Back in a T680...

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Hick, Jun 22, 2017.

  1. wolverine11

    wolverine11 Road Train Member

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    Medical term is Dementia!
     
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  3. wolverine11

    wolverine11 Road Train Member

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    The way I see it is with a 4' firestick antenna the radiating coil is 36 " high, where as with the 10k with 27" shaft the coil is less than 2.5' high so it seems that the firestick would be more effective all things being equal, any experts in antenna theory please correct me if Im wrong in my assumption. As I stated earlier ( forget which thread) I have one Hustler Q27 antenna and would like to get a second one and try them, the shaft is 31" to coil and is very flexible so stress on mount would be minimal.
     
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  4. mike5511

    mike5511 Road Train Member

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    I would have stopped at the 5x5 Francis. Work good, cheap and easily replaceable. I've used them for years. Yeah, they ain't as good as they used to be, but what is? Enjoy reading about all the other antennas tried on this truck though. Good thread!!
     
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  5. wolverine11

    wolverine11 Road Train Member

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    Agree Mike I kind of wish I would of bought those first but was concerned if swr was high, then what, mo way to adjust them. I did see a 680 the other day with two 5.5' Francis antennas and they really were not bending back all that much at highway speeds, I am satisfied with 4' Firesticks, so if it aint broke dont fix it.
     
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  6. bored silly

    bored silly Road Train Member

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    Hick would have saved alot of $$$$$ by just buying/using the Francis or Firestiks but he's in the game to play experiment.... By the way where you been WOLFIE.....
     
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  7. bored silly

    bored silly Road Train Member

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    GEE THANKS FOR THE INFO.
     
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  8. bored silly

    bored silly Road Train Member

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    My receive on my FB4 sucked but I yanked the amp off the bottom of it. Stuck 4 Toshiba pills in it and put the amp under a 955. The receive on the 955 is great. But as in everything the conditions your in/under matter...
     
  9. wolverine11

    wolverine11 Road Train Member

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    Dont know where Ive been, remember I have early Dementia. No really just been laying low, running up and down these interstates trying to make a living, be glad when summer is over so tired of minivans with luggage carriers heading to see Mickey and the gang in Orlando.
     
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  10. bored silly

    bored silly Road Train Member

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    HEARD THAT OR RV IDIOTS
     
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  11. Hick

    Hick Heavy Load Member

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    It's been so long since I've driven sideways in OK wind that I almost forgot about how bad it can be. I would certainly tape a bible to the steering wheel for frequent praying before screwing on the 10ks and buzzing through there on a windy day. But for bumbling up and down the east side, I don't worry a bit about the mounts.

    And I think the same way regarding the top loaded antennas. I think they SHOULD work better on this truck. But after some testing, I say that the 4' Firestiks do not work as well as the Wilson 2ks, 5ks or K40s. The 5' worked better than the K40s and about on par with the 2ks and 5ks. But for some reason even the cheap metal Helical Wound BlahBlahs beat those out (but I cheated a bit here by using the K40 shaft in addition to the shaft that came with the antennas, so ya. I did try that with all of the center loads and it did help, more on this below).

    Then we have the Francis which is 'continous loaded' and it really shines. You can't even put the other antennas on the same scorecard for some ###### reason that I cannot understand.

    So then we have the 10ks (keeping in mind that the 6' Skipshoters were DOA and the 5' Wilson fiberglass are still in the package). It's safe to say that these are TEH B3ST so far. But I'm quickly realizing that they are intended for people that are a whole lot more into this hobby than me and don't mind constantly fiddling with the radio. It is annoying to be sitting somewhere quiet with the gain cranked up just listening to the chatter when Grandma 2 towns over decides to put a couple pieces of Sunbeam in her toaster or your APU decides to charge the batteries. If you want to run some watts and all that, you shouldn't be using the factory crap anyhow - mounts or coax. These things will just never reach their full potential the way that I'm using them. But if you want to bolt them on and can live with everything else, they are worth the money.

    But there does seem to be something screwy going on here. Having the load about 2/3rds towards the top of the windshield seems to help a lot for some reason. It helped the center loads even though they still weren't great. The 4' and 5' Firestiks were above this a bit and it killed them. The center loads without a longer shaft were below it and they suffered. The metal antennas and the Francis just 'work' for some reason.

    Today will be round 2 for the Skipshooters. I really want to try them. If not, the Wilsons will go on.
     
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