MFJ-1966 108'' whip (Tuneable)

[Texas Mobil 219]

My 108'' whip came in today. I put it on and the swrs are alittle higher that the 102'' . The 102''s swrs are flat all the way thru the bands.
The 108'' whip is tunable. So i measured 108'' to the base and locked it down. ( No measuring the threads)
I put the 108'' whip on and they are 1.1 on channel 1. 1.2 on channel 20 and 1.3 on 40.

Now is it to long and needs to trim it to get the swrs lower? And will it put it out of frequence?


219 in Texas.

[Texas Mobil 219]

Here is some pics.


[Please login or register to view this link]


[Please login or register to view this link]

[drdx]

That swr indicates that it is SLIGHTLY long. Tuning may flatten it but you'd never see the benefit. Thanks for posting it, and if you get a chance, a daytime shot of the adjustment part. I've heard about that antenna but never have seen one and how it adjusts. Does it use a sleeve, rings, ?? Thanks, -drdx

[jessejamesdallas]

If it's tunable, they must be making them differently now than the one I have, because mine looks just like a 102" whip, only longer...That one looks like you can trim from the bottom...That's different! Not that it's going to make all that much difference...You can probably get the SWR to even out just by using a longer jumper...

[zman350]

is the 108 much thinner than the 102

[SARGE]

nope the 108 and the 102 are identical, minus the differance in length!

Yes, they are adjustable ad the base. The 108 slips into the base and is held in place by a couple of set screws, mine is this way. I have yet to try it out, but I am seriously considering placing it on my dually maybe mounted on a toolbox behind the cab, if it will handle the power!

[Secret Squirrel]

Thanks for taking one for the team guys. Best of luck with the set ups.

['Doc]

SARGE,
If you mean will the whip be able to handle the power, I kind'a doubt it you should spend much worry on that part. It should be able to handle anything you'll ever be able to put into it. I think I'd worry more about the mount being able to handle the applied power, that's where you're more likely to see a break down, the insulators used. Might even use a larger corona ball. The whip it's self shouldn't be a problem. Naturally, you'd want to make sure the thing is tuned correctly.
- 'Doc

[watchdawg]

nice looking whip i bet that thing knocks all the over passes being mounted up on the headache rack like that...let us know how it performs im thinking of going to the 102" maybe the 108" cant decide. i would like to know what you think about it after you have given it a fair field test compared to the 102"

[Texas Mobil 219]

The 108 is thicker at the base. And is adjustable with two set screws like Sarge had mentioned.

After pondering on the matter over night I think that I might not have taken into account the length of the firestick mount. That would put me about 1'' or so higher.

My question is. Do i measure from the top of the mounting bracket to achieve the 108''?????

219 in SE Texas.

[treetall]

hey texas mobil. hey texas mobil i have a question coming straight from a mudducks mentalitly. What is the advantage of going from a 102 to a 108 if your swrs were flat with the 102. im back quiet

[Texas Mobil 219]

It the point of being in Frequency. Ive noticed today on the way to work that there is not as much static as before. The radio has a cleaner sound to it too when ppl are talking. Il know more once i get the swrs the same thru the bands. Right know i just need to know were you measure from to abtain the 108 ''. Of the top of the mount, or off the bottom to the antenna not including the threads?

[treetall]

ah ok sarge. ive got cha now. i might take off my spring today just to see how everybody sounds with the spring and without. ok then. catch in chat soon. im back it on down. breaker

[Texas Mobil 219]

Daytime pics

[Please login or register to view this link]

[Please login or register to view this link]

[treetall]

looking good looking good. and i take that is with the new coax on and everything. what was it like 9913 or something? you told me but i cant remember

['Doc]

To figure the length of a whip you start measuring from the end of the coax to the antenna's tip. Anything in between those two places contributes to the antenna's length.
I'd suggest not getting too hung up on that 108" length thingy, it won't be absolutely correct for all installations, it still requires length adjustment. That's one reason why the 108" instead of the 102", it's always easier to cut it off than add to it, sort of.
Even if you find the 'perfect' length, don't expect huge changes in what you hear, that's just not going to happen unless the thing was really 'off' to start with. It can make the radio 'happier', so it can deliver more, or all of it's power to the antenna (that 50 ohms thingy), but as far as hearing a difference, I really doubt it, that's just not something an antenna is capable of doing, in general.
- 'Doc

[Texas Mobil 219]

Pretty much from the top of the insulator than. Kool. I want to start at 108 inches and go from there. Ive aready heard the difference in the radio itself. Altough im not on the money but yet. And this is going to sound weird. But the static sounds cleaner. More of a HISS instead of a dirty krackly hiss. I feel that the closer I get to on the money the overall the radio will perform. The locals I have talk to briefly say that its sounds alot better. Ive gone from a S 5 to a S 7. Now i just need to find an empty field to get the final adjustment done.

219 In Texas wave'n.

[Popcorn501]

Are you running any power or just a stock radio?

[Texas Mobil 219]

Running power. G/spot 800 (2x4)