Top vs base-loaded antennas

Read this...It tells ya everything you need to know about Mobile Antenna's...
http://signalengineering.com/ultimate/mobile_antennas.html

Then once done, check this site out and see how these top selling antenna's compare to each other!
http://cbradiomagazine.com/Feb%202007/CB Radio Antennas - Which one is right for you.htm

 

After trying basically every popular antenna made, my personal preference is using the longest practical top-loaded antenna practical. That's partially aesthetics, not just performance, I hated the "please break into my truck and see what else I have worth stealing" look of the Predator 10K when I ran it, although it did perform very well. I'm currently running a pair of 5' Skipshooters on my big truck, and I'd put their performance up against the 10K on anything except absolute maximum power-handling ability, which probably isn't an issue for you. I'd rate them better than the Wilson 2k and 5ks I've had.

My personal experience has been that performance drops off considerably when you go with an antenna shorter than 4', I wouldn't go any shorter than that. As for quick disconnects, don't go cheap here, the ones you see at truck stops and CB shops usually are pretty fragile and don't last long (again, personal experience). I bought a quick-disconnect from this guy for the antenna on my pickup, and it was expensive, but you only have to buy it once. His fold-over mounts look great too, and that might be ideal for your situation.

 

Can't beat Hank Breedloves Mounts. Thats all I will run...Your right too, they are a bit more expensive than what you will find at Truck Stops and most CB Shops, but you get what you pay for.

 

Yep, but they're only more expensive once, the truckstop stuff is expensive over and over, especially if you loose an antenna. (I did)

 

I have gone back and forth between stainless whips and fiberglass top loaded models. I perfer the stainless whip because it can take more abuse then the fiberglass. Currently running Wilson 5000s. They hit branches all day long and keep doing what they are supposed to do. Had to replace the fiberglass Wilsons because of tree hits and after awhile it got expensive.

I would have loved to go for 10Ks but I like to hold something in my hands before opening the wallet which means, I am not up on buying too much over the net.

 

Makes perfect sense to me! I'm the same way, I always want to put my hands on something at least once before ordering over the Internet...Least that way I know what to expect...

But once you use a Predator 10K, it's hard to go back to using anything else...

I guess if you can't find one in your local CB Shop...Just look around at Open Coiled Antenna's on Rigs when your at Truck Stops and look for the Predator sticker located at the bottom of the lower shaft right above the antenna mount, and at least you'll be able to get a good look at one!

 

I don't get out of North Dakota much these days and if I do it might be to around St cloud Minnesota. Not much for CB shops around these parts.


I have been thinking about 10Ks pretty seriously though. My only problem is height. I am not into bull horning antennas and my 5000s already hit alot of trees at our loading sights ie farmers warehouses in their yards. That and we have to back into some warehouses were my stacks just barely clear. I have actually had to dump my rear airbags to get into some of them.

 

Good thing about Cowtown Antennas...Kale has several versions of the Predator 10K.

In your case what you would want to go with if you mount your antenna on the mirror bracket, is the "SW" Dual Coil Predator 10K. This antenna was designed mainly for use on Big Rigs for mirror mounting. (trying not to sound like a "Info-Commercial" this is the 10K most mount on Big Rigs)

Once tuned it's about 58" in total height from base to tip of stinger. So you may-not need to "Bull Horn" mounting.

Here is a Pic of a "SW" Dual Coil 10K mounted on mirror bracket.


Sorta hard to see just how high the antenna is in the pic, but it tuned at 58" if that helps...

"SW" just stands for "Short Whip"...The regular Predator 10K with a single coil tunes at over 72" in total height, so this dual coil version is about a foot and a half shorter.

The one in the Pic also has a 12" lower shaft. (which is what I would recommend...the 12" shaft just seems to tune better) It is also available with a 6" 9" and 17" shaft, but like I said, the 12" seems to tune better on mirror bracket mounting.

Regardless of which lower shaft is used, the total height after tuned remains the same. (longer shafts end up having shorter stingers once tuned and visa-versa on shorter shafts)

Like I said, I don't want this to turn into a info-commercial for the 10K, but I can answer just about any question on these antenna's, since I have been dealing with the builder now for over 10 years, and have installed more than I care to admit to!

 

Pretty hard to beat a Wilson for that reason alone-if you hit something hard, you buy a new whip, and if you REALLY hit something hard you can buy a new antenna anywhere.