Predator 10K Question

[Approach]

I have a Predator 10 Antenna. The shaft is about 31" plus the tall whip. It works great. It's mounted to my antenna Puck on the top of my car. Would I be stupid to sell it, and then purchase a shorter Predator 10K? (My wife doesn't like the way the car looks with the big antenna)

[SARGE]

You could sell and get a shorter one, but the problem is that Kale (predator 10K builder) is no longer building the antenna and we are not sure if he will start back. What is the length of the lower shaft (below the coils)? Personally, I would hang onto it for now. If you want to sell it, I might be interrested, just PM me on it.

[jessejamesdallas]

The bottom part under the coil is the "Shaft"...and unless you had one special made...It's NOT 31" tall!

And Yes...You would be stupid to sell it, and try and get a shorter one, because since they are NO LONGER BEING MADE, you probably would never find another one!

Get a measuring tape, and measure the length of the shaft from where it screws into your antenna mount, to the bottom of the coil. That would be your shaft length..(It should be either 9, 12, 17, 22, or 27" long". Those are all the shaft sizes)

Next, determine which shaft you would rather have...If mounting on a roof, I would suggest going with the 17" shaft. The 12" would be my second choice...Rule of thumb with the 10K's, is when roof mounting, they generally tune better with the longer shafts, but a 12" shaft 10K will tune just fine...just maybe not as low as the 22 or 27" shaft.

Now, about the Only person that still has shafts, and parts for the Predators is John @ 817-454-3455.

The Shaft is just screwed onto the antenna, and can be taken off by un-screwing it from the coil, counter-clockwise, using a couple of pairs of vice-grip pliers.

[North Texas Mudduck]

mount it to the trunk

[BONEHEAD]

those antennas are to short... get a 102 inch whip with 6 inch spring..you will love it.. way better..

[North Texas Mudduck]

and what makes them to short?????

[BONEHEAD]

what is the total height (inches) of the Predator antenna.. ??? from SO 239 connector at base of antenna to tip>? curious here..

[North Texas Mudduck]

what size shaft you want to start with

[BONEHEAD]

I bet is not 108 inches..height is better than anything..coils don't cut it.. they look nice and impressive..but do nothing to compare to height..
Doug

[Approach]

Get a measuring tape, and measure the length of the shaft from where it screws into your antenna mount, to the bottom of the coil. That would be your shaft length..(It should be either 9, 12, 17, 22, or 27" long". Those are all the shaft sizes)
.

I measured it. Fyi, it is 17"

[BONEHEAD]

I am talking about TOTAL height from coax connection.. that is what is IMPORTANT.. not all the stuff coiled up that don't mean Jack nothing.. you get your signal from the tip of that antenna.. just like your base setup.. the better the height is the better the signal.. said and done..
Doug

[jessejamesdallas]

Get a measuring tape, and measure the length of the shaft from where it screws into your antenna mount, to the bottom of the coil. That would be your shaft length..(It should be either 9, 12, 17, 22, or 27" long". Those are all the shaft sizes)
.

I measured it. Fyi, it is 17"

OK...You can get the 12" shaft, and make it not quite as tall...But if you have cut any off the stinger, then by going with a shorter shaft, you would also need to get a New stinger, because the one you have now, is going to be too short...

"shorter the shaft...the taller the stinger"

Personally, I would tell the wife just to "get use to it!"...Reason being, as for as "Looks" go, the 17" and 12" shaft 10K's really don't look all that much different...least not at a glance...Because it's a Open Coil design antenna, even the 9' shaft 10K's are going to look Big, compared to something like a Wilson base loaded magnet mounted antenna, or one of those short "Rubber-Ducky" antennas...