Durability of Antenna'a

Submitted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 16:14
ThreadID: 57603 Views:1959 Replies:10 FollowUps:4
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Would like to ask how durable are the Autotune Wip Antenna's (the wip itself not the autotune mechanism). Are they subject to failure from contact with trees etc.

Same with the long UHF antenna's. Do they fail.

Am trying to decide if it is prudent to carry spare antenna's when going remote for an extended period.

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Dick







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Reply By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 16:53

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 16:53
If you have the 'standard' fiberglass whip- it may be worth your while to get the stainless steel whip, as a replacement or a spare..

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Follow Up By: Member - Dick (Int) - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 19:17

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 19:17
Signman

I have the stainless steel whip already.
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Reply By: Member - Footloose - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 17:19

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 17:19
It depends. How many times are you going to whack a branch with them, at what velocity and which part of the whip?
Yes, they do fail (but not often). Check the resistance of the whip if in doubt, it should be less than 10 ohms.
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Reply By: Member - Leigh (Vic) - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 19:52

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 19:52
I lost the top half of my fibreglass whip on the AB due to contact with trees. I couldn't be fagged changing it over at the time and paid the price in the end! I always carry a spare stainless stubby whip and a bit of SS wire to run from the autotune into a tree as a back up. Cheers
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Reply By: Kiwi & "Mahindra" - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 20:03

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 20:03
we have a little stainless looking thing...i dont trust it...i would rather put a big whiteeee on or my other 5ft long thing that i know lasts on trees!

the stereo / radio aerial breeaks b4 our wips...
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Reply By: Member - Jim (Syd) - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 20:28

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 20:28
It's that second branch lurking just after the whip has bent over and negotiated the first one. It whips forward and gets the second one at more than twice the car's forward velocity causing it to bend sharply forward or break!!! Believe me I know and it happened on the AB. Best thing, just take it off and use it when needed.
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Reply By: Member - Dick (Int) - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 21:21

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 21:21
Thanks all for your comments. Much appreciated.



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Dick







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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 21:58

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 21:58
I've got one of those very flexible fine stainless steel whips in the Barrett autotune, and have lost two aerials. Even though they are incredibly flexible, they fatigue where they join the base, and snap there. Simple solution is to wind some electrical tape around the base and whip, so if it breaks off, you won't lose the whip. Just have to remove the grub screw and reinsert.
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Follow Up By: Member - Dick (Int) - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:28

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:28
Phil

I have a Codan autotune and the stainless steel whip has a big spring on the base which I think will help but it still looks like the weak point to me. I will try your suggestion of tape around the spring base and the SS whip.
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Reply By: Member - Doug T (FNQ) - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 22:17

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 22:17
My experience with the long hollow fibreglass antenna's is the very thin wire up the gutz breaks after prolonged rough corrugation driving, the helical wound or the plain wire is a better idea.
One of these will give longer service
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Reply By: Member - nrb1748 (VIC) - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 22:52

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 22:52
On the same subject, which aerial gives the best performance results - the stainless steel or the fibreglass?
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Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 08:35

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 08:35
If you're talking HF Autotune- there's probably no difference between the S/S and the F/Glass...
However, a good tapped whip performs heaps better than the Autotune..

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Follow Up By: Member - Dick (Int) - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:20

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:20
Have only used an Autotune HF Antenna, never tried a tapped Whip. Maybe I should try it.

Back in my early flying days I used trailing wire HF Antenna's and they worked well once you got them tuned.



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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 20:05

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 20:05
Dick,

Dunno about the autotune whips, as we've only ever used the multi-taps by Terlin, or RFI.

I know stainless UHF whips will fatigue from lots of corrugations. It's in the laps of the gods just where it breaks, but my bet would be odds on for just above the mounting nut.

As Jim has said the fibreglass will break if they hit a tree with force, but you may be able to tape it up enough to keep using it. They are very light, would be better to carry a spare.

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