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A three foot long antenna would work IF it has a coil to properly load/'tune' it. In comparison, running a 102 inch steel whip requires NO coil load/'tune'. The coil 'tricks' the 3 ft whip into seeing it as a 1/4 wave/102 inch whip. Does it work as well? No. Does it work? Yes; but with greatly compromised performance.

What Homer has done is made an antenna that is less than 102 inches and made it resonant by including a loading coil. Does it work as well as a 102 inch whip? No. But having a shorter antenna has some advantages, mostly mechanical ones. It won't move around as much when rolling at speed, as well as avoiding low hanging branches that can damage it.

The best 'short' antenna that I've used/heard, is the 5 ft Wilson Silver Load. Those really short/3 ft antennas are a real waste of time and money - IMO. Just because someone sells them - doesn't make them useful. It just fills a niche for those who understand that an antenna is needed and don't understand the practical realities of an antenna that can perform well.

Just sayin . . .

<blockquote data-quote="Robb" data-source="post: 245720" data-attributes="member: 8446">A three foot long antenna would work IF it has a coil to properly load/&#039;tune&#039; it.&nbsp; In comparison, running a 102 inch steel whip requires NO coil load/&#039;tune&#039;.&nbsp; The coil &#039;tricks&#039; the 3 ft whip into seeing it as a 1/4 wave/102 inch whip.&nbsp; Does it work as well?&nbsp; No.&nbsp; Does it work?&nbsp; Yes; but with greatly compromised performance.What Homer has done is made an antenna that is less than 102 inches and made it resonant by including a loading coil.&nbsp; Does it work as well as a 102 inch whip?&nbsp; No.&nbsp; But having a shorter antenna has some advantages, mostly mechanical ones.&nbsp; It won&#039;t move around as much when rolling at speed, as well as avoiding low hanging branches that can damage it.The best &#039;short&#039; antenna that I&#039;ve used/heard, is the 5 ft Wilson Silver Load.&nbsp; Those really short/3 ft antennas are a real waste of time and money - IMO.&nbsp; Just because someone sells them - doesn&#039;t make them useful.&nbsp; It just fills a niche for those who understand that an antenna is needed and don&#039;t understand the practical realities of an antenna that can perform well.Just sayin . . .</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Robb, post: 245720, member: 8446"] A three foot long antenna would work IF it has a coil to properly load/'tune' it. In comparison, running a 102 inch steel whip requires NO coil load/'tune'. The coil 'tricks' the 3 ft whip into seeing it as a 1/4 wave/102 inch whip. Does it work as well? No. Does it work? Yes; but with greatly compromised performance. What Homer has done is made an antenna that is less than 102 inches and made it resonant by including a loading coil. Does it work as well as a 102 inch whip? No. But having a shorter antenna has some advantages, mostly mechanical ones. It won't move around as much when rolling at speed, as well as avoiding low hanging branches that can damage it. The best 'short' antenna that I've used/heard, is the 5 ft Wilson Silver Load. Those really short/3 ft antennas are a real waste of time and money - IMO. Just because someone sells them - doesn't make them useful. It just fills a niche for those who understand that an antenna is needed and don't understand the practical realities of an antenna that can perform well. Just sayin . . . [/QUOTE]

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