Wilson "Ground plane kits" beneficial or not?

[DeedleD]

Ground wire from base of antenna to a ground rod will also help.

Yep, I have a 6-gauge bare copper wire from the base of the antenna mast running to a pair of 8-foot ground rods on the same side of the house about 10 feet apart, then running to the ground rod below the power meter at the back of the house. I ran continuity testing on all of it and it's all good.

 

[Redbeard U812]

Old timer taught me to water the yard around antenna and ground rods. Don't think it will make your antenna grow any, but it does aid the continuity to earth. Been so wet down here in TX. that ground is saturated. I'm not far from coast either, the soil comp is in the best range. That's in Reflections also.

 

[2315 Robert]

Well, I think you have your answer. Here is my account: I had one of those many a year ago. I will mention that with adding it made no SWR change.(should tell you something). I went to a Riteaid in Huntington Park, CA and came out and my truck was gone. Was recovered the next day parked in front of the Bell Gardens, CA police station. They got a Pillippenes 148, Palomar 400 Elite, Wilson 1000 with GPK , all my car detailing stuff, and 3 5 gallon gas cans(empty). I have had many a radio and that was my favorite. I got it from Wingwalker(Alfred). No radio fights or anything of that nature that would have given causation.. Swooped.

 

[DeedleD]

I will mention that with adding it made no SWR change.(should tell you something).

Yeah, that it doesn't work!

close but not quite right.

a GP does not "cause the signal to go up in the atmosphere", the radiation angle with or without a GP is the same.

A vehicle is not a ground plane for an HF antenna. Rather, it acts like a capacitor between the antenna, and the surface under the vehicle in question. That surface, whatever it is, forms the actual ground plane.

I don't think GPs have any effect on receive (except under certain multi-path conditions)

I've always read that an antenna should be placed dead center on roof of a vehicle so the radiation pattern is as even as possible and also because it's the highest point. Makes sense. What if the vehicle has a sun roof? Where should the antenna be placed then? Mid way between the edge of sun roof and back of vehicle? Does it even matter? Thanks!

 

[W4KVW]

I love that PDF Redbeard, thanks again for posting it, very good info and discusses lots of misconceptions regarding antennas and SWR. I have a Sirio 2016 base antenna that's aluminum and is 18-feet tall, placed on top of a 25-foot telescoping mast, and it has 16 radials. It had good reviews on e-ham.net so I purchased it, seems to be working really good, not sure if the radials are doing much but I think it looks bad ass! I think mobile installation is a different story when it comes to ground plane kits which are most likely insufficient. The device in question (at least the one I have) is below. Similar to the other but has 2 extra radials. Below that is my base antenna. When it gets nicer out I'll try to raise it few more feet so it completely clears the top of the roof.

Looks like more Snake Oil/Smoke & Mirrors just like the mobile type. Those radials are about right for a VHF base antenna but nothing in the HF Bands.Cool & Pretty don't make them effective for sure.

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[Redbeard U812]

I love that PDF Redbeard, thanks again for posting it, very good info and discusses lots of misconceptions regarding antennas and SWR. I have a Sirio 2016 base antenna that's aluminum and is 18-feet tall, placed on top of a 25-foot telescoping mast, and it has 16 radials. It had good reviews on e-ham.net so I purchased it, seems to be working really good, not sure if the radials are doing much but I think it looks bad ass! I think mobile installation is a different story when it comes to ground plane kits which are most likely insufficient. The device in question (at least the one I have) is below. Similar to the other but has 2 extra radials. Below that is my base antenna. When it gets nicer out I'll try to raise it few more feet so it completely clears the top of the roof.

Looking at your pic further I notice the bracket connecting from mast to base of antenna. If this is an insulated material (non-conductive) you will not have ground if your ground wire is attached at base of pole to ground rods. You will see in Maxwell's book the radiators are actually buried in the soil. Can see you are up against the eve and house. Possibly relocate to yard and install with radiators in yard. Just a hatchet through the grass, fold back and bury. With 360 deg of the radials buried you will get much better performance and grounding.

 

[2315 Robert]

Yeah, that it doe


I've always read that an antenna should be placed dead center on roof of a vehicle so the radiation pattern is as even as possible and also because it's the highest point. Makes sense. What if the vehicle has a sun roof? Where should the antenna be placed then? Mid way between the edge of sun roof and back of vehicle? Does it even matter? Thanks!

Sure, it does matter and you are correct. If(without a sunroof)it would be beneficial to center the antenna. You will get a directional pattern out of an antenna is not centered(will favor a direction over another). I have an antenna that is mounted to the streetside rear of my car and it is noticeable.

 

[Redbeard U812]

Sure, it does matter and you are correct. If(without a sunroof)it would be beneficial to center the antenna. You will get a directional pattern out of an antenna is not centered(will favor a direction over another). I have an antenna that is mounted to the streetside rear of my car and it is noticeable.

Had 102" mounted passengers side of headache rack on dodge 3500, when moved it to center location had a huge improvement. Can't put anything center of rack for transport, but still have my port and starboard mount locations if needed. Could also run duals if wanted, but ya can't beat a 102" whip w/ HD spring.

 

[2315 Robert]

Had 102" mounted passengers side of headache rack on dodge 3500, when moved it to center location had a huge improvement. Can't put anything center of rack for transport, but still have my port and starboard mount locations if needed. Could also run duals if wanted, but ya can't beat a 102" whip w/ HD spring.

http://www.k0bg.com/
This is the best effort I have seen to help folks.

 

[Slowmover]

Looks like more Snake Oil/Smoke & Mirrors just like the mobile type. Those radials are about right for a VHF base antenna but nothing in the HF Bands.Cool & Pretty don't make them effective for sure.

SIX-SHOOTER

Brother, you missed that three, even four colors of TINY LED lights affix to the tips of the “hat”. Cool & Pretty is serious biz!! Arduino-controlled pattern.

The ONLY way to receive a STARGUN is to first submit a video of voice-synchronized “lamp dancing”.
.

 

[W4KVW]

Sure, it does matter and you are correct. If(without a sunroof)it would be beneficial to center the antenna. You will get a directional pattern out of an antenna is not centered(will favor a direction over another). I have an antenna that is mounted to the streetside rear of my car and it is noticeable.

Pretty sure that is only on an antenna that requires a ground plane. A Half Wave antenna does NOT require a ground plane & works equally well mounted in any location on the vehicle from what I understand but I have been Wrong before & I will again in the future.

Clayton
W4KVW

 

[DeedleD]

Looking at your pic further I notice the bracket connecting from mast to base of antenna. If this is an insulated material (non-conductive) you will not have ground if your ground wire is attached at base of pole to ground rods. You will see in Maxwell's book the radiators are actually buried in the soil. Can see you are up against the eve and house. Possibly relocate to yard and install with radiators in yard. Just a hatchet through the grass, fold back and bury. With 360 deg of the radials buried you will get much better performance and grounding.

Thanks, that bracket is actually part of the antenna as can be seen here:

It's connected to the mast using those 3 clamps and is making a good connection with the material. I don't think I have any issues with grounding as everything has been continuity tested when fully connected with the antenna not raised to full height since it's a telescoping mast.

As for relocation, I thought about that too, the front of the yard would be too close to the power lines and same with backyard, too close to the line drop from power pole in the alley to the house so I had to compromise and put it somewhere in the middle... Oh the joys of living in the city!

 

[Slowmover]

Durn it. Was on the WALCOTT site yesterday but couldn’t remember what I wanted. 44” SS threaded shaft? No, it was (hmmm)?

 

[Chris Millas]

I was browsing ebay ealier this morning and stumble on a "Ground plane kit"
which consist's of six radials of 6" long.

I added one to my sirio performer5000 mag mount and I noticed an increase in recieve. Call me lucky I suppose but it worked well for me.
Wilson 5000 or Wilson 1000 Antenna Ground Plane Kit

Now for the question, can this be beneficial in creating a better ground plane or is this just another bogus hype?

I'm currently using a wilson 1000 magnet mount as i dont want to drill any holes in a leased vehichle lol.

 

[Squints]

Im useing a wilson 2000 trucker as a base antenna mounted to the railing of my apartment balcony and im very pleased with its performance.
I was thinking about this ground plane kit and its 6 inch radials and i concluded that this little six inch radials would only improve swr on the lower bands provided that the current application has an swr reading of 1.5 or lower on channel 20 cb band or 27.205 mhz.
I have built and modified alot of antennas in the past especially when i moved into an apartment had to expieriment in search of what works best so baswd on my expieriance only i gotta say this little ground plane kit for a mobile antenna will not improve your reception at all on both RX and TX on cb band however it could improve performance on the lower frequencies just from lowering swr thats all.