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Antenna Question

rndsommer

Member
Feb 29, 2008
4
0
11
I currently use a realistic cb sideband radio a trc 451 that pushes about 20 watts on s/b and 11 watts on am. I use a magnetic mount wilson antenna "little wil". The antenna and radio set up work pretty well. The antenna new only cost $25.00 and has a pretty short whip. My question is, how much better performance could I expect from a better antenna such as the Wilson 1000 or 5000. They cost between $65-$85 so I assume they will work better but how much better. I dont know much about cb so any input will be helpfull. Thx
 

Well generally the more metal you use to tx and rx through perform better, if you're just concerned with local traffic then you've probably got the right antenna for the purpose.

The other antennas you mentioned are designed to handle higher power outputs but most likely won't give that big of an advantage with local traffic on tx but will increase your rx capabilities.

So I'd say if you're not going to have a significant increase in power in the near future you've got what you need.
 
with the 1k and 5k thier pretty much the same antenna.5k will handle a few
more watts and has rg8x coax.these will increase tx and rx over the lil wil
mostly noticable on long distance local talking 20miles and up.but if ya wanted
a antenna for short range talking ya definatekly got a good one.ive owned both
both served me good my tx/rx increased with the 1k as it should being longer.
ive used wilsons since 1993 or 94?
 
I personally think the lil Wil is OK for a road trip or just a quick fix so to speak , other then that , Wilson 1K or 5K is at least a 10 times better antenna period ! You want talk and receive 10 times better , the 1K or 5K will do that for you . I would never ever tell a guy to buy a lil Wil unless it was simply for car to car ops on a road trip. You don't believe me ? buy one and compare the two , NO CONTEST ! .....oh yeah .That TRC-451 is a very decent well made Uniden radio that deserves a better antenna then that Lil Wil )-:
Realistic-TRC-451-closeup.jpg
 
To complicate things just a little bit more, and keeping sort of 'practical' about the whole thing, the 'Little Wil' isn't a bad antenna. It doesn't have the abilities of other antennas, but depending on what you want/expect, it isn't a complete flop. If the difference in cost "ain't no thing", then try another antenna, why not? If cost is of some concern, then don't take my word (or anyone else's), try listening to someone else's antenna to hear the differences. The differences are there, but are they worth the cost? Beats me, you have to decide that since it's your 'pocket'.
There are some very general things about antennas that really are true (keeping in mind that any generalization is never completely true);
If it's ugly, it probably works pretty good.
Longer/taller is better than shorter/smaller.
'Looks' and performance have nothing to do with each other.
Every antenna works differently under differing circumstances/situations.
The only 'perfect' antenna is the next one you get, or the one you had two or three antennas ago.
Co$t is the worst indicator of performance.
- 'Doc

The 'best' antenna I ever had was that old one I broke and can't find anymore... rats.
 


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