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Posts : 3 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2020-12-13 QTH or Location : Royston Equipment Used : CB
Subject: Returning to the fold - antenna question Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:20 am
After some 20 years, I have decided to dig out my old gear and cobble it together. However, I am confused about whip length.
I have a Sirio Hi-Power 3000 but in my box, I have a couple of whips of differing lengths. The spec for the aerial is 1740cm. Is this the length of the whip or the total length from the base of the coil to the tip of the whip?
Once I get this sorted, I am sure I'll be back for more refreshers!
Call Sign : 26 CT050 26 FB080 26 WT105 26 TE171 Posts : 708 Times Thanked : 41 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : NORTH LONDON Equipment Used : ORIGINAL President Lincoln, Midland 8001XT, President Teddy , Silver Eagle microphones , Gainmaster antenna, use a AMP ofcourse I do sometimes Age : 62
Subject: Re: Returning to the fold - antenna question Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:32 am
I would say the whole antenna from base to the tip of the whip , because when you think about it if you needed to know the length of the whole antenna for any reason you want to know the antenna is gonna let's say under a hight restrictions with safety I wouldn't think they just put the length of the whip without including the base length.
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 437 Times Thanked : 12 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Holyhead Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A.
Subject: Re: Returning to the fold - antenna question Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:54 am
If you have an SWR meter then just try them both but turn the power down. I have the 4000 but not by me but it is quite long the whip on it. At a guess it's around 140/150 but i would try them to see what the swr will come down to. Not a lot of help but the best i can do sorry.
Posts : 3 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2020-12-13 QTH or Location : Royston Equipment Used : CB
Subject: Re: Returning to the fold - antenna question Sun Dec 13, 2020 12:44 pm
Thanks both,
I have been trying the short one but the SWR meter shows a full swing on 3, i.e. no difference between FWD and REF. Unfortunately, I am trying to set this up on an old Land Rover which is primarily aluminium (with a large steel chassis) so there is a chance that the ground plane isn't optimal. I have done all the usual checks to make sure the earth, and cable characteristics are satisfactory but I don't want to start cutting the long whip (which is a new 2 meter whip) without being sure that I am close enough to the necessary length to be able to make the final, small adjustments. I suppose, if I go by the manufacturers length and assume its from the coil base, at least this will be a reasonable starting point.
Call Sign : M0GVZ / 26CT1760 Posts : 320 Times Thanked : 23 Join date : 2019-11-13 QTH or Location : IO94SA Equipment Used : Icom 7300, TS480, President McKinley, Albrecht AE6110, CRT Mike Age : 50
Subject: Re: Returning to the fold - antenna question Fri Dec 18, 2020 6:24 pm
The difference in the overall lengths of 3000 and 4000 antenna is the difference in the length of the stainless steel whip as the mouldings used for the matching coil cover in the base are the same ones.
Posts : 3 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2020-12-13 QTH or Location : Royston Equipment Used : CB
Subject: Re: Returning to the fold - antenna question Sat Dec 19, 2020 9:41 pm
All, after many hours of testing, running cables, resoldering plugs and spending money on new cable and whip, I decided, as a last resort, to buy a new SWR meter. You guessed it, my SWR meter was faulty! All of my kit was fine. All tuned in 5 minutes and the old meter consigned to the bin.