trailer tires on it for exactly that reason. I want to be able to hold 75 or 80 on I-10 without an issue

 

[madrabbitt]

Its the newer wilson/weboost optional antenna. Designed for semi's (replacing the one with the can and the ground plane) but its sold with a few other kits, or sold by itself as an upgrade.

The fiberglass comes in 3 segments, you use as many as you need for the height, standard 3/8-24 thread for CB mounts, and the coax is supposed to run INSIDE the mast segments and come out the bottom segment on top of the spring or mount.

I've put a ton of them on newer federal fire rigs, and they are all over the place on oil/gas trucks, replacing the mag mounts used in the previous kit.