A number of years ago, my "radio loving" son, Tim, snagged a 102" whip ... used ... from a friend of his... with ME IN MIND.
It was mounted on my truck at the time with a ball mount and always worked really well. Actually did a little DX with it and the Grant XL (that got STOLEN out of that truck....back in 2009!). After that radio was stolen, I SWORE I would not put radio gear in a vehicle again...as LONG AS MY JOB in the medical center held out!!!!! THAT is because I was having to park at the local Park and Ride and "bus in" to the Medical Center. It was the only thing practical.
Well....... I got hit in a layoff Aug 26th... so I don't have to park in the Park & Ride anymore. I am trying the "retirement angle"!!!!!!
With that... I am putting some thought into putting a rig back in my F150 that I have now. (It is 2007 ... so it is "steel" not aluminum!).
That got me to thinking about something.
Since this antenna was used when Tim picked it up.... it has a defect..... it has no little "static ball" on the tip. Just goes up to a smooth rounded off point. It never caused an issue. It always worked great.... tuned up great.
The problem is... I can't pull the tip down to bend the antenna over when going under something. I had to unscrew it and stuff it under the seats in the truck and then put it back on later.
What could I do that would, in effect, REPLACE that static ball???? Has anyone here ever had to solve that problem? I'd love to be able to just pull it down and shut the cord in the window or something.....
ALSO....... I did not have a spring on it when it was on the ball mount. I don't know if maybe the ball mount gave it a little extra length or what... but it always worked. Should I think about a spring IF I MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY??? (like... on a different type of mount)
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Bob
It was mounted on my truck at the time with a ball mount and always worked really well. Actually did a little DX with it and the Grant XL (that got STOLEN out of that truck....back in 2009!). After that radio was stolen, I SWORE I would not put radio gear in a vehicle again...as LONG AS MY JOB in the medical center held out!!!!! THAT is because I was having to park at the local Park and Ride and "bus in" to the Medical Center. It was the only thing practical.
Well....... I got hit in a layoff Aug 26th... so I don't have to park in the Park & Ride anymore. I am trying the "retirement angle"!!!!!!
With that... I am putting some thought into putting a rig back in my F150 that I have now. (It is 2007 ... so it is "steel" not aluminum!).
That got me to thinking about something.
Since this antenna was used when Tim picked it up.... it has a defect..... it has no little "static ball" on the tip. Just goes up to a smooth rounded off point. It never caused an issue. It always worked great.... tuned up great.
The problem is... I can't pull the tip down to bend the antenna over when going under something. I had to unscrew it and stuff it under the seats in the truck and then put it back on later.
What could I do that would, in effect, REPLACE that static ball???? Has anyone here ever had to solve that problem? I'd love to be able to just pull it down and shut the cord in the window or something.....
ALSO....... I did not have a spring on it when it was on the ball mount. I don't know if maybe the ball mount gave it a little extra length or what... but it always worked. Should I think about a spring IF I MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY??? (like... on a different type of mount)
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Bob