Changing Coax on Wilson 5000 mag.

[Rex_foxhound]

Is it possible to replace the coax on the wilson 5000 mag mount? I've been thinking about getting some better and bigger quality coax to replace the stock RG-8x. More than likely I would get some of the Cable Xperts that RA has I just need to know what size coax would benefit me the most.

What I'm mainly hoping for is to eliminate some of the engine noise from my 1995 Nissan pickup. When I turn the radio on with truck off and squelch and rf gain wide open, I have no engine noise at all. When I crank the truck, I get a good bit of noise but when I disconnect the antenna from the radio, the noise goes away so I'm assuming its an antenna issue. I have both the radio and amp positive running to the battery and both are grounded to a seat post. I would ground my truck better but I'm fixin to sell it and I don't wanna spend that much time and effort into the truck itself if you know what I mean. I read in some post a while back that if you have engine noise and disconnect the antenna and the noise is eliminated, it means its an antenna issue. I may be wrong though.

The antenna is mounted on the roof about 6 inches from the back of the cab. The SWR is less than 1.2 across the band.

I also need to know how I would change it. I took the coil section off and assumed that I would either have to unscrew the connector or take off the piece of film on the bottom that protects the magnet from scratching the paint and go through the bottom. I really have no idea how to do it but it seems like it would be fairly simple. I think I remember reading that RA replaced his coax on a wilson to 9913 and ran a 16 pill through it.



Any advice, help, or comments would be appreciated very much.

[BigBopper]

Because of the tight tolerance of spacing, careful attention must be paid to the assembly and soldering of the center conductor.
Follow these steps carefully, and you will encounter no problems.

1. Remove the loading coil from the magnetic mount assembly.

2. Using a 3/4" open end or crescent wrench, Loosen and remove the hex nut, and lock washer, attached to SO-239 mount.

3. Pull plastic cover up and over top of SO-239, and lay cover over to expose internal magnet mount assembly.

4. Cut and remove cable tie wrap from coax.

5. Cut coax cable to free plastic cover from assembly.

6. Pull out and remove coax from cover assembly.

7. Un-solder center conductor from bottom of SO-239 mount.

8. Using a 9/16" ratchet on the bolt at the bottom of the magnet, and a 9/16" open end wrench on the top, loosen and remove nut holding "U" bracket to magnetic plate.

9. Remove lock washer, lug and bracket from bolt.

10. Discard lug, and replace with a new unit.

11. Using a new 18' length of coax ( RG/58 for W-1000, RG/8x for W-500 ), push end of new coax into the coax hole on side of plastic cover, and pull 6 to 8 inches inside for an easy working length.

12. Trim this end of the coax until the following is exposed:

Center conductor: 1/4" Foam covering: 1 1/2" Shield exposed: 3/4"
13. Tin, with solder, the 1/4" exposed center conductor.

14. Tin, with solder, the 3/4" of exposed shield.

15. Insert bolt, with plate washer, through bottom of magnet plate hole.

16. Install SO-239 bracket on bolt extending through hole.

17. Install new lug onto bolt through SO-239 bracket.

18. Install internal tooth lock washer, then nut onto the bolt.

19. Re-tighten nut for secure fit.

20. Insert tinned center conductor into center pin hole of SO-239. Bend at a 90° angle, and fill hole with solder.

21. Insert tinned shield into the cleaned lug hole and solder.

22. Warning: clearance is very tight. Visually check to verify that no strands of shield or center conductor is shorting out, then use an ohm meter to verify. Also check for poor or "cold" solder joints.

23. Place cable tie on coax cable inside plastic cover, one inch from end of coax rubber covering. Tighten securely, as this will provide a strain relief for the coax cable to prevent cable from pulling out of mount. Trim off excess tie wrap.

24. Pull excess cable through hole until strain relief is against inside of plastic mount cover.

25. Slip cover over magnet housing, and press to fit tightly against completed assembly.

26. Install lock washer, nut, then tighten securely.

27. Install a new PL-259 on radio end of coax cable.

[Rex_foxhound]

Thanks Bopper for the instructions. I knew you would have a picture.

Anybody have any input on what size coax i should get? I'm not very educated on coax...

[jessejamesdallas]

If I remember correctly, the Wilson 5000 comes with rg mini 8. I don't think your going to be able to fine anything any better, that will work with that Mag Mount.

RG 213 is probably going to be too thick to use, and so would LMR 400.

And don't think coax is your problem, with the engine noise. You could try a good in-line noise filter, that worked for me. Got rid of most of the noise, except for a little which comes from the fuel pump.

Best way to rid the noise I'm afraid, is going to be grounding everything...And even then, you'll probably still have some noise, that just wont go away. Hard to make a mobile sound like a base station.

Now, One thing you may want to try, is to get rid of the Mag Mount, and get a permanent mount. This will give you the best ground for your antenna possible, and get rid of allot of noise, which comes through the antenna itself.

[jessejamesdallas]

By the way...Here is a link to the nosie filter that I bought, and seems to work. It's the "N-700"...scan down till ya see it.
[Please login or register to view this link]

[Mr RadioActive]

I agree with Jessie, Yes I did modify mine for 9913 once. But the coax on a Wilson 5000 is some pretty good stuff. Most disconnect the coax from the back of your radio, does the noise go away or is it still there? If its still there then a noise filter will help. CX is a great coax, but i dont see much advantage to changing it out.

[Rex_foxhound]

Well after looking at what I would have to do to change it, I think it would be more trouble than its worth. I think I'll just get me a Predator in the near future and be done with it. Thanks for all the info!

[BigBopper]

If you have noise with the Wilson,,,you'll have noise with a 10K,,,have both, and had noise in both until I grounded (over grounded) everthing really well

[Rex_foxhound]

I think i'm gonna wait till i get a new truck anyways and see how things act then.