KE4VVF
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« on: February 13, 2012, 04:42:35 PM » |
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I was going to make a 102" whip rotatable dipole for 10 m using Radio Shack whips and a MFJ-347 dipole mount. It was for stealth reasons and as a portable field day / mountain top DXpedition antenna. Radio Shack apparently doesn't stock them anymore, or their supply dried up.
Does anyone know of a good brand of SS whip for a horizontal dipole application? I'm trying to stay away from the Hamstick type spiral wound gizmos and the MFJ Mini Dipoles.
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KC7YE
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« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2012, 04:47:25 PM » |
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DX Engineering has 108" whip
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SWMAN
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« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2012, 05:41:10 PM » |
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Copper Electronics has them also.
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AD5X
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« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2012, 05:52:38 PM » |
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MFJ sells a 108" SS whip. The MFJ-1966 for $27.
Phil - AD5X
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W5DXP
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« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2012, 04:41:17 AM » |
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I'm trying to stay away from the Hamstick type spiral wound gizmos ... It is a fact that a hamstick is very inefficient on the lower frequency bands, e.g. 75m. But hamstick efficiency is pretty high on 10m - same ballpark as that of a 1/4WL whip and they are less expensive than an SS whip. |
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73, Cecil, www.w5dxp.comRandom length "tuned feeders" usually de-tune an antenna system! |
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K9SRV
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« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2012, 10:08:05 AM » |
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I just bought 2 from radio shack.
Only certain stores carry cb/ham stuff. Go to their website
do a search, and it should tell you the closest store that carries
them. Thats what I did, my local store didn't stock them but
one 6 miles away did.
Also, I went to menards and bought hollow 3/8 copper tubing
that I cut to add some length and you can cover 10-17 or so,
just by switching them out after lightly crimping to the steel
whip.
john
kb9ico
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KE4VVF
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« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2012, 07:31:15 PM » |
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KB9ICO, John,
These whips have been "out of stock" on the Radio Shack web site for a couple months. Yesterday I went to a different Shack store and there are none in stock in this district so I convinced their manager to order them from a different region. The store manager also told me that this item is very probably going to be discontinued. Unfortunately special shipping from other internet vendors almost doubles the price.
It's a shame they keep dropping radio related items in favor of cellphones. I still run my 5/8ths wave 2m Radio Shack mobile antenna and my venerable HTX202 as my daily HT. Both are 20 years old and still going strong.
KE4VVF, Tony
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K9SRV
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« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2012, 08:03:30 PM » |
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want me to see if I can buy a couple and ship em to you?
John
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WB6BYU
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« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2012, 08:30:45 PM » |
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See who else locally carries CB radios and accessories - might be a truck stop or a store that
installs audio systems, or whatever. Some may carry the straight fiberglass whips with a wire
up the inside instead of the stainless whips, but they should work just as well.
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K2DC
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« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2012, 03:51:09 AM » |
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Just looking at maps, there is a Pilot Truckstop just south of you on Statesville Ave. just past I-85. They always have lots of CB stuff, and it might be worth a look there.
73,
Don, K2DC
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W5DXP
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« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2012, 04:45:21 AM » |
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Some may carry the straight fiberglass whips with a wire up the inside ... Does anyone know the specified power rating for those fiberglass whips? |
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73, Cecil, www.w5dxp.comRandom length "tuned feeders" usually de-tune an antenna system! |
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WX7G
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« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2012, 09:13:37 AM » |
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DX engineering sells a 102" whip and MFJ sells a 108" whip.
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K7KBN
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« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2012, 10:28:33 AM » |
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Does anyone know the specified power rating for those fiberglass whips?
Full legal CB power. |
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73
Pat K7KBN
CWO4 USNR Ret.
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ONAIR
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« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2012, 12:19:06 AM » |
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If you want to save some money, you can substitute PVC pipe for those whips! Just run some wire through them.
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W5DXP
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« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2012, 07:06:05 AM » |
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Full legal CB power. Five watts AM? That's why I have only ever used them for top hat elements. |
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73, Cecil, www.w5dxp.comRandom length "tuned feeders" usually de-tune an antenna system! |
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