Need good antenna!

For the same reasons you would wast $10.000+ to have a 15K+ setup in your car or truck. Why have that much power if your only going to use when the DX rolls,because you never know when you may get the urge to use it!

 

How much you want to spend?
#1.Wont find this at a truck stop-Predator 10K( the best antenna you will ever find and no matter what other people tell you,these things are unbeatable!)$55.00 to $75.00.
#2.Wilson 2000 or 5000.Same price as a 10K but will not beat the performance of one.
#3.Wilson silver load antenna,5 foot. $25.00.
#4.Skippshooter 5 foot antenna,same thing as a silver load but runs about $20.00.
#5.Francis fire stick antenna with the adjustable tip. $25.00
(3,4 and 5 work the same so what ever you buy your good)
The Wilson antenna studs that you can find at most TA truck stops will hold any antenna you want to run and they are around $25.00.

The 10K is without a doubt the very best antenna i have ever used and i used those on all of my mobile installs but they are high.The 2000 and 5000 Wilson's work well but will not hold a candle to the 10K.

I have used the all of the top loaded antennas (3,4,5) and they work well. If you want one that works well but wont break the bank the 3,4 and 5 would be the ones i would go with. If you have the cash and want the best then go with the 10K.

One more thing. Just because a monkey made,browning,stryker or what ever kind of antenna....looks like a 10K does not mean it will work like one. It takes more than just welding up a few pieces of metal to make an antenna work like it should and if the builder does not have the proper test and calibration equipment to insure that the antenna resonates at a certain frequency and is efficient while doing so then all your going to end up with is a few pieces of medal welded together......... that works about as well as a coat hanger!
My friends and i have tried them all and the 10k blows them all away.

You know why every one like these other antennas? For one the are cheaper.The other reason is because the CB shops say that those antennas will handle say.......25.000 watts. Just because it may handle that does not mean it will make you sound like you are. The 10K's will handle way more power and honest to god will make you sound like your running power when your not......and you can hear a cricket fart 2 states away as well.

Oh,i forgot.There is one antenna that does perform as well as a 10K but i don't think you want 102's of steel whip mounted on your mirror![/QUOTE]
How come I've never heard of the 10k till now ? I've ran audio king, firestick, k40, and I've ran my wilson 1000 for about for the last 18 yrs or so and they told me(other truckers) that my set up sounds like a big radio nice and clear. Now you got me wondering about the 10k, I think im going to look into one.

 

For what your doing just get a Wilson, if you think you ever want to get into skip shooting its a 10k world.....

I've made some pretty impressive contacts with my Striker but prefer the 10k because it doesn't weigh as much..

 

As Carolina Thunder suggested, Francis antenna's work well. The model CB 24 is a 4 foot non-adjustable fiberglass antenna. Just put on and use it. No tuning is necessary. The model 25 is similar only a little longer at 4 1/2 feet length. The model 26 is similar only longer still at 5 1/2 feet in length. While Francis makes an adjustable antenna, the longest is 4 feet in length. No 5 foot long adustable or non-adjustable antenna is currently available from Francis.
.
That Francis fire stick suggestion, I believe, refers to FireStick antennas. The FS-4 is a 4 foot long antenna that you tune by removing the cap off the top of the antenna and turning a small adjustment wheel to tune the antenna for a better SWR[standing wave ratio] reading. The FS-5 at 5 feet in length is a longer version of the FS-4.
.
Now the Firestick KW series of antennas you have to cut to tune the SWR reading. Firestick KW antennas are available in lengths 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 foot lengths.
.
I personnally would not recommend an antenna shorter than 4 foot in length on a big rig. In fact, I prefer the 4 1/2, 5 and 5 1/2 foot lengths as long as overhead clearance is not a limiting factor.

 

I ran a single Wilson 2000 for many years, same one had it on 4 different trucks. I am currently running the Browning and it seems like it works pretty good, I have 2 on the truck but only have one connected. I was able to tune the SWR down so low the meter barely even deflects when I key up.

 

Francis, works well, tuned out of the package, low cost w/ lifetime guarantee. Second choice would be a Wilson only because of the cost.