Top loaded whip vs. base loaded antenna

[Alexis Mercado]

I have two types of magnet antenna. A Titanium 3001 Sirio Antenna ( around 5 feet long, base loaded with a stainless steel whip ) and an adjustable Firestick Antenna ( around 3 feet long, top loaded, tip is adjustable ) .

Which one will perform better ?

 

[midnight special]

according to my book cb radio for dummies a top loaded antenna is more efficient

 

[The DB]

A 5 foot base loaded antenna will outperform a 3 foot top loaded antenna. In this case, the longer length will outstrip the benefits of having a top load.

Beware the words "more efficient". In this hobby those words seem to mean 'more efficient but not so much that you will ever notice the difference'.


The DB

 

[Crawdad]

In this case your base loaded will outperform the 3 footer..............
Those 3 foot Firestiks are mostly loading coil.

 

[wjm1129]

The longer the better. Antennas of the same length will perform the same in most cases, YMMV.

 

[whiteastro]

A lot of your antenna choice depends on your needs and environment you operate in. While everyone wants as tall a antenna as they can get you have to think about ruining it banging into obstacles. I live in N/E PA and we deal with Trees, Bridges, Canopies, and Parking garages. How often do you want to get out and dismount or lay down your antenna. On my Astro Van a K40 antenna is about as tall as I can deal with and go most places but I always have to remember it is up there. While they are right in saying Higher is better, but that is not all you have to think about . Choose wisely so you don't take the fun out of life.

 

[144inBama]

A lot of your antenna choice depends on your needs and environment you operate in. While everyone wants as tall a antenna as they can get you have to think about ruining it banging into obstacles. I live in N/E PA and we deal with Trees, Bridges, Canopies, and Parking garages. How often do you want to get out and dismount or lay down your antenna. On my Astro Van a K40 antenna is about as tall as I can deal with and go most places but I always have to remember it is up there. While they are right in saying Higher is better, but that is not all you have to think about . Choose wisely so you don't take the fun out of life.

I run a Wilson 1K on top of my 2017 GMC Sierra, I can tell you from experience that 6' fluorescent bulbs can NOT take the impact of the whip and the local Churches Fried Chicken uses 3 sets at their drive-thru

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

according to my book cb radio for dummies a top loaded antenna is more efficient

But that assumes the SAME antenna configuration. This is different. One antenna is considerably longer than the other and that will mean that it will be the better performer. The difference in performance between top loaded and base loaded for the same antenna is quite small actually.

 

[whiteastro]

To add to thought ! Once I had to lay my K40 down to get thru my bank drive thru canopy and forgot to stand it back up. After a few miles down the road I turned the radio back on a could receive nothing. Then I remembered and got out to stand it up but found it was mangled from dragging the road. That lesson cost me about another $100 bucks to replace it !

 

[Slowmover]

To add to thought ! Once I had to lay my K40 down to get thru my bank drive thru canopy and forgot to stand it back up. After a few miles down the road I turned the radio back on a could receive nothing. Then I remembered and got out to stand it up but found it was mangled from dragging the road. That lesson cost me about another $100 bucks to replace it !

It’s not that hard to get around most places in my tractor (Kenworth t680 sans 53’ trailer) with a pair of 7’ antennas reaching close to 14’.

It does mean I’m more careful about route-planning. Driving shouldn’t ever be mindless (bad fuel economy = poor operator skill), so, an antenna reaching to 11-12’ isn’t any impediment on my pickup.

A different route to X?

Park on side road versus parking garage?

Not an imposition.

Making the change between the drivers ears the only real block.

.

 

[whiteastro]

It’s not that hard to get around most places in my tractor (Kenworth t680) with a pair of 7’ antennas reaching close to 14’.

You tractor drivers sure have your special problems with your big rigs but not all of us want to be tractor drivers and we also deal with country dirt roads which presents different problems with our short cuts. Happy Truckin !

 

[Slowmover]

What does a short cut “save” versus cutting nuts off of Radio?

 

[whiteastro]

Us veterans fought wars so we have freedom of choice and speech which includes many areas of life.

 

[Slowmover]

Us veterans fought wars so we have freedom of choice and speech which includes many areas of life.

CB is the radio some others will have when their Jesus-phone ain’t working any more. It’ll be the majority of those who CAN communicate.

Do as you will. Same problem in answering questions about fuel economy (longest vehicle life). Changes need to be made to driver habits.

“Nice, so long as I’m not inconvenienced” .(confuses emotion for rationality).

Carry an extra long antenna you can swap.
I carry from 5’ to 9’.

But are you sure you’ll know when to swap? Won’t be on TV or AM radio or electronic billboard.

You’re at the right forum to explore it further.

Good luck.

.

 

[BJ radionut]

I always found CENTER-LOADED antennas reaching near 1/8 wave to Quarter wave length for 20 meters thru 6 meters work best...

My 2 cents.

PS: SCREW DRIVE THRU's