Whip Length Question

BB, the antenna is designed to present a decent "match" as a unit. A full sized antenna is about 108 inches. When folks can't fit that onto a vehicle, a shorter antenna may be in order. And the shorter the whip is, the more compensating value, called "reactance", must be coupled to the whip to keep the radio happy. A 4-ft antenna with no coil would be similar to running a 2-cycle engine witth no muffler. The coil's reactance helps provide "back pressure" to the transmitter. The only way to swap them...(why?)...and have it work right would be if the whips were the same length, diameter, and material, in order of importance. So while you might be able to physically swap them, you might not be happywith the result.By the way, coils don't radiate signal. The rule of thumb is to use an antenna that is as long as you can fit on your vehicle. And the shorter the whip, the lower the performance, all other factors being the same. Duzzat help?73

 

Just switch to a Wilson 1k magnetic mount.60 inch whip and will perform better than the lil will.
I doubt the magnet on the Lil Will would hold up to the wind with the long whip.

They are both decent antennas but the 1000 does hear and talk a bit better in my experience.
I have them both and get good range out of them but i use them mounted on the roof of my ProStar as a backup antenna.The lil will stays under my bunk incase i tear off my mirror mounted 2000....lol!
That puts the tip of the 1000 about 15 ft in the air when on the roof of the big truck.
The 1000 is now on my Tahoe and works really well.

 

No you cannot put a Wilson 1k antenna into a Wilson lil wil coil and obtain good results on CB. Reason being the lil wil has more turns of wire.in the coil than the 1k does, to allow for a shorter whip to do as handlebar said, "keep the radio happy". Putting a 1k whip (62") in where the lil wil whip goes (36") will only raise the swr up sky high as you have essentially lengthened the antenna to work on another frequency lower than that of the citizens band.

HTH

 

That is strange, I got a 1 to 1.2 match on mine and had no problems.
Maybe a defective antenna or more likely a problem in the radio?

If you key up and your buddy shows a signal but no modulation that would point me to the radio or a shorted or loose connection in the mic cord.