shorter lower shift Wilson 2000 and predator 10k

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by nshore harleyguy, Oct 3, 2014.

  1. nshore harleyguy

    nshore harleyguy Medium Load Member

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    I originally purchased a predator 10 and liked it. Mounting it on the upper mirror bar put it at about 13'9. Well after a few days in the Northeast tapping a few low bridges i ended up breaking the tip off it. Not a big deal I can just purchase a new whip. Decided to go with a Wilson 2000. It is shorter overall and sits about 13'6.5- 13'7. I hit tree branches on occasion which never bothers me to much but was thinking about winter when the snow is sitting on the branches. I am sure I will hit more of them and the impact will be worse.

    I have seen the shorter lower shaft for sale for both of these antennas. Will this affect my swr by going with a shorter lower shaft (the piece between the base and the coil)? My current swr is about 1:2 I have it paired with a connex 3300 hp, good coax and a good ground. My setup works really well now and I don't want to compromise that. Also will having my total antenna height 3 or so inches lower affect the performance I have now or will it be so minimal I wouldn't even notice?
     
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  3. nshore harleyguy

    nshore harleyguy Medium Load Member

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    Also to get the Wilson under 13'7 I was forced to slightly tilt it forward. Going with the shorter shaft I would be able to stand it up strait which is what I would prefer. I can't stand having it titled forward but in its current state it would be to high to run strait up.
     
  4. jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    You "CAN" get a Predator 10K with a shorter lower shaft "YES" or you can just replace the lower shaft with a shorter one.....However! The total height of the antenna will not change...What happens when you go with a shorter shaft, the stinger ends up being longer after you tune the antenna...IF you buy a short shaft to replace the one you have, you will also have to replace the stinger with a longer one because your old stinger will be too short to tune.

    I don't know which 10K you have, but the only way to get the height down, is to go with the "SW" Dual-Coil Predator 10K if you have the single-coil 10K now...

    Some guys have good luck slightly tilting the antenna forward by angling the antenna mount on the mirror bracket...But I wouldn't recommend angling the antenna very much or you'll screw up the signal pattern so much you may only be able to get out a mile or two.
     
  5. mike5511

    mike5511 Road Train Member

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    Moving the coil, or loaded part of the antenna in the case of fiberglass antennas, closer to the body of the vehicle can also have adverse effects on your SWR.
     
  6. jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    Yep...allot of guys, (including myself) find that when you go to a shorter bottom shaft, you may notice the antenna won't tune as well as it did with the longer shaft...
     
  7. mike5511

    mike5511 Road Train Member

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    I was told your antenna can lean not more than about 22 degrees before serious degradation in the signal occurs. If you can lean it where it will clear the overpasses and not be more than about 22 degrees going down the road, even though it might be more when you are stopped, that is what I would do if your performance is good now. I don't like the look of the leaning antenna, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
     
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