Z-180, anyone else have one?

[bob85]

switch the stinger is what lets the wilsons down, its too thin and flexy and its a bit short which is ok if you need the clearance above the vehicle,
i want to get inside to see if i can mod the coil like i have on the sirios if the whip holder unscrews i would make another from brass bar because the wilson is too thin to take the whip from a sirio 5ooo,
i dont want to bust it to find i cant mod it, the 5000 magmount is about $170 over here.

 

[Switch Kit]

I got cha Bob . I will say this much , in the 16 years I've been using Wilson 1000/5000 base loaded antenna's I've never ever seen one burnt up ,although I have seen the coax burn up on them from not handling the power , but never the loads. I have seen one cut in half on purpose , but all that did was render the load useless. IM guessing here ? but i would think that the plastic or resin type base they use also helps or works as a heat sink around the coils ? but then again , I've never felt any heat coming off of them either over the years .Now wasn't that the idea Hustler had with there oil filled base loads ?

 

[Master Chief]

if the whip holder unscrews i would make another from brass bar

It does unscrew. I have a few guinea pigs over here and will experiment...I'll take pictures (almost as good as Switch's).

 

[bob85]

that would be cool MC, they look easy enough to mod from switch's picture, i just dont want to destroy a decent antenna

 

[Switch Kit]

that's Wilson's picture guys or should I say Barjan. Are they not silver plated to begin with ? Whatever the case may be ? Still a great antenna for what they are . I'd like to see what one looks like burnt up.

 

[ctvanover]

I bought two of these Z-180's through H&Y a while back. I've never gotten around to installing them yet. Mine came with roof mounts and I think they've got up to 14 feet of coax attached to the mounts. I don't want to use the roof mounts, I'd like to mount one to my back bumper but I need to find the right mount because I don't think that the Z-180 will screw on to regular mount, will it? And then there's the problem with the extra coax. What will happen if I add coax to make it long enough?

 

[Master Chief]

they look easy enough to mod from switch's picture

You will NOT be able to remove the coil cover, just the stinger adaptor.

Switch, I've never seen a burnt up 1000/5000. While not impossible to do, it would be difficult.

 

[bob85]

thats a shame mc, how is the coil fastened at the top?,
you can remove every part of the sirio antennas clean mod do whatever, reassemble them with a turn less above the tapping point and a longer thicker stinger, sometimes you will bust the thing before the threadlock lets go.

 

[Switch Kit]

As I said , I saw one opened up many many years ago, the more i think about it the less I remember the coil itself being inbedded with the plastic , yes , the shaft will screw off only to leave a screw head on top , the bottom of my W-5000 has a very small hole in it and after further investagation , I do not believe these coils to be completely surrounded by the plastic . Looking at the bottom you can see where the outter and the inner parts could be seperated , as well as the top where the screw head is located for the shaft. Those loads are 35 bucks a pop ! and I only have one , but they do appear to look as if they could be taken apart with some patients and tolerance. I would guess to say they are glued together one way or the other top and bottom. If it were me , I would start from the top ,but my guess would be , and depending on the glue that has been used , there may not be much left of the plastic after one finally did get it off ? Outside of that tiny little hole I mentioned , I believe them to be air tight other then that.

 

[sixwheeler775]

So.....

What's the verdict? :?:

Anyone able to take a Z 180 apart yet?

Switch, as for the little hole in the bottom of the Wilson coil cover: It's a weep/vent hole that allows condensation to drain out during seasonal temp changes.

If it was completely sealed, it would build up moisture/condensation inside & could freeze in the winter causing potential damage to the coil, & mount system itself.

 

[Switch Kit]

figured there was a reason for it 775 . Makes sence on what your saying. We don't even get much rain here is So.Cal where IM at , let alone snow and freezing temps. I suppose a guy like me is fairly safe from that. Thanks

 

[sixwheeler775]

Yep. No prob. Did I hear it right, that you have a Z-180 now?

 

[Switch Kit]

never did , it will either have to be used or a deal I just couldn't refuse at this time.

 

[sixwheeler775]

Ah, OK then.

Anyway, it would be interesting to see if a thicker/taller stinger on a 5K would give it more bandwidth as some have hinted in here. I do like the Z-180 looks & performance alot better, but the Wilson 5K has them beat in the RMS power handling dept. The Z-180 is "only" rated to 2000 watts. That's still way more power than I'd ever need! :nutzo

 

[Chainsawgang]

sixwheeler,

Say you bought from H&Y ? the only problem I had with them was the shipping. I felt like they made the price back on VERY expensive S& H charges.


I'm very interested in trying one out though....the reduced staic claims are what interest me.
Let me know if any of you guys know any other suppliers that carry them.