should I use my shakespeare big stick or get a new Antron 99

[niceguy71]

hello all
I wanted to set up a base station in the 90's and bought a nice Cobra 148GTL AM SSB and a 75watt Texas Star linear amp, dosy SWR /power meter, a 5 amp power supply... and built a nice wooden stand for it all. I also bought a Shakespeare big stick antenna . well my parents wouldn't hear of having that big thing on the side of the house.... so I bought a "back of the CB antenna" ( only for listening) to listen to the CB... for 33 years that set up has traveled anyplace I've lived... working two jobs never had time for it. I'm retired and going to get the antenna up and get it working finally... so do I stay old school and use the Shakespeare big stick still in the cardboard tube???? or go with something modern?? like the Antron 99... and add a ground plane kit... I don't know if I can put one on the Shakespeare big stick or if I need it?..... I am also thinking of getting more modern CB's... love the look and power of the Anytone 6666.. I think I could sell my two CBs' for more than the Anytone costs... my 1991 truck CB ( still in storage since 2000 when my Blazer rotted away to nothing) is a President Grant AM FM SSB EXPORT with extra channels and adjustable power on the front panel.... but I always loved the set up I had... just never got to enjoy it... hate to change now... but wow that Anytone is sweet... so on the antenna what does everyone think?
thank you

 

[prcguy]

I don’t think there will be much difference between a Shakespeare Big Stick and an Antron 99, one is a half wave center fed coaxial and the other is a half wave end fed. I can highly recommend the Anytone AT5555n II, it’s the latest version with the best features.

 

[niceguy71]

I don’t think there will be much difference between a Shakespeare Big Stick and an Antron 99, one is a half wave center fed coaxial and the other is a half wave end fed. I can highly recommend the Anytone AT5555n II, it’s the latest version with the best features.

I was only thinking for using it for CB band because it's pretty easy to convert... not sure I'd be able to convert the anytone AT5555

 

[KB0VWG]

I would upgrade your power supply at least a 10 amp would be better.
kb0vwg

 

[niceguy71]

I would upgrade your power supply at least a 10 amp would be better.
kb0vwg

thank you KBOVWG I was wondering about that... I'll look around for a 15 amp power supply when I get to it this summer.... for now figuring how to mount the big stick... think I'll buy some 1 1/4 galvanized piping 4 ten footers and mount the antenna to the top and then mount the pipe to the side of the house... so I can drop the whole thing and adjust the SWR.. I have not read how to adjust the Big Stick yet so hopefully it will be as easy as the Antron 99... I'm still wondering about a ground plane kit

 

[dave3825]

or go with something modern?? like the Antron 99

Modern? I still have the Antron 99 I bought mail order in the mid to late 80's as well as at least one big stick.

There was actually a recall on them on March 12, 1987

Antron Antenna Research & Electronics Recalls Omnidirectional CB Base Station Antenna

Consumers owning any of these antennas which have not been installed should return them to the dealer for a full refund.

www.cpsc.gov

 

[niceguy71]

Modern? I still have the Antron 99 I bought mail order in the mid to late 80's as well as at least one big stick.

There was actually a recall on them on March 12, 1987

Antron Antenna Research & Electronics Recalls Omnidirectional CB Base Station Antenna

Consumers owning any of these antennas which have not been installed should return them to the dealer for a full refund.

www.cpsc.gov

I had no idea Dave 3825 .. I watch a lot of Yuo Tube and see so many people using the Antron 99 that I thought it was one of the better ones on the market and I see people get good range with... I was looking at how to get the SWR down and it looks easy...... not sure how to do it on the Big Stick

 

[dave3825]

Its a good antenna but has been around a while.

The Official Charlie Tango CB Radio DX Forum-A bit of history on the ANTRON 99

Here is a bit of history on the ANTRON 99 i found while searching for mods on line. The A99 was originally designed and invented by Don Wells. It used

www.tapatalk.com

 

[prcguy]

I was only thinking for using it for CB band because it's pretty easy to convert... not sure I'd be able to convert the anytone AT5555

I think you clip one wire, very easy mod. I’ve owned more CBs than most and the 5555N II is the best I’ve seen.

 

[K5MPH]

I have had two Antron 99 never had any problems with them,I would go with that antenna ........

 

[prcguy]

The fiberglass on my Antron 99 started to delaminate after a few years and much faster than the several Shakespeare Big Sticks I had. If you initially paint either antenna it will last much longer and you can rough the surface up and paint every few years to make them last a long time.

The A99 has some moving parts in the tuning section plus very high voltage in the matching section depending on your power. There is little to go wrong with a Big Stick.

 

[K5MPH]

The fiberglass on my Antron 99 started to delaminate after a few years and much faster than the several Shakespeare Big Sticks I had. If you initially paint either antenna it will last much longer and you can rough the surface up and paint every few years to make them last a long time.

The A99 has some moving parts in the tuning section plus very high voltage in the matching section depending on your power. There is little to go wrong with a Big Stick.

The fiberglass on my Antron 99 started to delaminate after a few years and much faster than the several Shakespeare Big Sticks I had. If you initially paint either antenna it will last much longer and you can rough the surface up and paint every few years to make them last a long time.

The A99 has some moving parts in the tuning section plus very high voltage in the matching section depending on your power. There is little to go wrong with a Big Stick.

Thats what i like about the A-99 you can use the tune rings on the bottom for other bands but if a person dont want to go and mess with that stuff then the Shakespeare would be better.....................

 

[KB0VWG]

The fiberglass on my Antron 99 started to delaminate after a few years and much faster than the several Shakespeare Big Sticks I had. If you initially paint either antenna it will last much longer and you can rough the surface up and paint every few years to make them last a long time.

The A99 has some moving parts in the tuning section plus very high voltage in the matching section depending on your power. There is little to go wrong with a Big Stick.

My Antron is the same way i dont dare touch it unless I have gloves. Its also got moss on it too but works good on and 10 and 11.
kb0vwg

 

[merlin]

thank you KBOVWG I was wondering about that... I'll look around for a 15 amp power supply when I get to it this summer.... for now figuring how to mount the big stick... think I'll buy some 1 1/4 galvanized piping 4 ten footers and mount the antenna to the top and then mount the pipe to the side of the house... so I can drop the whole thing and adjust the SWR.. I have not read how to adjust the Big Stick yet so hopefully it will be as easy as the Antron 99... I'm still wondering about a ground plane kit

The big stick is a coaxial center fed dipole (like 10 meter bazooka) and should not need any tuning. The design makes them quite broad on 11 meters and hams using them on the low end of 10 meters say the SWR is less than 2:1
They have just been around a long time.

 

[CDX951]

I think you clip one wire, very easy mod. I’ve owned more CBs than most and the 5555N II is the best I’ve seen.

You also have to move a jumper right next to the white wire to convert to 11 meters. I've had a few exports over the years and the 5555NII is one of the best I've ever had. Plenty of YouTube vids to get you up to speed on features and settings.

JD

 

[bubbablitz]

I had an Antron A-99, with the ground plane kit, mounted on a 40 ft telescopic mast at my home when I use to live in Los Angeles. Back during the skip cycle in the early 90's, I was able to make contacts with stations in Chile, Hawaii, Australia as well as most of the Midwest. This was using a barefoot Cobra 148GTL and the lollipop D-104. This was on SSB, mostly in the upper 30's. The good ol' days. All you had to do was call out CQ DX a couple of times and they were bottlenecking trying to contact you!

 

[niceguy71]

The big stick is a coaxial center fed dipole (like 10 meter bazooka) and should not need any tuning. The design makes them quite broad on 11 meters and hams using them on the low end of 10 meters say the SWR is less than 2:1
They have just been around a long time.

fantastic to know Merlin, thank you.. I was really scratching my head about putting up the big stick... I hate doing things twice... so now I won't worry about a ground plane kit ( not needed) and I'll see what the SWR is... I was watching the youtube and people get the Antron 99 down pretty damn low... hopefully my big stick will be low. ... but I am defiantly going with what I got. and I think I'll paint it a sky blue to hide it a little. thank you for your help Merlin

 

[KMG54]

I use the Sirio 5/8 ground plane and it smokes the competition.

 

[prcguy]

I use the Sirio 5/8 ground plane and it smokes the competition.

But not the Hy-Gain Penetrator.....