Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

I use a very flexible stainless steel whip - costs $45 at the local HF radio shop.

The can still break from fatigue at the base - if it does this, then you can simply loosen the grub screw and put it back in again - good as new. To stop you losing it if it breaks, you can put a piece of electrical tape from the base, up the aerial about 6 inches. I've had 2 snap over the past 5 years, but I have been guilty of abusing them.

MEMBER - Darian (SA) replied:

You should find the autotune adjusting itself automatically to whatever reasonable length whip you put on there.... IE..... different frequencies, on different length whips will all produce different configs inside the autotune - it sorts itself out.
BTW - I use a light duty flexible stainless whip on my Barrett system (same whip mentioned by Phil above).... about 1.5m I think - available widely - tapered wire with a simple female base fitting that mates to the male rod on top of the autotune - I bought a small base spring too (about 100mm) from the local radio shop (brass - chromed) - goes betwen the whip and the autotune - seems not be needed, but adds length and I've never broken the whip........ the spring may absorb some dynamics when mobile.......I have a heavier - heavy duty 1.8m whip too, but usually put that on when static.

Member -Signman replied:

If you go along the Anne Beadell Hwy- you'll probably pick up half a dozen (that I know of) stainless whips on the track- and one of them is MINE !!!