Mobile Antenna: PRESIDENT Texas 1800

[slowmover]

I’m on forested land being both east of 98th Parallel and near a significant stream (Brazos River). Tree cover more reminiscent of East Texas or down near Houston. This amount of cover changes in just a mile or so getting off of immediate flood plain. Rivers here are big creeks as y’all experience them.



Initial flood stage after Brazos River Authority dam upstream opened one gate (the “beach” is gone):



The 108” antenna is for stationary use. As above I’d have to use a tilting ball mount and tie down the whip the last mile as trees here aren’t trimmed to the nationwide Emergency Vehicle height of 15’ (also for moving vans, utility vehicles etc).

The 7’ baseload is fairly well perfect (given desire for no-compromise). It’s at 13’ on my pickup roof with incredibly flexible whip. Ought to ride with me - whack, whap, clunk — down to river across property on the cow path barely widened by a tractor and “smoothed” (ha!) with box blade. 3” side clearance between two trees last few yards.

Really, the 5’ NMO34 & W640 whip & Springb (would be 11’ on mine) makes it all too easy to travel anywhere.

The 14.25’ Wilson 2000 mounted on my friends FTL works anywhere (hauls horses, so imagine). Until he gets to NY Thruway north of the city. Lives near Springfield, MA. Road clearance matters over some trees.

Just edge to center of road. Becomes automatic after awhile.

You could “lean” the SIRIO antenna back 15-degrees, but I don’t think much would change. Instead, I’d just give it a tiny start that direction.



I haven’t yet tested one of mine on pickup. That may not occur until I have a great set of ears on the other end of TX to do a comparison with T-1800.

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[slowmover]

Cleaned up the T-1800 as winter problems now well past.

With the Daiwa 501 it was showing higher on Ch 1 so adjusted length. Hadn’t dialed it in tightly as radio showed it to be fine. SWR now close to 1.2:1 across band.

Not as clean as the quarter-wave, but that’s to be expected. It was above 1.1:1 and this one is just above 1.2:1.

No changes to anything else.
Truck hasn’t even moved.

Nothing to be heard on-air this morning. No Skip and I’d bet most drivers are home or nearly so for holiday weekend. Being down below landform limits what a mobile can do.

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[slowmover]

Went ahead in use of the DAIWA 501-H Meter to fine tune yet more antennas for the roof of the Dodge. Requires 12V for backlight and PEP on SSB.




The GR-45 almost bested every other if we are counting hair widths. But it’s also most prone to getting mis-aligned in either storage or with a road strike.

The 10K Predator needed the whip extended to a perfect 82” to be as close.

Both are above 1.1:1 and below 1.2:1.

Change to quarter-wave almost immeasurable.
Test parameters haven’t changed.

The T-1800 tunes best at 84.5”.

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[slowmover]

I may get around to dialing-in a set of 5’, 6’, 7’ Skipshooters as well as the random others. Use painters tape to record total length.

I’ll have to again figure out where my stash of SS Extension shafts got stored before I can do a SIRIO 5000 3/8 as well as the remaining WILSON 2000.

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[merlin]

My old CB days, usually a Cobra 29 and a 4 foot firestick was common, or a 108" whip.
For myself, the best antenna I have seen/used is the Wilson 1000M. No matter what radio, it provided the best performance.
I like that Sirio (post 41), I would like to range test one to compare with the Wilson.
Lockheed range tested the Wilson and exclaimed the best antenna they ever tested. I think that Sirio would come in a close second.
I also had a Hustler RM-11S on a 15" mast with mag mount center roof. The gain was close to the wilson, but the noise floor was a bit higher.
That 84.5" is getting close to 1/4 wave but probably closer to 5/8 wave so a good 3.5 Db gain.

 

[slowmover]

“. . I like that Sirio (post 41), I would like to range test one to compare with the Wilson.
Lockheed range tested the Wilson and exclaimed the best antenna they ever tested. I think that Sirio would come in a close second” .

There are several versions of the SIRIO 5000 Performer.

My pair was set for Freightliner Evo (MY-2020). I had to adapt 44” SS shafts to keep them closest to vertical to stay away from A-pillar. Still exceeded 14’, and wound up in total length just under 8’5”. Best ever big truck set-up.

These are the 3/8 version S5000P which came on 8” SS shafts with 71” whips (6.8’ length).





Had to cut quite a lot of whip, so pickup roof may have to wait until replacement whips sourced.

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[slowmover]

“ . . That 84.5" is getting close to 1/4 wave, but probably closer to 5/8 wave so a good 3.5 Db gain.”

I’m really pleased with the #601 Breedlove Puck Mount. Seems like any antenna does well re SWR tune.

The T-1800 is proving all around very good in this role. I no longer hear it thwack branch ends.

That’s an interesting tidbit offered, thanks.

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