Best mirror-mount antenna?

This forum provides help with antenna installation, as well as guidance on selecting the right antenna for your radio or mobile setup.
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Jim J. James Jr.

Best mirror-mount antenna?

#33247

Post by Jim J. James Jr. »

Hello,

What is the best mirror-mount antenna in the $70 and under price range?
I want something that is also good, and at least 5 feet high.
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Drifter

#33289

Post by Drifter »

Tough question! :) Everyone has their own favorite. I assume your talking about a big truck.

I'm using a magnet mount because my boss doesn't like anything being drilled or bolted on his trucks. It's certainly not the best way to go, but it's better than nothing and it works pretty well. We also swap trucks every now and then, so that's handy too.

5 foot is pretty high up on a semi. Chances are you may be breaking some antennas (especially the rigid ones like fiberglass). I've seen some very flexible black antennas that you can almost fold in half. They are very flexible and very thin. I've seen them a lot on trucks. You'd need to search the web a little, although it might be a wilson flex whip, but they might not be 5 footers. I've seen them 4 foot.

Otherwise I'd suggest a firestick or wilson or some other that has a tunable element on top. It's a real pain matching antennas way up in the air. The ones you need to cut really suck trying to match them way up in the air. If someone will give you a hand with a hi-lo it helps :)

The rigid type antennas, usually fiberglass, will likely break at some point. Especially when they're really long. Usually at the worse time.

The last thing you will want to consider will be how many watts you want to run and make sure your antenna will handle it. Buy a quality mount for it too, cheap mounts will drive ya crazy with problems. A cheap mount problem is usually harder to figure out too. Hope this helps.
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Rex_foxhound

#33302

Post by Rex_foxhound »

Predator 10K now has a short shaft antenna for mounting on big trucks I think. I imagine you could get it under $70
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Jim J. James Jr.

#33305

Post by Jim J. James Jr. »

Haha, well to be honest I actually drive a 1987 Ford F150, not quite a semi - but I'd take one of them any day also. :lol:

I've always "had a thing" for really high CB antennas. I remember being a kid and seeing trucks or cars once in a while that has huge 8 or 9 foot antennas on them. If I could find something like that within my price range (and a good brand name) I'd probably get it.

I guess my other choice would be a Wilson 5000 Magnet Mount.
But if you guys know of any that I can mirror-mount that are quite tall (although won't hit like a stoplight or anything) please let me know, or any other recommendations.
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Drifter

#33316

Post by Drifter »

Hey..well never mind then :lol:

If you want a 108" steel whip you should get one. You can't break them and they work just fine. You can run all the power you want. Might have to put it on the bumper though :D

On my own truck I drilled a hole in the middle of the roof and put one there. But I've seen a lot different set ups. Some people don't like seeing a hole drilled into the roof, but if your gonna have that hugh circle from a magnet mount scratching up your paint, I like the idea of a hole better.
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Mr RadioActive

#33343

Post by Mr RadioActive »

I'd of gone with the PRED10K!
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Jim J. James Jr.

#33358

Post by Jim J. James Jr. »

Thanks for the replies guys!

Does Predator made a whip that is 102-120" in height?

Also: do I need mounting brackets or something to mount one of those whip-antennas to my roof, bumper, etc.?

I'm not really the best with tools, the whole installation thing (drilling, mounting, etc.) is what always confuses me about those CB antennas (so far I've had mag mounts.)
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Drifter

#33383

Post by Drifter »

The whip I had came with a 2 small chains that wrapped around the bumper and you just tightened them up. Didn't need much more than one wrench. Otherwise it had 3 holes in the mount, you needed to drill 3 holes for the bolts if you wanted to mount it to the side of your truck or where ever. You might want to check some of the "Ford F150 forums" or whatever. I've seen a lot of discussion on cb installations on forums like that which might give you some ideas by people who have actually done them on a vehicle like yours. Maybe do a google search for say "Ford F150 CB antenna".
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Phaze91460

#33389

Post by Phaze91460 »

A lot of bumpers wont take that chain system. No, the preditor 10K is a coil type of antenna and does not stick up 102". You could use on with the Workman Launch Pad 3 mag antenna mount with no problems, no fuss, no drillin, just reach up and stick it down.
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Jim J. James Jr.

#33407

Post by Jim J. James Jr. »

Thanks guys! I guess I wouldn't mind drilling 3 holes for something like Drifter has.

Phaze91460, I tried searching but couldn't find anything called the "Workman Launch Pad 3" - could you provide me with a link?

Are there any other either a) ~102+" whips, or b) tall mirror-mounts that you guys could recommend? Please include the product brand and model if you could also.
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BigBopper

#33408

Post by BigBopper »

Here is what it looks like on a mini van

Image
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Drifter

#33425

Post by Drifter »

Well I didn't want to mislead you :)

The 102/108" whip I had was on my Vega back in high school and I mounted it to the bumper. Had a little foot warmer in it that dimmed my headlights when I keyed it up, lol. Kids.... it looked just like a remote control toy :) But it took a lot of abuse and never let me down.

On my current truck I drilled a hole and went with the K40, through the roof mount, mostly because I like the way it comes off so fast. The K40 is also a magnet mount, but I hate the wire running down the side of the truck so I didn't use that option. I kinda planned on replacing it with something better, but it's been doing a good job so I haven't been motivated to change it yet. Also I might add it's a Mercury Mountaineer, so I don't consider it a truck, more of an oversized car with crappy gas mileage :)
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