Firestick

[kenny kustom]

I am looking at this mount for my Jeep.
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How much power can you run through a firestick ? Could it handle a Magnum 357 ?

[drdx]

It will handle a magnum. A firestik is good for what, 300 watts or something on the package?

That's not the best antenna out there, or the best mounting location, but the tj/wrangler is probably the hardest thing to mount an antenna on. For highway, jeep to jeep, and trail use it will work fine and have nice clearance, both important things to many. I like using windshield frame/pillar light mounts with a flat mount attached to one of those. It gets it higher and more in the clear, and is not on the corner of the vehicle so it is a little better about not being so directional. Either way, make sure you have a really good ground connection with some braid. The top of a spare tire carrier is also a nice location but again a little directional toward the front. -drdx

[Kingpin1946]

It will handle a magnum. A firestik is good for what, 300 watts or something on the package?

That's not the best antenna out there, or the best mounting location, but the tj/wrangler is probably the hardest thing to mount an antenna on. For highway, jeep to jeep, and trail use it will work fine and have nice clearance, both important things to many. I like using windshield frame/pillar light mounts with a flat mount attached to one of those. It gets it higher and more in the clear, and is not on the corner of the vehicle so it is a little better about not being so directional. Either way, make sure you have a really good ground connection with some braid. The top of a spare tire carrier is also a nice location but again a little directional toward the front. -drdx

The doc has given you some sound advice.

[TheTeZ]

i would try and mount it on th tire rack like suggested. The plastic licence frame seems a little scary to me, i dont know about you but i take my jimmy into some real tight areas, where i have only an inch or two of side to side play on the turn, and i know if my mounts were plastic i.... wouldent have them. i know the actual mount isnt plastic but what its connected to is.... also a corner's not too great of a location.

[kenny kustom]

I have a " no ground plane " firstick on the rear tire carrier now, but can get a decent swr reading out of it, plus, when i put my mag on the hood, and tried that, the power jumped and the swr droped. So id like to try something different.

[TheTeZ]

SWR's probably high on the tire carrier because you need it higher, too much reflection or something..... maybe a longer antenna?

[kenny kustom]

This one here would gain me about 18" or so. I was just wondering about ground plane, with the fiberglass top.


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[kenny kustom]

i would try and mount it on th tire rack like suggested. The plastic licence frame seems a little scary to me, i dont know about you but i take my jimmy into some real tight areas, where i have only an inch or two of side to side play on the turn, and i know if my mounts were plastic i.... wouldent have them. i know the actual mount isnt plastic but what its connected to is.... also a corner's not too great of a location.

The mount actually mounts to the quater panel.

[TheTeZ]

ah, sorry.



and agreed \/ Go wilson silverload.

[Porch Boy]

go with something other than firestik, them things aint got no ears. please believe it

[kenny kustom]

go with something other than firestik, them things aint got no ears. please believe it

Suggestions ? Keeping in mind, i do a decent amount of off roading.
How about this mount ?

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[Texas Mobil 219]

Hey Kenny. I ran a 5'5'' firestick on my truck when i first got into cb's. Uniden 78 with a palamor 250 and i worked fine.

I true key here is you need to get the base of the antenna up to roof hight of a few inches higher. If you could get it up there your swr's should be around 1.1 to 1.3.

<-------<<< This is were my 102 '' is on my truck.

Good luck

219 quite in Texas.

[kenny kustom]

Hey Kenny. I ran a 5'5'' firestick on my truck when i first got into cb's. Uniden 78 with a palamor 250 and i worked fine.

I true key here is you need to get the base of the antenna up to roof hight of a few inches higher. If you could get it up there your swr's should be around 1.1 to 1.3.

<-------<<< This is were my 102 '' is on my truck.

Good luck

219 quite in Texas.

I would love to be able to do that, ( i had a wilson 1K on the roof of my ford ) but its just not practical in a jeep.

[the_junkie]

if this is any help--this is how gunny mounted his 102...

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[GUARD DOG]

Suggestions ? Keeping in mind, i do a decent amount of off roading.
How about this mount ?

i would go with a wilson flex antenna

[GUARD DOG]

Suggestions ? Keeping in mind, i do a decent amount of off roading.
How about this mount ?

i would go with a wilson flex antenna

[TheTeZ]

i was going to suggest the wilson Flex, because of the "flex" and the wilson performace, but i havent personally used one.

[231]

I'd run a Everhardt Tiger TSM-4' Superflex myself in a different location. Do you have a swing away rear tire carrier? I personally like the behind the tail light mount like TeraFlex makes. Had I known about them that's the way I would have gone...even though I have a SJF Tire Carrier. Although the behind the tail light grounding usually kinda' sucks, that can easily be fixed with added ground strap(s). Combined with an HD spring (which your looks like the medium to light duty), you'll be amazed at how much abuse they can take...especially in heavy foliage.

All my Jeepin' friends run them now, primarily because the work better than any of the Firestik and Wilson helical wound fiberglass (not to mention most all of them I've done comparisons). Do a quick disconnect and run whatever you want in seconds. That's what I do. I run my TSM-4' most all the time, but run my 102" SS whip, 5.5' Tiger SOTT, even my little base loaded antenna(s) when I want (or while running the hard top). I know on most of the Jeep forums they all boast of what a great antenna the Firestik is, but frankly I think they are horrible. Especially if you want to run an amp.

Here's my TJ with the 4' Superflex on it. I run an old SBE Sidebander or one of my old trusty Pro510's in it.

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And here's one we installed on one of my wheelin' friends LoD bumper. I have a few friends that have done this very same set up without a problem, too. With a Firestik though, they are so heavy they don't flex much and simply don't perform as well. I can tell you several times I've heard and made contacts the others simply couldn't do...even with my Pro510!

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And on another friend's CJ

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There are all kinds of mounts you can do. And frankly, if you wheel your rig like we do, low foliage is always an issue. If you have the ability to switch things out easily, you can simply run whatever you want. I usually keep the TSM-3' also as a back up in the TJ just in case I break my 4' (or someone else does) but it hasn't happened yet.

[Red Ryder]

Firestik is a fine antenna. i have 2 and ill tell ya i have BIG ears grandma!!!! and my swr is 1 always. i can shoot skip barefoot and hear em all over the usa just fine