102 whip ?

[Big Lou]

Anyone got a pic of there 102'' mounted on there tool box ? I got a tool box on my f-150 and was thinking about it . What are ya using a L bracket and a spring or just a whip ? Also not than I can hurt it but how many watts can a 102'' whip take ? I asked this in another post but it wasnt answered so I figured I would try it again . Is a 102 whip thats alot cheaper than my Wilson 1000 really gonna be that much better for performance ? I just cant see it .
Thanks ,
Big Lou

[231]

Big Lou, I've never mounted an antenna on a tool box, but can tell you some of the other info'. Yes, the 102" whip will handle tons more wattage than the Wilson 1k would. And yes, it should out perform it too without question. Max wattage would have much to do with frequencies being run, etc. The antenna itself would handle several thousands of watts without a problem. The question would really be how much reflection and how high would the SWR's be? This would matter more to your amps than the antenna. The loading coil in the 1k though is rated for 1kw...but probably more like 5-700 effectively. I have a couple trucker series antennas and they are okay, but compare not at all to the 1/4 wave continuous whip.

And for a mount, you can use whatever you want...but if it were me, I'd probably use a swivel ball mount and run some heavy ground straps from the box to the tub and frame of the vehicle. Not sure what style of box you have, but idealy I would think that center mounted would be the best performing ground plane you'd have...short of a roof mounted.

Just a couple thoughts that hopefully might help a little.

[DIRTBOY]

Hey Big Lou, I just got mine hooked up tonight and it works awesome! I got an L shaped piece of diamond plate aluminum bolted on the back of the box with a ball mount and a spring. It's on a aluminum toolbox, without any extra ground wire. I just put it on, and checked SWR, and the needle barely moved at all. I heard a few guys shooting skip, which is a first. They were running amps, and they were far enough away they couldn't hear the bone stock Cobra 25. I can't wait for the new Radioactive General Lee to get here! I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow when it's light.

[LordDragr]

I have a 102 on my truck its not on the toolbox because my toolbox is in the back of the bed by the tailgate and i dont want to run a long coax. I mounted mine to the driver side bed right behind the cab with a l bracket. that way drivethru and low clearence i can reach back and hold it it down so people dont complain about me scratching up stuff

[DIRTBOY]

You should see the ceilings on all the drive throughs around here! I think they're past the point of caring, or at least they should be.

[Phaze91460]

I know there are a lot of 102" whip lovers on the forum but I gata say, I just never liked the durn things. I had um "back in the day" and they just hit everything there was to hit, including the truck. The wind would blow them flat at highway speeds which cant be good on TX. I bent the fool outa them with trees, buildings, and all the drive throughs.

[Falkon MX-5]

A rule of thumb is any time you use traps or loading coils instead of a continuous antenna, you are going to have loss. That said, the 102" whip is a continuous 1/4 wave antenna, so it will have no loss, but no gain. The only potential problem is the fact that you have a 102" whip coming off your vehicle.

[Thunderhawk]

I wouldn't trade my 102 stainless for anything, mobile-wise. Excellent reception and transmission, and it doesn't lay down at 90 mph <don't ask>

[DIRTBOY]

Pictures are up in my gallery now. I'm happy with my whip!

[HI-TECH]

you guys know that the 102" wip is actually supost to have the 6" sping on the bottom to make it a true 1/4 wave antenna.
here is the equasion for makeng a 1/4 wave antenna

234
------ = lenght of 1/4Wave antenna
freqency

it should be called 108" wip but most places sold the sping seperatly so it got to be known as the 102.

[Phaze91460]

Which is why they would lay down. And yes, at 90+ I had um bend far enough over they might as well have been flat. We allways used a ball mount with the spring. Chipped a lota paint before I quit usin um.

[Falkon MX-5]

you guys know that the 102" wip is actually supost to have the 6" sping on the bottom to make it a true 1/4 wave antenna.
here is the equasion for makeng a 1/4 wave antenna

234
------ = lenght of 1/4Wave antenna
freqency

it should be called 108" wip but most places sold the sping seperatly so it got to be known as the 102.

This is not 100% true. A 1/4 wave would be 108" in space, but here you have to add in a electrical velocity factor and that gets it down to about 102"

I can't explain this for sure. I'll have to have some old timer explain it to me myself.