Best antenna

I put very little faith in antenna range measurements. There are so many variables to account for that it's pretty much impossible. Heck, even which way the wind is blowing will affect them by the antenna bending slightly.

My favorite antenna test: Mount each antenna so the tip of the antenna is 14' 6" above the ground, and see which one lasts the longest.

 

I haven't read this whole thread but I would go with a Predator 10k.

 

A 1/4 wave steel whip won't have as much gain as 5/8 wave 7ft top loaded fiberglass whip.

 

The gain of a 5/8 w antenna is about 1.5 db over a 1/4 wave. To get that gain the 5/8w has to be about 21 foot high. As with any antenna loading it with a coil increases the antenna's loses.

I do believe receive would have a slight improvement.

leon
kc0iv

 

Everyone has their own opinions of which antenna is the best...Some say the Predator 10K's are to expencive, which is why they won't try one...Yet, they go and buy several other antenna's and are still not satisfied...If they had just saved their money on all the other antenna's, and just bought a 10K to start with and been done with it, they would have money left over for beer!

 

I've said many times I'm not a tech and don't claim to be. I posted what Ray in W. Memphis said was his experience as far as a 7ft top loaded whip out doing a 102" steel whip..... every single time! He use to go all over to the Key Down contests back in the day. No offense, but if he said it I will believe it. He makes his living, and has for years, in CB. And is reputation is excellent. I know several really good technicians. None of them think much of the "internet techs". In fact, only one that I know even goes to the CB related sites on the internet. And then, only occasionally. He doesn't hang around because he gets tired of arguing with "experts" that aren't. So forgive me if I take the information I learn from "real people", who make their living in the CB world, and have for 30 to 40 years, over what I read on the internet! (Not questioning your knowledge in any way, just saying your credibility doesn't equal theirs in my opinion.......only cause I don't know you or your background, so please understand and don't be offended.)

 

I don't have a problem with your opinion. I simply stated my opinion. Nothing more nothing less.

I don't put much in "Key Down contests" just to many variables. I you want to test antennas then use an antenna range where only the antenna is involved.

BTW I've been at this game for over 50 years. I had my own CB shop back in the middle '60's.

leon
kc0iv

 

I certainly trust a story about a keydown contest over a IFR Spectrum Analyzer, or a Motorola R2200a.

The point is a antenna does not make signal, it rearranges the rf or redirects. The coil is takeing the signal from the skip wave area and redirecting down into the line of sight at a specific angle or degree (we call it down tilt). So while the 7' is better at a specific point, it will not be better somewhere else.

Whether we like it or except does not change the physical tributes. My measurements were at 1/4 1/2 &3/4 of a mile on a salt bed. The radio waas a Galaxy 95 set at 7.5 watts dead key, the test was conducted with 0 audio, limited to the antennas I had.

As long as there are choices there will be a difference of opinion. I use stated what I found and what I used to conduct the test. To each his own.

I run a 6' Francis mazer on my KW, my Suburban and my Camaro. For the money vs performance clarity of RX signal I believe there a good deal.

 

That is the favorite antenna of one of the techs I mentioned above.....shame they don't make them any more.

 

I read your posts and have quizzed "my experts" about some of them, and you score pretty high!