5 foot silver load Wilson whip

[TonyV225]

Anyone ever mess with one of these?? my neighbor was talking to me tonight and asked me if I would help him reinstall his CB radio and set it up SWR ETC. I asked what antennas he had he ran home and brought back this 5 foot wilson fiberglass stick.

I talked to him and he said the antenna was old and a spare and scratched up so he bought new ones and said I could have this so called scratched up one he wasnt going to use anymore. I noticed there was a busted wire at the bottom I asked was there somesort of eye connector on it he said yes there was before a branch tore it or broke it. I got the wire stripped there was just ebnough to get at I will add more wire with the eye connector tomorrow if I have time.

I dont use these antennas but he knows I collocet them so I want to get it back to its original state bolt it into my quad magmount and give it a whirl after tuning it ofcourse. my question is this wire with eye connector Im replacing was this an extra ground perhaps?

Its some silver coated top load with the swr adjust pin at the top and the standard 3/8 inch stud mount. 100o watts pep power handling it tunes 26-30 mhz. iIs this better than my wilson 5000 the wife is using for 10-11 meters or is she better off with her wilson 5000?? I have a nugatron a solarcon and several others but we been running that 5000 with the groundplane.

Any info or experience with this topload stick would be a great help. Heres a link to the antenna I have in question Thanks.....Tony

Wilson 5 Foot FGT Fiberglass Antenna

 

[Robb]

"Russ" - a member of this forum will run one of these on his mobile from time to time. I have heard it transmit at my end, and I thought it worked as well as the Wilson 1000 antenna he uses.

I have a couple of these Silver Load antennas that I got from an estate sale. Never used them yet, but after hearing the one on Russ's mobile - I would have to say that it is a keeper.

 

[W5LZ]

That wire is described as going to an impedance matching coil. So, if that's correct, and if that coil is the proper size, then it should provide a means of adjusting the input impedance of that antenna. Which would also mean ending up with a good/low SWR. It sounds like a very nice/handy idea. Those inductive impedance matching thingys are used quite commonly and do work. They all require adjusting unless you are really lucky! Not having had my hands on an antenna like that, I have no idea how easy that adjusting will be, doesn't look too easy just because of the covering on the thing, how do you reach it to do any of that adjusting? I would also think that 'lead' would have to be grounded, which isn't exactly something I'd want to do with a mag-mount. If you're gonna drill a hole to do that grounding, why not just mount the antenna that way to start with (drill the hole!)?

Is there some 'magical' ability this antenna has that would make it 'better' than some other antenna of the same 'length'? Nope. Only difference is that 'matching coil', and it won't be a benefit at all unless it's done correctly. If your friend wants to give it to you, then I'd surely take it though. See what you can do with it.
- 'Doc

 

[Moleculo]

I've used that antenna and several other Wilson silverload lengths. The way to install it is to just do it first without attaching that little wire at the bottom. If you achieve a proper SWR like that, just tape the wire to the fiberglass, out of the way. If you can't achieve a proper SWR and you are certain the installation is correct, hook up that little wire to ground and retest.

 

[TonyV225]

Tim like I said that wire and eye were broke off but theres enough wire to solder a new piece back on so Ill check it out with out the wire as suggested before messing with repairing it if its possible it may not ne needed. Thanks for the replies.....Tony

 

[hotrod]

I've used that antenna and several other Wilson silverload lengths. The way to install it is to just do it first without attaching that little wire at the bottom. If you achieve a proper SWR like that, just tape the wire to the fiberglass, out of the way. If you can't achieve a proper SWR and you are certain the installation is correct, hook up that little wire to ground and retest.

this is correct.also try adjusting the little 3-4 inch whip under plastic cap also
i ran a 4ft on on my truck back in the day worked almost as good as the wilson
1000.they just dont handle as much power .750 watts...i think

 

[GLR]

I've got two of those antennas sitting around waiting for a use. As stated, try it first without attaching the wire and see what happens. They aren't a wonderful antenna but they aren't bad either, I'm a fan.

 

[W4KVW]

I know this is an OLD thread but I installed the 5' Wilson "Silver Load" yesterday on my Dodge Quad Cab & with the top stinger about 3/4 of the way out & the rubber cap installed the SWR is 1.1.1 & it works VERY VERY well.That is where I set the tip for the 1st SWR test & I did not touch it again because it is so low.I like the looks & it's doing much better than I thought it would & it is NEW & FREE from a local friend.It's a WIN WIN for me.

 

[hotrod]

I've got two of those antennas sitting around waiting for a use. As stated, try it first without attaching the wire and see what happens. They aren't a wonderful antenna but they aren't bad either, I'm a fan.

ive tried many of them many years ago . and only 1 did better than the silverload. that was the skipshooter. that was real good antenna

 

[W4KVW]

I have a 2nd one as I stated above & I'm going too see if it will tune to the 10 meter band so I can just swap them out with my President HR-2510 & work both bands without issues with the SWR.I still love the 1st one on 11 meters but it will be the bomb if the 2nd one will tune properly on 10 meters.Time will tell. 73 {:>)

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[Sarasota Slim]

I had one of those on my truck for a while. After a couple of months, I drove through some freezing fog. The antenna didn't make it out the other side; the ice build up killed it.

I found that I preferred Firestik antennas over Wilson's, anyway. Even so, I've just given up on fiberglass whips; I've broken too many over too short a time.

 

[White Lightning 293]

Has anyone ever tried testing the FGT5 against the Sirio Twin-log 5?

 

[Rwb]

I like the topload silver tip as it is tallerbthan my sleeper on my truck.i got a browning coil in middle behind sleeper.about 2 ft are above the top.i got the wilson on the mirror bracket,bothbare low swr.but the wilson reaches out much better withnthe load at the top.im not a plastic antenna fan but hey for $26.95 im not complaning.if i could get the coil up high on the browning it be better but be whackin stuff.
That little wire,i never cut the zip tie from the package n my swr is like 1:2 to 2 and pretty much the same on all 40.little lower on uppers n higherbon lower channels.im using a delta force

 

[kopcicle]

https://www.bobscb.com/shop/product...on-Tip-49quot-Long-Antenna-Replacement-Parts/

YMMV

 

[W4KVW]

I know this is an OLD thread but I installed the 5' Wilson "Silver Load" yesterday on my Dodge Quad Cab & with the top stinger about 3/4 of the way out & the rubber cap installed the SWR is 1.1.1 & it works VERY VERY well.That is where I set the tip for the 1st SWR test & I did not touch it again because it is so low.I like the looks & it's doing much better than I thought it would & it is NEW & FREE from a local friend.It's a WIN WIN for me.

I found that the antenna would NOT tune the 10 meter band but it works great on the 11 meter band & as well as the Wilson 5000 & my 102" stainless steel whip but it is not as broad banded as either of those antennas.

SIX-SHOOTER