My new Big Mistake Mobile Antenna- TBD.

[My3kidsfather]

Picking the radio and mic is much easier than finding the right antenna. In the seventies we did not like fiberglass antennas.. Maybe I should thro open the doors to all suggestions by describing what we have and where we want to go.

We have a 2003 Subaru Outback in good condition, pic below.

Install will include drilling ahole dead Center between the runners between the rails on the roof, because that's the best way. No magnets this time. Also, I aim to have the hole about 20" from the rear roofline/hatch opening to open up the front to greater signal reach.

I read in some thread that using a mid-coil will be an advantage on the roof. I hope to take advantage of that.

It would seem to us that a 102 whip from the roof would be too high practically speaking; I think maybe we can live with 60-70" total whip above the roof, on a coil spring. So we thinking a 60" ss whip, even above the coil.

So given a total of no higher than 70" or so, with a hole drilled mount, what would be a good setup for cold and hot weather whether fibreglass or ss?

Thanks for looking.

 

[ghutch]

Wilson 1000-5000 both have ~60 inch ss whip....less wind drag....damage a ss whip it's 10 bucks to replace it. No spring just a tapered ss whip. Good luck
Check out K0BG.COM for a ton of mobile tricks.....bonding is a key to good ears and mobile operation

 

[M0GVZ]

Sirio Performer 5000. Doesn't suffer from the water ingress problems the Wilsons do and it has a hinge in the bottom section so you can lay it flat without having to remove it.

 

[222DBFL]

The sirio 5000 performer rocks!! Just took down my thrashed up turbo 5000. Setup the new performer and made qso with Hobie102 while driving 70 on the highway!! Works well. Tuned well too. 1.1 on 27.405. Had to trim some whip. But it's working now.

 

[My3kidsfather]

Sirio 5000 would be my first choice, with longer the whip. I was just reading about an antenna called the Predator, a external coil job. Seems to be something of a standard too. I like that it's American made, down in Texas. Anyone familiar with this as well?

 

[binrat]

Sirio 5000 would be my first choice, with longer the whip. I was just reading about an antenna called the Predator, a external coil job. Seems to be something of a standard too. I like that it's American made, down in Texas. Anyone familiar with this as well?

Predator are good antennas. However, that large coil sure will be creating a lot of noise at highway speeds. I've ran Wilson 100's, 5000;s and then went to a Sirio. I found with my install it to be the best besides the old standard (102") which I run now.

 

[My3kidsfather]

Binrat, never thought of noise from the coil! Probably not a big factor for me. But if the enclosed coil of the Sirio is quieter then that is a plus for Sirio.

So it's Sirio 5000. I have no idea what to order for a mount or if the Sirio comes with a good roof mount for the hole to be cut. Got to find out more about it. Lots to learn eh? You guys are very helpful.

 

[binrat]

It depends on where you order the 5000. There is a Sirio hole mount that looks pretty special. I used a Wilson mount from Amazon for around $65.

 

[M0GVZ]

So it's Sirio 5000. I have no idea what to order for a mount or if the Sirio comes with a good roof mount for the hole to be cut. Got to find out more about it. Lots to learn eh? You guys are very helpful.

There is a version of the Sirio Performer 5000 that comes complete with a mount or you can buy a version, the Sirio Performer 5000PL that uses a PL259 mount.

If you buy the one needing the PL259 mount the best mount you can possibly get is a Breedlove Antenna Mount. They're not cheap but they'll outlive several vehicles and are by far the best mounts there are anywhere and they're made in the USA.

https://breedlovemounts.com/SO-239_Mounts.php

 

[Mobiletruck-tech]

Sirro are great antennas , predators are fantastic as well , even for the radio your planning on running the uniden 980 a Wilson 1000 will do a great job , I find myself the predator is no more noiser than my Wilson 1000 I run on my other truck , I tell you the predator has great receive, it's kinda funny where I have my Wilson 1000 mounted on my 2014 superduty if I going the right direction with the wind that thing sings a storm up there.now the work truck with predator I never notice a thing ! Kinda strange , maybe how it's mount and how air flow is on different vehicles , but outta those antenna choices your not gonna go wrong ! Good luck and happy cb'ing

 

[222DBFL]

Get a Breedlove pick mount and the sirio 5000 and you will be happy. You can lay the sirio flat as well. Also with most newer vehicles a small backing plate is a good idea. Someone was talking about having the section of roof cut out of a junk yard vehicle of the same type and using it. For your vehicle an aluminum plate under the mount would be a good idea as well. While I like the predator antennas, for what you will be doing the sirio will perform the same or very close. Check out DNJ radio and also breedlove mounts. Sirio does make a mount for the performer but the breedlove mount is much beefier.

 

[Blackcat630]

Breedlove mounts are well made. I have my 108 on one of there ball mounts. Best ball mount you will find. When I did my sirio p5k I used a comet so 239 permanent mount. I did put a much larger washer w the mount to spread out the weight of the antenna over more area of the THIN roof metal.

 

[hotrod]

There is a version of the Sirio Performer 5000 that comes complete with a mount or you can buy a version, the Sirio Performer 5000PL that uses a PL259 mount.

If you buy the one needing the PL259 mount the best mount you can possibly get is a Breedlove Antenna Mount. They're not cheap but they'll outlive several vehicles and are by far the best mounts there are anywhere and they're made in the USA.

https://breedlovemounts.com/SO-239_Mounts.php

i agree . thats a really nice looking mount. also how do ya guys feel about the
sirio mega watt. has a thinner whip [i believe] like wilsons be less top heavy
my sirio z180 is top heavy with that fat singer

 

[222DBFL]

I tried the mega watt 4000. Long thin whip, bent too much at highway speeds to work well. The 5000 series has a stiffer antenna. If you tilt the antenna just a tad forward it works great even at highway speeds. The 5k does anyway. Been my experience with them. Been running them for a few years now and they work good. Even with a mag mount I am able to attain 40-50 miles or more on SSB locally and I talk dx all over the world while cruising at hwy speeds of 70-80mph. For what they are they do work well. Bottom line.

 

[My3kidsfather]

Those Breedlove mounts are the best I have seen, overbuilt for sure. I have decided I would like to end up with a Predator Bad to the Bone antenna down the road, but for now the Sirio will do the job.

Is ther an advantage in the PL259 roof hole mounts over other hole mounts?