Just wanted to hollar at everyone and say that I have been reading this forum and others for a long time and the one thing i have allways used is the 102" steel.....does a great job.....I was allways told that 1/4 wave antenna cannot be matched but what makes the predator 10k better on tx and rx??
I am greatfull I found a forum that i can learn more thanks for having me
badwhiskey ...Celina tx
102" steel whip......the mighty skipjunky antenna
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jessejamesdallas
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Modern Technology! :D
It's not that the Predator 10K is any better than the 102" Whip. But rather your mounting options are better...
Both the Predator 10K, and the 102" whip, placed on the top of your roof, in the same place, would probably perform about the same. (DX and local)
What makes the Predator a better choice, is the fact it's shorter, and more practical...
Some people,(including some here) have 102" whips mounted on top of their roof's. That's fine, and it will work, but you will also be banging around off of bridges, power lines, phone lines, etc...That's just one reason why the Predator is a better choice...
Now just about any of the Big-Top loaded Coil type antennas will preform about the same. Like the Monkey Made, Mr.Coily, and the Predator 10K..
But what Makes the Predator 10K stand-out above the others, are your options!
The Monkey Made, which is a flat-coil antenna, is heavy, due to the coil design. And also has a very stiff stinger, which will not flex at all, if it hits something.
The Mr.Coily, is the closest one to the Predator 10K. But like the Monkey Made, is all one Piece. Meaning, if you damage the antenna by hitting something, your either going to have to send it back to the manufacture for repair, or buy a new one....
The Predator 10K, if damaged. Each piece and section of the antenna can be un-screwed, and each part can be replaced, without sending the antenna back, or having to buy a new one!
PLUS! Say you buy a 12" shaft 10K, then later decide you rather have the 17" shaft 10K...All you would need to do, is order the 17" shaft, and replace the 12"... Cant do this with ANY OTHER ANTENNA! (shafts run about $10 + S&H)
So Basically, the Predator 10K, and the 102" whip are the same in every aspect. The Predator 10K does cost a little more than a Whip, but your mounting options are way better.
It's not that the Predator 10K is any better than the 102" Whip. But rather your mounting options are better...
Both the Predator 10K, and the 102" whip, placed on the top of your roof, in the same place, would probably perform about the same. (DX and local)
What makes the Predator a better choice, is the fact it's shorter, and more practical...
Some people,(including some here) have 102" whips mounted on top of their roof's. That's fine, and it will work, but you will also be banging around off of bridges, power lines, phone lines, etc...That's just one reason why the Predator is a better choice...
Now just about any of the Big-Top loaded Coil type antennas will preform about the same. Like the Monkey Made, Mr.Coily, and the Predator 10K..
But what Makes the Predator 10K stand-out above the others, are your options!
The Monkey Made, which is a flat-coil antenna, is heavy, due to the coil design. And also has a very stiff stinger, which will not flex at all, if it hits something.
The Mr.Coily, is the closest one to the Predator 10K. But like the Monkey Made, is all one Piece. Meaning, if you damage the antenna by hitting something, your either going to have to send it back to the manufacture for repair, or buy a new one....
The Predator 10K, if damaged. Each piece and section of the antenna can be un-screwed, and each part can be replaced, without sending the antenna back, or having to buy a new one!
PLUS! Say you buy a 12" shaft 10K, then later decide you rather have the 17" shaft 10K...All you would need to do, is order the 17" shaft, and replace the 12"... Cant do this with ANY OTHER ANTENNA! (shafts run about $10 + S&H)
So Basically, the Predator 10K, and the 102" whip are the same in every aspect. The Predator 10K does cost a little more than a Whip, but your mounting options are way better.
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
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badwhiskey
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jessejamesdallas Verified
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Bleed over? That's not right....If your running a amp. The amp will cause bleed over, no mater what antenna your using. The antenna just transmits what ever is going thru it.badwhiskey wrote:that makes sense....The 10k is a looker and more practical...I have also read that the whip throws alot of bleedover??
thanks jesse
One thing that some people have found with the Predator 10K however. Is sometimes you can hear the wind whistling thru the coils. What this actually is being caused by, is when your driving, the wind going thru the coil, vibrates the coil, making a tone, the same way as if you took a wine glass, wet your finger, and rub across the top of the glass.
The Coil is thin, and just sometimes makes a slight hum...But most don't notice this, unless the antenna is right beside the drivers window, like on mirror mounts...
It took me a while to finally figure out what guys were telling me, about this "Hum"...But that's what it is, and unfortunately there is nothing that I know of, that can be done for it...Except maybe just turn the radio-up louder!:D
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
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SmallTruckBigRadio
The Predator 10K is a beautiful piece of work, and it hums to you while you drive! Cool 
jessejamesdallas,
Have you guys done experimenting with the vertical radiation pattern between the 102" whip, and the Predator 10K? Is there a chance that the 102" whip has a round shaped vertical pattern and the 10K is a longer reaching "flat-oval" shape?
Have Ya'll done RF field comparisons between different antennas on the same vehicle and radio?
jessejamesdallas,
Have you guys done experimenting with the vertical radiation pattern between the 102" whip, and the Predator 10K? Is there a chance that the 102" whip has a round shaped vertical pattern and the 10K is a longer reaching "flat-oval" shape?
Have Ya'll done RF field comparisons between different antennas on the same vehicle and radio?
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jessejamesdallas Verified
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I have tested the 102" whip against the 10K, using a Field Strength meter yes...But results I think are a little flawed...
I first tested the 10K (which is mounted on the rear part of the roof, of my Suburban) with the Field strength meter, and the pattern was sorta in a figure 8, with most of the power going to the front. (this was to be expected)
The 102" did not fair quite as well, but was in a more egg pattern. But, It could have done better I think, if I could have spent a little more time with it, tuning. All I did was stick it, with a spring on it, on the same mount as I have the 10K. But didn't play with the coax or jumpers to try and get it to tune lower. (it had a swr of 1.4, where the 10K was reading flat.)
It may have done better than the 10K, had it been tuned better...
The Wilson 5000 Mag mounted antenna, in the same general area on the Suburban, also was more in a figure 8 pattern, but didn't radiate as far as the Predator 10K. (not even close)
End results were. The Predator was the winner, because although I think the 102" Whip may have had a better pattern if tuned properly, it would only have the advantage if you were sitting still. Driving around with it bending backwards from the wind, it would be way off. The Predator 10K would keep it's pattern better in real world conditions. (driving)
Plus...A 102" Whip, on top of a Suburban, putt's it's over-all height around 15' with the spring...
That's a little too tall!
I first tested the 10K (which is mounted on the rear part of the roof, of my Suburban) with the Field strength meter, and the pattern was sorta in a figure 8, with most of the power going to the front. (this was to be expected)
The 102" did not fair quite as well, but was in a more egg pattern. But, It could have done better I think, if I could have spent a little more time with it, tuning. All I did was stick it, with a spring on it, on the same mount as I have the 10K. But didn't play with the coax or jumpers to try and get it to tune lower. (it had a swr of 1.4, where the 10K was reading flat.)
It may have done better than the 10K, had it been tuned better...
The Wilson 5000 Mag mounted antenna, in the same general area on the Suburban, also was more in a figure 8 pattern, but didn't radiate as far as the Predator 10K. (not even close)
End results were. The Predator was the winner, because although I think the 102" Whip may have had a better pattern if tuned properly, it would only have the advantage if you were sitting still. Driving around with it bending backwards from the wind, it would be way off. The Predator 10K would keep it's pattern better in real world conditions. (driving)
Plus...A 102" Whip, on top of a Suburban, putt's it's over-all height around 15' with the spring...
That's a little too tall!Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
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Circuit Breaker
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102" VS ???
A 102" whip under most circumstances will always outperform any antenna that has a coil or other device that loads the antenna allowing for shorter length. Granted, it isn't as much of an issue at 27 MHz. One of the biggest advantages of the 102" stainless steel whip is "bang for the buck." The whips are relatively cheap when compared to a good mag mount antenna and they work very well. I've never tried any of the newer mobile antennas out there. I've used a K40 in the past and it was okay, but I always had much better performance from a Wilson or 102" whip.
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231
Back in the 90's I did some testing with the 102" whip vs. my 5' top loaded SOTT Tiger (1-1/2 wave wound / 2kw rated). I actually tested many antennas for several days each to accommodate for conidtions, etc. for repeatability...all with the 102" whip as the one to beat. Signal strength meters are great for determining paterns of radiation...but little else IMO. The proof is in the puddin' as they say.
My 5' tiger beat the 102" whip consistantly by a full 1-1/2 S-unit on both RX/TX. I have all the test data from that time, but without question different antennas will perform differently depending on the mount location. JJD uses the Suburban as the test vehicle...which is a good rig to test with. I used my SJ Jeep Cherokee Chief...which had a smaller roof line (obviously). The key would be to compare your preferred antenna in the preferred mount location. I hardly think a 10k would compare to a 102" whip mounted on the back side of the bed of a pick up for example. The coil would be low, and side reflection would be terrible...therefor reducing it's effectiveness. The 102" though might perform pretty well...provided it's lengthened a bit to accommodate for the side reflection. In this case example a continuous (non-coiled) would likely prevail for performance.
So I'm a believer in taking marketing with a grain of salt. Do the testing yourself. That's what STBR did. His mounting set up is different though (which I might add is pretty cool!). The 10k worked the best for him. The SOTT-5' Tiger he couldn't get to work at all
. My guess is lack of ground plane...or effective RF ground for the Tiger. I've never had that problem before with mine though and have consistantly been able to achieve flat (well under 1.5:1) vSWR's from 26.5150-27.9950 MHz (no exageration). But I'd not considered mounting my tigers like he did either. Point is, the 102" whip is still a very effective way to go. And you can buy 3 of them for the price of a 10k. 
I have nothing to gain by sharing my experience...other than my 30 years of playing with radio and having fun by the way. I'm not on the 10k wagon as you can tell...probably because I've tested tons of antennas over the years. I'm not willing to part with the money only to find out it compares with what I've been using. I don't have at my disposal unlimited designs like JJD has to see which would perform the best. Someday I might...but not today. :D
My 5' tiger beat the 102" whip consistantly by a full 1-1/2 S-unit on both RX/TX. I have all the test data from that time, but without question different antennas will perform differently depending on the mount location. JJD uses the Suburban as the test vehicle...which is a good rig to test with. I used my SJ Jeep Cherokee Chief...which had a smaller roof line (obviously). The key would be to compare your preferred antenna in the preferred mount location. I hardly think a 10k would compare to a 102" whip mounted on the back side of the bed of a pick up for example. The coil would be low, and side reflection would be terrible...therefor reducing it's effectiveness. The 102" though might perform pretty well...provided it's lengthened a bit to accommodate for the side reflection. In this case example a continuous (non-coiled) would likely prevail for performance.
So I'm a believer in taking marketing with a grain of salt. Do the testing yourself. That's what STBR did. His mounting set up is different though (which I might add is pretty cool!). The 10k worked the best for him. The SOTT-5' Tiger he couldn't get to work at all
. My guess is lack of ground plane...or effective RF ground for the Tiger. I've never had that problem before with mine though and have consistantly been able to achieve flat (well under 1.5:1) vSWR's from 26.5150-27.9950 MHz (no exageration). But I'd not considered mounting my tigers like he did either. Point is, the 102" whip is still a very effective way to go. And you can buy 3 of them for the price of a 10k. I have nothing to gain by sharing my experience...other than my 30 years of playing with radio and having fun by the way.
I'm not on the 10k wagon as you can tell...probably because I've tested tons of antennas over the years. I'm not willing to part with the money only to find out it compares with what I've been using. I don't have at my disposal unlimited designs like JJD has to see which would perform the best. Someday I might...but not today. :D-
badwhiskey
I have talked to the guy who sells the 10k and has the web site and he comments on how the ears on the 10k is very strong...Is this because of a broader surface?? ....anyways he has been quite helpfull with any questions i have..so has this board I will give the 10k a try when the money allows it!!
badwhiskey
badwhiskey
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BigBubbaBD
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fireball894
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You can't beat a 102 whip for efficiency...... but...... a GOOD loaded antenna such as a 10K or Wilson is easier to mount centrally on the vehicle, providing for an optimum groundplane. You could do this with a 102 whip, but youre going to be hitting all kinds of stuff.......
102 whips often end up being mounted on bumpers or on the sides of vehicles...... this in most cases is why people have better results with some other antennas.
102 whips often end up being mounted on bumpers or on the sides of vehicles...... this in most cases is why people have better results with some other antennas.
Channel 32, or sometimes 33 and or 34......
