Quarter Wave Antenna (102” Whip)

[RadioDitch]

I have a 102" whip from Right Channel Radio that I put on a vehicle specific fender/hood mount with a chunky spring. Only time I ever use it though is on unpaved industrial roads in Alaska, Canada, and Maine where I really don't wanna eat the front grill of a trucker who gets paid by the load. It's actually a requirement to be CB equipped for most of them. And most of those have speed limits of 45mph or 70km/h. So not like it's highway speeds.

I managed a solid 14mi with the 102" and a President Walker III up on the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay this past April. Got some good reports. Saved my bacon coming over some hills near the Beaver Slide where a driver was broken down. Never would have seen him in time without the advanced radio warning. I probably wouldn't have heard as far in advance either with a smaller antenna with that terrain.

Otherwise if I need the CB I just use a Larsen NMO-27.

 

[slowmover]

“ . . Never would have seen him in time without the advanced radio warning.”

Takes but once to value mobile Citizen Band far higher than before.

 

[RadioDitch]

“ . . Never would have seen him in time without the advanced radio warning.”

Takes but once to value mobile Citizen Band far higher than before.

It has it's place. No denying it.

 

[slowmover]

Quite a few of these online. Some none too great. Recommend reviewing plans at this forum, first.

Eric, at Farpoint

Mower Junkie install then range test.

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- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

.

 

[slowmover]

BREEDLOVE MOUNTS

Has an adjustable riser for the quarter wave whip:

102” Whip Adjuster 10”

102-steel-whip-adjuster-10

We provide mounts for mobile ham radio operators.

breedlovemounts.com

This single piece with a 5” range-of-adjustment would be superior to the six-seven parts I cobbled together shown early in the thread (given that the antenna mount location isn’t one where a spring is wanted).

I store the whip inside the 8’ pickup bed topper. This piece looks as though handling the whip off the mount would be easier as well (3/4” dia).

.

 

[slowmover]

And, let’s not forget the whip clip:

K101X - Kalibur CB Steel Whip Antenna Tie Down​

K101X - Kalibur CB Steel Whip Antenna Tie Down

The Kalibur K101X CB Antenna Steel Whip tie down brings a solid solution to the question of how to secure a 102 inch whip antenna, when you don't want or need the antenna standing at full height. The K101X steel whip tie down is constructed from high qual

www.wearecb.com

.

 

[slowmover]

Or a Corona ball to keep the tip from shooting flames:

Corona Ball for 102" Whip

Corona ball for 102" Steel Whip. The inside diameter is .105 . It is held on by a stainless steel 8-32 set screw. This corona ball will fit 102" stainless steel whips. Custom machined from aircraft aluminum

shockwaveantennas.com

 

[EAFrizzle]

I miss seeing Pickups with bumper mount whips and tennis balls...

 

[W9WSS]

And, let’s not forget the whip clip:

K101X - Kalibur CB Steel Whip Antenna Tie Down​

K101X - Kalibur CB Steel Whip Antenna Tie Down

The Kalibur K101X CB Antenna Steel Whip tie down brings a solid solution to the question of how to secure a 102 inch whip antenna, when you don't want or need the antenna standing at full height. The K101X steel whip tie down is constructed from high qual

www.wearecb.com

.

Several years ago, when I had a 102" whip on one of my cars, I couldn't locate a whip clip. Then again, there wasn't an Amazon and CB shops were literally non- existent without the Internet to search for one.

 

[DeeEx]

Several years ago, when I had a 102" whip on one of my cars, I couldn't locate a whip clip. Then again, there wasn't an Amazon and CB shops were literally non- existent without the Internet to search for one.

In a military unit I was in, the stock “whip clips” wore out quickly in certain operational environments. We then used .50 cal links, held in place with a single sheet metal screw and washer, to hold the tip of the whip down. Worked perfectly!

 

[slowmover]

Several years ago, when I had a 102" whip on one of my cars, I couldn't locate a whip clip. Then again, there wasn't an Amazon and CB shops were literally non- existent without the Internet to search for one.

The 102” whip & Radio Shack both died in the same two-car crash.

 

[slowmover]

Inside the truck bed
Post in thread 'Questions about mount location and swr'
Questions about mount location and swr

This ought to keep stationary tip under 13’ and nearer to 12’ in some instances. A good height for city.

Mount behind wheelwell and use whip clip, also.

.

 

[k7ng]

Circa 1990 I had a 102" SS whip w/spring and a heavy duty ball mount, located just behind the pickup cab on the left side of a steel cab-high camper shell . A SGC-230 tuner was inside the shell, with about 9" of RG-8 center conductor and dielectric as the connection between the tuner and the antenna connection. The ball mount was about 4 1/2 feet above ground.
For ham use, 40M and higher was excellent but 75M was pretty feeble. I had "a good mobile signal" from most reports, at 100W. Worked all over USA & Canada without much effort. Worked Sweden on 20M SSB driving home from a Super Bowl party, Pitcairn Island on 15m driving out to a dropzone for a weekend of skydiving, and Italy on 10M.

I used the antenna less on CB but I didn't have much trouble being heard often out 20 to 30 miles.

The camper was bonded to the truck bed, and all body sections were bonded to the frame. I don't remember locally generated noise being much of a problem.

I briefly tried putting a 4' 'whip extension' rod between the ball mount and the whip. Once I forgot I had it in place, and I drove into a service station to refuel... I took out a whole overhead row of naked fluorescent lights they were using for illumination. I don't believe it did too much better than the whip alone for radio communication.

 

[slowmover]

 

[slowmover]

The 3’ Firestik gets brought up enough that I think someone misunderstood:



Mounted to plastic/composite innner bed.

This ain’t Quarterwave, Jr.

.

 

[slowmover]

A SGC-230 tuner was inside the shell, with about 9" of RG-8 center conductor & dielectric as the connection between the tuner and the antenna connection.

The ball mount was about 4 1/2 feet above ground.

For ham use, 40M and higher was excellent, but 75M was pretty feeble.

I had "a good mobile signal" from most reports at 100W.

Worked all over USA & Canada without much effort.

Worked Sweden on 20M SSB driving home from a Super Bowl party, Pitcairn Island on 15m driving out to a dropzone for a weekend of skydiving, and Italy on 10M.


Not bad for $13.95 Radio Shack whip. I appreciate the description and the report. A worthy model.

At 13.5’ it was only a little taller than the 7’ I have on my roof. It’s a workable height.

Shipping costs and the demise of R-S have changed the equation of low price / high performance . . buy two to keep per unit shipping cost lowest.

My pair arrived in PVC capped tubing.
Makes for good storage.

Easy to change to the antenna mount when I know I’ll be parked for a period. 15’ beats 13’, not just the elimination of the coil.

I guess I ought to try out the MFJ-945 tuner as well, just to see if it makes a difference.

.

 

[k7ng]

A SGC-230 tuner was inside the shell, with about 9" of RG-8 center conductor & dielectric as the connection between the tuner and the antenna connection.

The ball mount was about 4 1/2 feet above ground.

For ham use, 40M and higher was excellent, but 75M was pretty feeble.

I had "a good mobile signal" from most reports at 100W.

Worked all over USA & Canada without much effort.

Worked Sweden on 20M SSB driving home from a Super Bowl party, Pitcairn Island on 15m driving out to a dropzone for a weekend of skydiving, and Italy on 10M.


Not bad for $13.95 Radio Shack whip. I appreciate the description and the report. A worthy model.

At 13.5’ it was only a little taller than the 7’ I have on my roof. It’s a workable height.

Shipping costs and the demise of R-S have changed the equation of low price / high performance . . buy two to keep per unit shipping cost lowest.

My pair arrived in PVC capped tubing.
Makes for good storage.

Easy to change to the antenna mount when I know I’ll be parked for a period. 15’ beats 13’, not just the elimination of the coil.

I guess I ought to try out the MFJ-945 tuner as well, just to see if it makes a difference.

.

@slowmover For mobile HF I love an autotuner and I'll never do without again. Depending on how much band you want to cover, of course.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Just helped a buddy yesterday by installing a ball mount on his Ford Escape for a steel 102” whip he was kindly gifted by a former local CB'er. He’s got nerve damage, and i had the tools and the steady hands. Pretty simple to do. It still needs minor adjustments to tilt/angle as he didn’t bring the antenna over, just the ball mount kit and spring. This was the photo he sent me when he got home and attached the antenna.

View attachment 187573

A real trooper. I will buy that man a beer! And one of these:

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

From Netflix Dark Winds. Navaho police car. You can barely make out the spring of the ball mount. I think they added the whips (held down with gutter clips) in post processing because the stills of the cars used don't have them. Maybe the collectors fear hole saws.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Ahh here is another one!