I've never even heard of that.
I do know a couple of people that thought about duct taping a fluorescent tube to their antenna until we talked them out of it.
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I saw co-phased antennas crossing 90 degree's!!
- Thread starter Onelasttime
- Start date
I do know a couple of people that thought about duct taping a fluorescent tube to their antenna until we talked them out of it.
Well yes, sort of. Commercial vehicles have height restrictions that very state to state. Any part of your vehicle or load has to comply. Any car hauler can verify this for you because those guy's tend to get measured often at weighstations.
If your antenna is over 13'6, see if you don't trip the height sensors next time you go thru the Eisenhower tunnel.
They were around many years ago. They were sort of see thru with little lights in them and came in different colors. I'm not sure if they only came on during TX I just assumed they did.
They are still made today but have LED lights that require 12v power abd stay on continuously.
Its not an FCC regulation, Its DOT.
EVERY time you drive your truck thru the weigh scale, it gets scanned for height
Not all states have height sensors and some states have legal heights over 14ft.
My cousin drives a big rig, and once (years ago now) we did some playing with antennas. He was told he should get longer antennas and angle them forward, that it would help his gain in front of him. He asked me about it and I wasn't sure, it sounded fishy to me so I said if he wants we can test them out. In addition to his 4 ft firestik antennas, he got two 5 ft firestik antennas.
With my field strength meter (on a tripod) we took a measurement of the existing 4 ft antennas and set that to the 3 mark, which was the middle mark of the 5 on the field strength meter. Then we installed and tuned the 5 ft antennas angled forward so their tips were about the same height as the 4 ft antennas. When checking for field strength, the difference was noticeable, with the field strength meter set to the middle mark using the vertical 4 foot antennas, the angled 5 foot antennas didn't even get to the 1 mark. Thinking we might have done something wrong we talked to a few people, and confirmed that the setup was working. We put the 4 ft antennas back on and set the mounts back to vertical and tested again, the field strength needle went very close to where it was initially.
Just to make sure, we again used the field strength meter, only this time we set it to the maximum listed mark (the 5 on this meter). When we swapped the 5 foot antennas back on and angled them forward again, it registered a little below the 2 mark.
Having two sets of tuned antennas, my cousin talked to several people before and after switching them back to the 4 ft vertical antennas, and everyone said that the 4 ft antennas had the stronger signal. My cousin chose the 4 ft antennas, and every time it has come up since I always recommend the longest antennas that can be mounted straight up from the existing mounting points.
The DB
With my field strength meter (on a tripod) we took a measurement of the existing 4 ft antennas and set that to the 3 mark, which was the middle mark of the 5 on the field strength meter. Then we installed and tuned the 5 ft antennas angled forward so their tips were about the same height as the 4 ft antennas. When checking for field strength, the difference was noticeable, with the field strength meter set to the middle mark using the vertical 4 foot antennas, the angled 5 foot antennas didn't even get to the 1 mark. Thinking we might have done something wrong we talked to a few people, and confirmed that the setup was working. We put the 4 ft antennas back on and set the mounts back to vertical and tested again, the field strength needle went very close to where it was initially.
Just to make sure, we again used the field strength meter, only this time we set it to the maximum listed mark (the 5 on this meter). When we swapped the 5 foot antennas back on and angled them forward again, it registered a little below the 2 mark.
Having two sets of tuned antennas, my cousin talked to several people before and after switching them back to the 4 ft vertical antennas, and everyone said that the 4 ft antennas had the stronger signal. My cousin chose the 4 ft antennas, and every time it has come up since I always recommend the longest antennas that can be mounted straight up from the existing mounting points.
The DB
There are legal heights for motor vehicles without a special permit. IIRC the standard is 13'6"
Oooops I see this has already been addressed.
I didn't realize DOT was in the business of measuring antenna height. I did have my antenna mounted, at one point, so that it stuck up about a foot over trailer height. I ended up moving it, because the location still blocked too much signal.
I guess I'll refrain from mounting my 102" whip from my mirror bracket, lol.
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I just recently saw a few lighted antennas for sale, at the Bosselmans on I80, in Nebraska. They were about 3' in length, and looked like they were supposed to be wired into your parking lights, at opposed to lighting up on transmit. But, I could be wrong. I like things that light up, so I was tempted to buy a couple, but I'm not about to put such a thing on my truck, and I didn't trust them to be effective, so I left them there.
I have also considered taping a fluorescent bulb to my antenna. However, it wouldn't stay there longer than 10 mins. Just long enough for me to watch it light up, nod and smile, say "Hey, cool!", and maybe show my wife, who will roll her eyes, shake her head, and be otherwise unimpressed. Then, the bulb would come right back off, lol.
I guess I'll refrain from mounting my 102" whip from my mirror bracket, lol.
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I just recently saw a few lighted antennas for sale, at the Bosselmans on I80, in Nebraska. They were about 3' in length, and looked like they were supposed to be wired into your parking lights, at opposed to lighting up on transmit. But, I could be wrong. I like things that light up, so I was tempted to buy a couple, but I'm not about to put such a thing on my truck, and I didn't trust them to be effective, so I left them there.
I have also considered taping a fluorescent bulb to my antenna. However, it wouldn't stay there longer than 10 mins. Just long enough for me to watch it light up, nod and smile, say "Hey, cool!", and maybe show my wife, who will roll her eyes, shake her head, and be otherwise unimpressed. Then, the bulb would come right back off, lol.
legality of that depends on the color of the light, Amber is legal, white is not.
dunno know about other color lenses/bulbs.
Another reason to angle a coil antenna forward (when applicable) is to get the coil away from chrome visors (if the truck has them) or to get the coil out away from the body of the truck.