CB whips
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Shenandoah Valley, Va.
Damonian: I will be installing my Uniden Pro 510 XL on an F-250. A friend gave me her Wilson Little Wil . Do you think this will be more than adequate rather than dealing with the much taller Wilson 1000? When they are tuned....are they altered/cut....and then if yes....might it not tune for my truck ?
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: San Rafael, NM
Mule Ldy
Little Wil is great for temporary installations like on a rented car or a system you move from vehicle to vehicle, but if you are doing a permanent install, I don't recommend it. It is not just that it is shorter. The coil design is just a simple coil in the little Wil. In the W1K, the coil has a tap that keeps the radiation patter low to the horizon and helps maintain broad band low SWR. Just for fun you can verrify this by checking continuity from the center conductor to the shield for both the little wil and the W1k. It will show the little Wil as an open and the W1K as a dead short. Don't let this scare you, remember, when it comes to RF we are talking a whole other ball game so that aparent DC dead short will work magic at 26 to 30 Mhz.
Permanent install on your rig. . . spend the $65 + S&H and get the W1K
Little Wil is great for temporary installations like on a rented car or a system you move from vehicle to vehicle, but if you are doing a permanent install, I don't recommend it. It is not just that it is shorter. The coil design is just a simple coil in the little Wil. In the W1K, the coil has a tap that keeps the radiation patter low to the horizon and helps maintain broad band low SWR. Just for fun you can verrify this by checking continuity from the center conductor to the shield for both the little wil and the W1k. It will show the little Wil as an open and the W1K as a dead short. Don't let this scare you, remember, when it comes to RF we are talking a whole other ball game so that aparent DC dead short will work magic at 26 to 30 Mhz.
Permanent install on your rig. . . spend the $65 + S&H and get the W1K
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: San Rafael, NM
Mule Ldy
Sorry, forgot the second half of your question. Yes, usually you will have to cut to tune. You can also just play around with the set screw to change the height. However, Wilson ships these things ready to go, center band for CB, for most installations. You will definately need to put a meter on your set up and verify.
My F-150 required no tune at all. It's been a couple of months now, but If I remember correctly I was at 1.15:1 SWR on ch19 and around 1.70:1 SWR on ch1 and ch40. Amazing!!!
My Focus is a little different as I have it tuned to cover both 10 meter and 11 meter bands. I have it tuned for operation above ch15 on the CB band and the lower, SSB portion of the 11 meter band. Works great at 600 watts SSB on the ham band or 4 watts AM on the CB band.
FYI, if running 50 watts or more, stay away from the mag mount. Get brave and cut a hole.
Sorry, forgot the second half of your question. Yes, usually you will have to cut to tune. You can also just play around with the set screw to change the height. However, Wilson ships these things ready to go, center band for CB, for most installations. You will definately need to put a meter on your set up and verify.
My F-150 required no tune at all. It's been a couple of months now, but If I remember correctly I was at 1.15:1 SWR on ch19 and around 1.70:1 SWR on ch1 and ch40. Amazing!!!
My Focus is a little different as I have it tuned to cover both 10 meter and 11 meter bands. I have it tuned for operation above ch15 on the CB band and the lower, SSB portion of the 11 meter band. Works great at 600 watts SSB on the ham band or 4 watts AM on the CB band.
FYI, if running 50 watts or more, stay away from the mag mount. Get brave and cut a hole.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
I am new to Cb's and severly confused even after reading.
I am new to the cb world and read the thread. This is my situation. Because I am new I bought a cheap Cobra 19 Ultra CB and a cheap mag antenna and it worked awesome on my ranger. The antenna was on the top of the cab. I bought a new truck ('01 F-250 PSD) and went and bought a firestick and mounted it on the corner of the bed near the cab. After reading the thread I see that is a bad place to put it. It makes sense because I transmit and cant receive anything more than about 100 ft away. Is it because the antenna is in a bad local? 
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: San Rafael, NM
stop the insanity, get a W1k
Ryanl1287
Better place to put that would be in the center, that way your transmit and receive signal will not be blocked by your cab. RF goes through glass. That being said, 100ft. . . you may have another problem. Is your Firestick long enough to stick above the cab? If so by how much?
Don't knock your Cobra 19 Ultra. All CBs are basically the same inside. If you like chrome and extra buttons that don't really do anything to signal quality (receive or transmit), have at it and pay the extra $. I wouldn't.
If you are not running an amp, (don't cuz it's illigal) you can save yourself a lot of headache
now by just getting a Wilson 1000 mag mount and place in center of of your cap top. In my opinion, Firestick = Junk for mobile operation.
Better place to put that would be in the center, that way your transmit and receive signal will not be blocked by your cab. RF goes through glass. That being said, 100ft. . . you may have another problem. Is your Firestick long enough to stick above the cab? If so by how much?
Don't knock your Cobra 19 Ultra. All CBs are basically the same inside. If you like chrome and extra buttons that don't really do anything to signal quality (receive or transmit), have at it and pay the extra $. I wouldn't.
If you are not running an amp, (don't cuz it's illigal) you can save yourself a lot of headache
now by just getting a Wilson 1000 mag mount and place in center of of your cap top. In my opinion, Firestick = Junk for mobile operation.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Damon, the antenna is 17" above the cab. It is a 36" whip. I have a buddy who has a 6' firestik and said he would give it to me because for some reason he wants to run 108" (or 102" cant remember) whips. Should a try the six footer and if that fails get the W1K?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 55
Check the continuity of the feedline to that antenna mount (center to ground) - you should have an open circuit (no continuity). Then, check the SWR.
You may have shorted out the antenna. In which case transmitting in to it is very bad - dead load and you'll blow the finals.
Only getting 100' or so doesn't make any sense. I can do that with a dummy load as an antenna.
What is the other radio you are using to check this "range"?
Steve
You may have shorted out the antenna. In which case transmitting in to it is very bad - dead load and you'll blow the finals.
Only getting 100' or so doesn't make any sense. I can do that with a dummy load as an antenna.
What is the other radio you are using to check this "range"?
Steve
Freshman User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
The other radio is the same. A guy I work with has the same setup and he is having the same problem. Not sure I am followin ya on the continuity stuff. I grounded it to a strut on the bed side. I am thinking about grounding it to the frame. 
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 55
Your coax has two parts - shield and center conductor. The shield should be grounded the center goes to the antenna. You do not want the center grounded. If you didn't install the mount correctly, or any part therein, you may have grounded the center.
Also check to see if you broke the mount, if you have the type with the plastic thing where the coax goes in to (has the mounting stud/nut coming out the top with the coax 90deg to it). Buddy at work went too tight on his and it broke.
Also check to see if you broke the mount, if you have the type with the plastic thing where the coax goes in to (has the mounting stud/nut coming out the top with the coax 90deg to it). Buddy at work went too tight on his and it broke.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: San Rafael, NM
Ryanl1287
This is sort of what I have been talking about in my posts. Dude, save yourself a lot of headache now and order a mag mount Wilson 1000 and place it on top of your cab. . . .at least until you learn more about what you are doing.
Time is money. How many hours are you going to spend on freebie antenna systems only to end up frustrated, then getting a W1k like I have suggested any way. SERIOUSLY
This is sort of what I have been talking about in my posts. Dude, save yourself a lot of headache now and order a mag mount Wilson 1000 and place it on top of your cab. . . .at least until you learn more about what you are doing.
Time is money. How many hours are you going to spend on freebie antenna systems only to end up frustrated, then getting a W1k like I have suggested any way. SERIOUSLY
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 55
Ah but he's learning. It might be frustrating, but its a learning experience.
On the other hand, Ryanl1287, if you have anyone near you that can give you a hand that may help to have some guidance. Once you work through it you'll know how to do it. If you're not real sure what you are doing then it could be a session ofDon't get mad with it, just think through it.
Can you swap radios with your buddy? Put your radio on his antenna and see if the results are the same.
Do you have a multimeter or can you borrow one? If you do, use it to check the continuity between the shield and center of the coax (at either the antenna end - antenna to ground, or the radio end - PL-259 plug that goes in the back of the radio). Do this when there is no radio hooked up. There should be infinite resistance (no connection) between the shield and center.
If that tests OK then check the SWR of the antenna.
On the other hand, Ryanl1287, if you have anyone near you that can give you a hand that may help to have some guidance. Once you work through it you'll know how to do it. If you're not real sure what you are doing then it could be a session of
Don't get mad with it, just think through it. Can you swap radios with your buddy? Put your radio on his antenna and see if the results are the same.
Do you have a multimeter or can you borrow one? If you do, use it to check the continuity between the shield and center of the coax (at either the antenna end - antenna to ground, or the radio end - PL-259 plug that goes in the back of the radio). Do this when there is no radio hooked up. There should be infinite resistance (no connection) between the shield and center.
If that tests OK then check the SWR of the antenna.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BainbridgeBrewer
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Sep 14, 2017 12:02 AM
P4IN COMM4NDO
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
22
Nov 3, 2016 12:12 PM
GeneStoner
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Jan 24, 2005 11:12 AM
