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Black 102 inch whip

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Golay

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Apr 28, 2016
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494
If this should be in antenna forum, some moderator feel free to move it. It's not ham or commercial, so I figure here's a good place.
I wanna get a black whip, spring and mount for the 11 meter band.
I know in the past somewhere I've seen black springs and ball mounts. Don't recall ever seeing a black 102 whip.
Has anyone ever bought such a thing, and where did you get it?

I know it may sound silly to want black, but that's the color of the ham antennas I have on the vehicle.
Thanks
 

prcguy

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Joined
Jun 30, 2006
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15,228
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
I believe Antenna Specialists made black ball mounts and springs at one time (maybe used by California Highway Patrol?) and they show up on Ebay. I might have one buried in the garage somewhere. I also have a black 102" fiberglass Francis Amazer whip in the garage rafters from the late 70s.
prcguy

Edit: I just looked in the garage and I have two black ball mounts but the springs are brushed stainless. They are made by Motorola and if you can find one I suggest you get it. The model I have was made for their 1.6-30Mhz HF transceivers and have a machined Delran insulator with extra thick material where it passes through the vehicle body to minimize arcing. They should handle a lot of power.


If this should be in antenna forum, some moderator feel free to move it. It's not ham or commercial, so I figure here's a good place.
I wanna get a black whip, spring and mount for the 11 meter band.
I know in the past somewhere I've seen black springs and ball mounts. Don't recall ever seeing a black 102 whip.
Has anyone ever bought such a thing, and where did you get it?

I know it may sound silly to want black, but that's the color of the ham antennas I have on the vehicle.
Thanks
 
Last edited:

Golay

Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2016
Messages
494
Thanks for the replies

Thanks prcguy. I'll bet an old Moto catalog is where I've seen the black mounts and springs. I'll find some now that I got a direction to look. I'll probably paint a metal whip then. It's actually for 10. I figure I'll check the match first, and nip a bit if needed.

Finally got a vehicle with some room under the dash. Gonna dust off a RS 10m HTX-10 mobile I've not used in at least 5 years, and install. The bands dead, but there's some local ragchew going on.
 

TheSpaceMann

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Apr 3, 2014
Messages
1,333
Thanks prcguy. I'll bet an old Moto catalog is where I've seen the black mounts and springs. I'll find some now that I got a direction to look. I'll probably paint a metal whip then. It's actually for 10. I figure I'll check the match first, and nip a bit if needed.

Finally got a vehicle with some room under the dash. Gonna dust off a RS 10m HTX-10 mobile I've not used in at least 5 years, and install. The bands dead, but there's some local ragchew going on.
Actually, the band has been open quite a bit lately! You'll have a lot of fun with that HTX-10!! :)
 

dave524

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Mar 15, 2017
Messages
48
Location
Niagara, Ontario , Canada
I use to run a white Radio Shack fiberglass 102 inch mounted on the stake pocket of my pickup, it was black after an evening with a permanent black magic marker watching TV, it actually held up well.
 

mmckenna

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Hiding in a coffee shop.
Heat shrink tubing works well. It's flexible, so it won't flake. You can get it in many colors, including black. The black tubing can be easily shined up with some Armor-All.
 

sdeeter19555

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Feb 18, 2012
Messages
126
Location
Reading, PA
I have painted and used heat shrink on 102" whips, both caused signal issues...be forewarned that it can happen.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 

KB7MIB

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Aug 17, 2003
Messages
4,194
Location
Peoria, AZ.
I've read that some paints have metallic chips in them that can affect the resonance of an antenna. I don't know how heat shrink tubing would cause a similar effect.
When using wire antennas, would the length of the wire have to be adjusted, depending on whether you were using bare wire vs. using jacketed wire? If so, maybe this would also apply to heat shrink tubing on a whip antenna.

John
Peoria, AZ
 
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jonwienke

More Info Coming Soon!
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Jul 18, 2014
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13,416
Location
VA
The heat shrink will have a small effect on the resonant length of the antenna. Put it on first, then cut the antenna to length while checking SWR.
 
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