10M antenna ideas ?

[NJ3T]

HELLO ALL,

Just got a HTX 10. (Rad-shack's 10 meter all mode 25 watt rig)

Does anyone know if any antenna company makes a fiberglass whip that can be
bumper mounted (3/8"x24 thread) for the 10 meter band ?  I would like
something between 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet long so I can clear the garage
ceiling. "Ham Sticks" are 7 foot long and will not fit into the garage
mounted on my bumper.

I looked at the specs of a Wilson 5 foot rigid fiberglass whip that has a
steel top section for tuning, intended for the 11 meter band.  I'm told it
will not tune to the 10 meter band.

I tried a 4 foot K40 flex whip (11 meter).  The tuning "sleeve" ended up at
the bottom of the antenna and the SWR was 2.5>1 at 28.305 mhz. It gets worse
as the frequency increases ( 3>1 at 28.325 ).

Base loaded antennas intended for 11 meters will usually tune to the 10
meter band however a bumper location is less desirable for that type of
antenna, right ?

I'm thinking that the more antenna I have above the bed of my pickup truck
the better the performance.  Again however I am limited to no more than 5
1/2 feet from the bumper to the top of the antenna so I can drive into my
garage without tearing up the antenna, garage door,  and the ceiling.

My next thought was to install a wire dipole or Double Bazooka coaxial
dipole under the fiberglass "A.R.E." brand lid on my bed (looks like a big
trunk lid).  I have a short bed so I would have to probably feed it near a
corner in the front of the bed and run it around the outside edge under the
lid, bending it at the opposite corners.

The truck is a 2003 Dodge 1500 4x4 Quad cab short bed.

Any ideas on either antennae ??

--
73 de Jim
NJ3T

[KF4EYR]

Look for a firestick brand antenna that doesnt have the tuneable end, (just a cap on end no tuning screw under it). Pull cap off and pull out just a little bit of wire and clip it , 1/4 inch at a time is recomended, check swr after each adjustment. this type of antenna will tune down to 10 meters. I have tuned these types to 10 meters using a mfj=259 with no problem.   Another idea is if you are not intending to use a linear amp is to find a mobile antenna tuner. PDC makes a small one that even has a built in swr meter and power meter that should work just right for your situation. hope this helps some.

73s  Aaron kf4eyr

[K0BG]

Most base loaded CB antennas will work by shortening the whip an inch or so. I don't recommend small, spirally wound antennas as they're rather lossy compared to other types. And mounting one on the bumper adds even more loss due to ground proximity.

With 10 meters almost a vast wasteland and only an occasional sporatic E opening during this lull in the sunspot cycle, you need all the antenna you can get.

Alan, KØBG

[K3TD]

FireStik makes a 4' TM-4 10 meter antenna that may be what you are looking for.  Their catalog is online at http://www.firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm then select "Other antennas".

Good luck and 73,  

[MARKJ]

I also am buying an HTX-10 this afternoon. I mean, $49.95?!?!? Why not?

I've seen an article just recently on the web on doing a 10m conversion on a CB firestick. It was very detailed and even included pictures. I tried and tried to find it again to post a link, but have had no luck. I saw it before I found this deal, so I didn't bookmark it! Arg! Learned my lesson, I guess. I will continue to hunt for it, but just wanted to let you know it HAS been done successfully more than a few times and apparently isn't too bad, as a previous reply indicates.

I'll continue to search, as I'm now in need as well.

Good luck!

73's
Mark
KG4TUR

[NJ3T]

Hello again !
 
 
Thanks for all the responses !  I have decided that the best antenna for my situation is the Anttron Mod. #1700.  This antenna once tuned is slightly less than 6 feet tall.  Most 11 meter fiberglass whips are 3 or 4 feet in length.  They will work by trimming them down but as I was saying, I wanted as much antenna above the bed as possible but not over 6 feet total length from the bumper mount to the tip.  The Anttron #1700 has a fiberglass helical section at it's base which is only 2 feet long.  A 4 foot SS whip top section is slid in the fiberglass sections tip and pruned for the desired frequency.  I'm told the #1700 is broadbanded compared to the "Hamstick" for 10 meters.   Anttron went out of business, not due to bankruptcy or anything like that but due to it being a family ran business and a member was lost, so I'm told.  The tooling and machines to build Anttron antennas were bought by a company in Oklahoma.  They are now producing all new Anttron antennas and I'm told they are developing new ones, like the "Hamstick JR.", a 6 foot long version of the "Hamstick" (7 foot) antenna.  I ordered a #1700 antenna direct from them and should have it before the end of the week.  Thanks again to all that posted or emailed me on this subject.  I am still going to experiment with a wire antenna under the fiberglass lid when I get the time.  
 
Scroll down below my signature for more info on Anttron (Oklahoma) the Anttron antenna I'm getting.
 
73's and HAVE FUN HAMMING !!
de Jim
NJ3T
Somerset, PA
 
 
http://anttron.tripod.com/id2.htm


 ANTTRON 1700

6 FT. OF TALK POWER

2 FT. OF 3/8 IN.O.D. FIBERGLASS ROD WITH A
4 FT. .125 STAINLESS STEEL WHIP

ADJUSTABLE FOR LOWEST S.W.R.

WOUND WITH #14 WIRE FOR FULL
LEGAL LIMIT ON THE HAM BANDS

BROADBAND

POWER RATED
2000 WATTS

TUNES 26-29 MHZ.

HIGH GAIN

LOW NOISE

3/8" X 24 THREAD

COLORS: BLACK, WHITE
OR BLUE OR RED

SUGGESTED RESALE
$22.99
 
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
 
The New Anttron company is now K& E Electronics
Oklahoma City, OK   Tele: 405-947-2891
 
BTW: MARKJ ,  CQ magazine has an article about tuning fiberglass 11 meter antennas to 10 meters (May Issue) I'm told.