102 Question

[Ronnie151]

I put my 102 up on a 20 foot pipe yesterday, swrs are 1.5 its about 20feet away from my A99. Problem is it doesnt seem to get out very far, have it hooked up to a Cobra 148, has good ears but not much distance. Last night had both radios on at the same time, one local guy puts 7s 0n the A99 and 3s on the 102. Seems normal until another guy that puts 9s on the A99 was putting 20s on the 102. Any ideas here?? Thank you

['Doc]

Directional?

[Ronnie151]

no just a stainless 102 whip

['Doc]

Actually, I was thinking that it could be because it was directional, nearness of both antennas. If you know where those people you were talking to are located, and how that relates to how the antennas are situated. See where I'm going with that?
- 'Doc

[Circuit Breaker]

I'm thinking there are two reasons. 1) There's no ground plane for the 102. 2) The A99 is a half wave antenna, whereas a 102 with ground plane is simply a quarter wave. A half wave will receive better than a quarter.

[Double D]

I'm thinking takeoff angle. The A99 has a lower takeoff angle than a 1/4 wave antenna, so it's possible that the signals you were receiving were coming in at angles that were favorable to each antenna.

[Ronnie151]

Then why does the one guy , put a 9 on the A99 and a 20 on the 102?? I guess a 102 is a bad idea for a secondary base antenna. The A99 is at leat 20 feet higher than the 102 .

[Ronnie151]

Gonna go up another 10 feet with the 102 to see what happens then. Have a D-104 on both radios but the Cobra with the 102 sounds kinds small next to the Ranger and the A99, even at only 1/2 mile away.

[Ronnie151]

Just wondering, you think a 4 foot firestick would do better than the 102??? I could steal the one of my 14 year old sons bikecycle, he has a small Midland with dual antennas on it. Uses little rechargble batters to power it. It get out better than the 102 believe it or not. Gonna have to learn how to post a picture. lol

[damage855]

you might be a redneck if you have a CB with twin antennas on a bicycle. LOL sorry couldnt resist.

[Tinman590]

I gotta see a picture of that bicycle

[Secret Squirrel]

Dual 102 inch whips on the Wheel Horse Garden Tractor is the way to go.

['Doc]

Will an antenna half the size of a 102" whip out perform that 102" whip? Not if the whip is set up correctly. That 102" whip, or that 4 foot antenna, by themselves, are only half of a complete antenna. Put the 'other' half where it's supposed to be and either ought to work okay.
- 'Doc

[p71vic]

You mean you gotta have a ground plane ?

Just kidding.

Any antenna requires the up side, ( 102 ) and a base. Metal car, shed, cookie pan.

Kinda needs to be equivalent in area.

Mag mounts use capacitive reactance . 1 / 2 pie fr squared. [Please login or register to view this link] and inductance [Please login or register to view this link]

Metal mounts use the actual ground plane. Car, little pipe , etc..

Use some type of base ( search antron up/down ratio ) to bring your 102 in line.