Narrowing It Down...Antenna & Changing SWR

Nice try, CB...but why would I want to go to your link and give 15 bucks for the exact same product I can get over at breedlove's for $5? And he's the guy that actually makes the stuff? I'm disappointed to know there are folks participating here that would try to separate me from my hard-earned $'s in that manner. I got a feelin' you knew better and that was a sneaky way to inject a link. Shame upon you.

 

By my measurements, I'd be getting close to 14' 6" if I did that. Might be OK out west but that 13' 9" on I-70 coming east of Washington, PA would curl my tip.

<< 14' is still OK no matter what it's on >>

Except for a car hauler. First, I have seen what the little tip of an antenna can do to a windshield after it smacks off an underpass at 70 mph at just the right angle. Second, the whip would be running up the side of the #1 unit on the headrack.

Thanks for the suggestion and I know about that 102" whip being the standard to shoot for but that rascal Cool Breeze nailed it. Simple as tuning a second antenna and a pair of quick disconnects. As I walk back down from loading #1, just pop the "empty" antenna off and insert "loaded" antenna. Each load is different but I believe I can get it real close by doing this. And I'll put a matcher inline after I get it close to watch it.

 

Just following up...Mike asked that I would.

Fine tuned the FGT Wilson after loading 2 units on the rack in the vicinity of the antenna. It was "too long" when loaded as opposed to needing to be lengthened when I was setting SWR empty. (I believe Cool Breeze prophesied that it would be an inch or so too long). Empty I had 1.2 across the channels. Loaded...I kept climbing up & down that ladder making very fine adjustments (shortening) until the needle wouldn't even move on channel 1 and it barely nudged on channel 40. I called that good cause I didn't want to haul my fat back up that ladder one more time and checked it with another meter just to be sure and left it like that. Next trip, I still got a flashing AWI on my meter but now it was only on the top 10 channels...say 30 to 40 where before it was from around 11 to 40. I am thinking maybe my warning flasher needs a small adjustment but I'm not gonna worry with it for now. I am positive the antenna and coax is matched as good as I am going to get it. Which leads me to ask the knowledgeable this one more question.

Question: Antennas...if everything is the same...say 1.2:1 SWR, coax, radio, mounting location on vehicle, grounding, etc...and the only difference being the type antenna (fiberglass, base loaded, center loaded, aluminum, steel, various brands and manufacturers)...will all antennas perform the same for transmission as long as the rating of the antenna is observed and not exceeded? That may sound confusing but what I am trying to learn is if it was possible to obtain a perfect SWR 1.1:1 on an antenna rated for 800 watts, would that be the end all for the best transmission if operating an un-amped radio? I have heard one should keep with getting an antenna that is rated twice the wattage as you will be using when choosing something other than a 102" whip. If my 4 foot Wilson FGT is rated for 800 watts and I am putting 100/200 watts to it...will this antenna perform as well as say a Predator 10K, a K40 coil or a steel whip?

Methinks the advertising claims of some of these manufacturers are to separate me from my $$$ and not necessarily deliver a product that I really need. I am not running welding cable and a second 200 amp alternator (yet) with 4 new batteries in my extra box, so why would I need an antenna that would handle that kind of heat? The truckstop store walls are full of these things and there are those dollar 2.98 antennas hanging right beside them. If my aligned out-of-the-box radio (11 meter) wants to see a 50 ohm impedance on a single antenna, what difference is to be realized by hanging a supersized double coil aluminum ape-leg off my truck just to announce to a would-be thief that I may have a radio worth having a look see inside? Am I barking up the right tree? I understand there may be some difference in receive but I am inquiring about transmissions at this point.

 

Thanks Mike...I suspected as much and it's not what I wanted to hear with this car hauler. Absolutely no way to use a longer antenna unless I lay it out and that is probably defeating the purpose...other than I would look cool to some folks.