I acquired a Sirio Z-180 for this test from a new member to the forum - "Russ". Russ is no newcomer when it comes to CB's. He has a bevvy of some of the finest current/past mobile DX or CB radios. In some cases - in triplicate! He will be writing the review from his end to follow - as to the quality of how well this antenna transmits to his receiver. The 'other' antenna in the 'battle' is the highly-acclaimed Wilson 1000. So; let it begin here...
After reading a similar article on http://www.worldwidedx.com/cb-antennas/36834-best-mobile-citizens-band-radio-antenna.html on this forum, I had the opportunity to see just what all they hype is about. The Sirio is a base load-type antenna - as is the Wilson 1000. So don't get your nickers in a bunch if the 10k Predator or a 102-inch steel whip isn't mentioned here. This is about current and somewhat available base load antennas. The Wilson 1000 is readily available; whereas the Sirio Z-180 had been discontinued last year. Sirio has another antenna like the Z-180; it is the Sirio 5000 and it is currently available.
I first became aware of the Wilson when I was still using a K-40, and I was never really impressed by the K-40. It was just 'OK'. I also got my Wilson from Russ. All it needed was some small repairs and a whip - which I ordered. When I put the Wilson on - I could instantly see a major difference in both TX AND RX. Blew the K-40 completely away. To say that I was impressed with the Wilson - is an understatement. Talking skip - no problemo...
I used the same magnetic base for both antennas; the 5-inch diameter Wilson 1000 magnet mount. Neither Russ or myself are running linears for this test. I used a stock Galaxy DX99V with a Astatic D-104/M6 handheld mic. My vehicle is a '08 Honda CR-V. One might consider that although the S-units shown don't appear to be large, impressive numbers - it is because both Russ and I have continuous urban sprawl between our two locations. We were both transmitting from ground level with gobs of intereference between us...
At first glance, the Sirio is about 12 inches taller than the Wilson. The base section uses up three of those 12 inches. It is light grey - and looks like the Avanti base load of older days. The stainless-steel whip diameter is MUCH greater than the Wilson; making the Wilson whip look flimsy by comparison. Overall height difference became apparent before too long. While driving around with the Sirio; I seemed to find more low branches on trees than the Wilson did. But it is sturdy in its construction; looking simple and all-business.
I checked the SWR when I first put the Sirio on the mag mount. On channel 20, I got a 1.3 - and didn't feel the need to get it better. The Wilson had the same SWR; so it was pretty much equal before the contest began. They will both adjust whip height by selecting the proper Allen wrench and moving the whip upward/downward to fine adjust the SWR - if need be. The test was taken on last Tuesday, on ch 20. I did not test it for 10 meter operation; but I may add that test to this thread a little later on...
I think it was at 2:30 PM/PST that we started the test. It's a good thing that we chose this time; as just three hours earlier skip was present and would have messed with the results. On the other hand; I know my Wilson had always been an outstanding performer when it comes to shooting skip. I would have liked to see how the Sirio would have done in that department. Russ began to speak and asked me which antenna I had put on - I was running the Sirio first. He hit me at 1 to 3 S-units -swinging- at a distance of about 9 miles from his driveway to my driveway. I then switched to the Wilson and got 1 to 2 S-units. Then, I repeated the switching of antennas a second time to make sure it was consistent. I also noted that the Galaxy was showing more watts swinging when I transmitted. I'm not quite sure what that means yet. Was it throwing more power out of the radio due to being more resonant? Or - was it because it was stifling the power? Hmmm...
It swings. The Sirio has a bit more swing. 1 S-unit gain of RX is nothing to sneeze at. Although that gain was in the swing S-units, I knew that my sensitive and stingy Galaxy meter wasn't lying (Note: for these reasons, I chose the Galaxy above the other radios I own for this test. The Galaxy's receive is exceptionally sensitive - while the meter is stingy - but very accurate). When one considers that the Wilson has always been the most popular base load antenna; I realized the Sirio is all that it had been cracked up to be - just a touch better. This Sirio also appears to be of a very sturdy build quality - not a wimpy thing. Not fantastically better - but better all the way round. I thought they would have been the same. Nope! The audio seemed a bit clearer and louder with the Sirio. But not by very much...
I think that the Sirio would be better off using a 7-inch magnetic base. The Z-180 is taller and heavier than the Wilson and needs to have better magnet support than I was providing with the 5-inch base. It is more top heavy because of the thicker-guage whip portion - which I consider a plus. I'm sure a tri-mag base would fill the bill - or perhaps be a bit overkill. The Wilson 1000 had 'wowed' me in the past as I drove across country this year. I talked skip and was extremely quiet when out in the boonies. Even around town; I felt the Sirio may have been a little bit more noise-sensitive than the Wilson. But not by a lot - very little if any. If skip would have been available; well...
If you have a Sirio Z-180; then I think you have a slightly better antenna. I think that one can also be very satisfied with the Wilson - 'bang-fer-buck'. When new, the Sirio cost was about $65-70 - w/o the mag mount portion. A complete Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna sells for $65 new from Sparky's CB Shack - plus shipping. It really wasn't so much a 'battle' as it was a close horse race. If I had the chance to pick between these two before I got the Wilson; I may have well gone with the Sirio. If you have a Wilson; I wouldn't upgrade to the Sirio - unless it's a deal you cannot refuse. If you cannot afford a Sirio 5000; then a Wilson 1000 will serve you well. As it has for me; time and time again...
After reading a similar article on http://www.worldwidedx.com/cb-antennas/36834-best-mobile-citizens-band-radio-antenna.html on this forum, I had the opportunity to see just what all they hype is about. The Sirio is a base load-type antenna - as is the Wilson 1000. So don't get your nickers in a bunch if the 10k Predator or a 102-inch steel whip isn't mentioned here. This is about current and somewhat available base load antennas. The Wilson 1000 is readily available; whereas the Sirio Z-180 had been discontinued last year. Sirio has another antenna like the Z-180; it is the Sirio 5000 and it is currently available.
I first became aware of the Wilson when I was still using a K-40, and I was never really impressed by the K-40. It was just 'OK'. I also got my Wilson from Russ. All it needed was some small repairs and a whip - which I ordered. When I put the Wilson on - I could instantly see a major difference in both TX AND RX. Blew the K-40 completely away. To say that I was impressed with the Wilson - is an understatement. Talking skip - no problemo...
I used the same magnetic base for both antennas; the 5-inch diameter Wilson 1000 magnet mount. Neither Russ or myself are running linears for this test. I used a stock Galaxy DX99V with a Astatic D-104/M6 handheld mic. My vehicle is a '08 Honda CR-V. One might consider that although the S-units shown don't appear to be large, impressive numbers - it is because both Russ and I have continuous urban sprawl between our two locations. We were both transmitting from ground level with gobs of intereference between us...
At first glance, the Sirio is about 12 inches taller than the Wilson. The base section uses up three of those 12 inches. It is light grey - and looks like the Avanti base load of older days. The stainless-steel whip diameter is MUCH greater than the Wilson; making the Wilson whip look flimsy by comparison. Overall height difference became apparent before too long. While driving around with the Sirio; I seemed to find more low branches on trees than the Wilson did. But it is sturdy in its construction; looking simple and all-business.
I checked the SWR when I first put the Sirio on the mag mount. On channel 20, I got a 1.3 - and didn't feel the need to get it better. The Wilson had the same SWR; so it was pretty much equal before the contest began. They will both adjust whip height by selecting the proper Allen wrench and moving the whip upward/downward to fine adjust the SWR - if need be. The test was taken on last Tuesday, on ch 20. I did not test it for 10 meter operation; but I may add that test to this thread a little later on...
I think it was at 2:30 PM/PST that we started the test. It's a good thing that we chose this time; as just three hours earlier skip was present and would have messed with the results. On the other hand; I know my Wilson had always been an outstanding performer when it comes to shooting skip. I would have liked to see how the Sirio would have done in that department. Russ began to speak and asked me which antenna I had put on - I was running the Sirio first. He hit me at 1 to 3 S-units -swinging- at a distance of about 9 miles from his driveway to my driveway. I then switched to the Wilson and got 1 to 2 S-units. Then, I repeated the switching of antennas a second time to make sure it was consistent. I also noted that the Galaxy was showing more watts swinging when I transmitted. I'm not quite sure what that means yet. Was it throwing more power out of the radio due to being more resonant? Or - was it because it was stifling the power? Hmmm...
It swings. The Sirio has a bit more swing. 1 S-unit gain of RX is nothing to sneeze at. Although that gain was in the swing S-units, I knew that my sensitive and stingy Galaxy meter wasn't lying (Note: for these reasons, I chose the Galaxy above the other radios I own for this test. The Galaxy's receive is exceptionally sensitive - while the meter is stingy - but very accurate). When one considers that the Wilson has always been the most popular base load antenna; I realized the Sirio is all that it had been cracked up to be - just a touch better. This Sirio also appears to be of a very sturdy build quality - not a wimpy thing. Not fantastically better - but better all the way round. I thought they would have been the same. Nope! The audio seemed a bit clearer and louder with the Sirio. But not by very much...
I think that the Sirio would be better off using a 7-inch magnetic base. The Z-180 is taller and heavier than the Wilson and needs to have better magnet support than I was providing with the 5-inch base. It is more top heavy because of the thicker-guage whip portion - which I consider a plus. I'm sure a tri-mag base would fill the bill - or perhaps be a bit overkill. The Wilson 1000 had 'wowed' me in the past as I drove across country this year. I talked skip and was extremely quiet when out in the boonies. Even around town; I felt the Sirio may have been a little bit more noise-sensitive than the Wilson. But not by a lot - very little if any. If skip would have been available; well...
If you have a Sirio Z-180; then I think you have a slightly better antenna. I think that one can also be very satisfied with the Wilson - 'bang-fer-buck'. When new, the Sirio cost was about $65-70 - w/o the mag mount portion. A complete Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna sells for $65 new from Sparky's CB Shack - plus shipping. It really wasn't so much a 'battle' as it was a close horse race. If I had the chance to pick between these two before I got the Wilson; I may have well gone with the Sirio. If you have a Wilson; I wouldn't upgrade to the Sirio - unless it's a deal you cannot refuse. If you cannot afford a Sirio 5000; then a Wilson 1000 will serve you well. As it has for me; time and time again...
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