Wilson 1000 install

[ab4d]

Hi,

I just installed a new Wilson 1000 on my brother-in-law's vehicle 2004 (Toyota Camry), however I've been unable to obtain an acceptable match on the CB band. I've installed dozens of antennas over the years, including Wilson 1000s, never an issue or one that I could not solve, but this one has me stumped.

Anyway here is the install, like I've done many times before. We are using the standard Wilson 1000 hole mount on the trunk deck lid. Hole was drilled in the center of the deck, the paint on the underside was removed, Noalox was applied to the bare metal.

Ground braid attached from the deck lid to the body under the package tray, using self tapping screws/tooth washers, again paint removed at the attachment points and Noalox applied.

The radio shows high SWR (3.5:1) on the standard CB frequencies. MFJ 259B shows best match at 28.785, with a 1.7. SWR.

Changing the new W1000 coil/whip to another known good W1000 coil/whip from another 2004 Camry, the 259B shows best match at 28.785 with a 1.2 SWR. Dummy load attached to the mount in lieu of the antenna, shows nearly perfect match from 27-70 mhz.

Suggestions???

 

[fnkycoldmedina]

are both whips cut to same length in this comparison??
every install will be different .you may need to start trimming the whip .

start with the whip all the way up in the tower .note swr .
then lower the whip all the way down .note swr ,if swr came down then you need to start cutting .

 

[psycho]

Sometimes you need to cut a bunch off of a wilson stinger to get the match excellent.
I remember having to cut 3 inches off of a Wilson 5000 to match it in....then there was another one where the 66" longer stinger was needed to match in great. I haven't done hundreds of antenna installs, but that is what I am thinking.

 

[ab4d]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I tried shortening the whip about 3/4 of an inch, on the new antenna, the SWR readings on 11 meters increased, on both channel one and 40. I was hesitant to shorten it further.

On other installs I've done, if memory serves me, they were resonate down on 26 megs before cutting the whip, not 28, but I may just cut the whip, what else do I have to lose.

 

[hotrod]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I tried shortening the whip about 3/4 of an inch, on the new antenna, the SWR readings on 11 meters increased, on both channel one and 40. I was hesitant to shorten it further.

On other installs I've done, if memory serves me, they were resonate down on 26 megs before cutting the whip, not 28, but I may just cut the whip, what else do I have to lose.

ABSOLUTELY NO!!!!if your swr is good on 10 meters and not on 11 you need to lenthen it
if you run outta whip to pull out ya may need the extra long 66 inch . my wilson 5k mag mount
on my van is the same

 

[mackmobile43]

ABSOLUTELY NO!!!!if your swr is good on 10 meters and not on 11 you need to lenthen it
if you run outta whip to pull out ya may need the extra long 66 inch . my wilson 5k mag mount
on my van is the same

that's right and the amount of available counterpoise will dictate how long it will need to be in that location.

 

[Marconi]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I tried shortening the whip about 3/4 of an inch, on the new antenna, the SWR readings on 11 meters increased, on both channel one and 40. I was hesitant to shorten it further.

On other installs I've done, if memory serves me, they were resonate down on 26 megs before cutting the whip, not 28, but I may just cut the whip, what else do I have to lose.

How many times do we hear this story to cut, cut?

At least try and place a longer piece of cheap wire about the same diameter in the mount and cut it as necessary. Then duplicate the length with a real stinger.

It might not fix your problem if your stinger is too short to start with, but you won't be destroying a perfectly good stinger that maybe somebody could use or take it back to where you bought it.

This problem seems to happen often with Wilson mobile antennas. Seems Wilson makes several different length stingers and depends on the dealer to get the customer the right length. This probably happens for sure if the dealer buys his stingers separately from his base mounting parts.

Good luck.

 

[office888]

Your antenna needs to be longer.

 

[Marconi]

Your antenna needs to be longer.

I agree 888, he just didn't believe what his 259B was telling him.

 

[psycho]

I never owned a Wilson 1000 and 5000 that couldn't be tuned 1.1 on 20 and 1.2 on 1 and 40.
Now that I am a very sophistcated CBer now, the Wilson should always be tuned for 3% or less reflect!

 

[Robb]

Personally, I would have used the mag mount version and put it on the roof.
Never had decent results mounting any 11m antenna on the trunk lid . . .

 

[ab4d]

I agree 888, he just didn't believe what his 259B was telling him.

It's not that I didn't believe what the 259 was telling me. What I am trying to figure out is the why. Why didn't the factory length whip/coil resonate. What has changed? Did Wilson change something on their newer antennas? I've seen a few posts around the net alleging the quality is not as good anymore.

The only thing that is consistently different is the mount it self. I have the exact same set up on an identical car that tunes fine. The whip was the factory length, extended as far as the coil would allow. I tried different coils and whips, that are resonate on the other vehicle, both a 1000 and 5000 coil to no avail.

I still think there must be something screwball with the coax or mount, its the only consistent component I have not changed. I may change out the coax to LMR 200 just for kicks, I've never liked Wilson's coax anyway, and usually just toss it. I figured he was running a stock radio, so it would suffice.

I can't return the antenna, because its new old stock we've had for a couple of years sitting in the radio supply closet. Nevertheless, I like the ideas, and appreciate all of your comments and suggestions.

73

 

[ab4d]

How many times do we hear this story to cut, cut?

At least try and place a longer piece of cheap wire about the same diameter in the mount and cut it as necessary. Then duplicate the length with a real stinger.

It might not fix your problem if your stinger is too short to start with, but you won't be destroying a perfectly good stinger that maybe somebody could use or take it back to where you bought it.

This problem seems to happen often with Wilson mobile antennas. Seems Wilson makes several different length stingers and depends on the dealer to get the customer the right length. This probably happens for sure if the dealer buys his stingers separately from his base mounting parts.

Good luck.

You could be right Marconi, now that I think about it, the 1000 and 5000 do use different length stingers, and they could have shipped a 5000 rather than a 1000 (which I believe is shorter). I will look at that too.


(Update: The stinger is the standard 62").

73

 

[hotrod]

Personally, I would have used the mag mount version and put it on the roof.
Never had decent results mounting any 11m antenna on the trunk lid . . .

same here.coil too close and most trunk lids just plain suck for mounting
antennas.i also agree with marconi if memory serves me correctly
the wilson 1k came with a 66 inch whip ,and 5k had a 62 inch .or
maybe they just tuned that way for me.cant remember for sure now.
but thinking the 1k needed the 66 inch whip