True innovation in mobile antennas

[2NC995]

I don’t think I ever saw him here (Jax, NC), but I only went to a couple.

I remember the Black Al Capone antennas caught on like wildfire when he came to town. This is digging deep in my memory bank...had to been at the end of the 1990s, 2000 at the latest.

 

[543_Dallas]

The last time I heard of anyone running a Black Al Capone was almost 10 years ago. I don't doubt they work as good as any other coiled antenna. You'r paying for the image.

I used to think the t top antennas might be good for dx. Later I came to understand that maximum radiation is 1/4 wave from the tip of the antenna. Most of the signal is still vertically polarized.

 

[2NC995]

I never had an al Capone, but a bunch of friends did. I agree...about as good as any other coiled antenna.

As long as they’re constructed well, I never saw anything special about one coiled antenna over the other. Even made a few, and they worked too.

 

[543_Dallas]

I never held a Capone in my hand. Looks like it weighs 60 lbs.

 

[2NC995]

I remember at the break in 1997, a friend of mine bought one.

Not a half hour later, he whacked a limb pulling into his driveway, and the antenna snapped off the roof and landed in the bed of his pickup

Luckily, designed that way intentionally or not, the bottom was pop riveted into the shaft, and if it hit something solid, it would shear the rivets and be repairable.

Anyway, it was quickly fixed and back in service.

 

[Highway Man]

View attachment 31322

Another “flatside” mobile. I feel like my radio absence made me miss out on so much technology!

that wasn't on the website long and is now removed. the Fatty