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Which mobile antenna would you choose for distance?

Which one would you choose for straight talk distance?


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I can easily see your clearance issues.

Wanted to point out though.

You placed this on the CENTER of the roof, so that usually means Omni direction radiator and pickup pattern.

Signals from all Directions.

But, for DIRECTIONAL effects, the antenna needs to have more of the counterpoise, ground image - ahead of - in the direction of the signal you send (in that direction).

You get a larger lobe of signal in both radiation and capture (pickup) when the antenna works a longer ground plane.

The only reason I mention this is the TYPE of antenna you using - a skip shooter, works for a wide range of mounts and mounting locations - but many use it for the Directionality it has.

The effort of Base or Center load on a similar location - your Omni-directional pattern performance problem - is correct in observation.

It is when you relocate the antenna (Base and or Center load) to the edges of such a vehicle (any type of vehicle) does the directionality issues come into play and tend to make edge locations (to the rear forms pattern towards frontal exposure as an example) their performance more equal between the TYPES of antennas used with Top-Load onto the straight whip being the better to best choice - so your problem with location of the Mount tends to favor antennas that can handle the center mounting location and provide some of the best results to your liking.

The experience I speak from comes from using mag mount antennas with a FIXED antenna mounted to the edge of a vehicle - for fox hunts - you initiate the contacts with the mag mount arranged to give a Omni-directional pattern for the start of the "Hunt" - you can then use the Fixed antenna as a means to throw off the scent by changing the pattern of radiation to a longer directional pattern radiating the signal thru the interference pattern of the Mag mount using the FIXED antenna.

You don't move the vehicle, you move the antenna(s) (Yes plural) for the changes in mounting locations of the Mag-Mount and The Fixed position antenna - you can't change the Fixed, but you can change the Mag mount location and how it couples using the fixed antenna. It can generate a "Beam" or interference pattern you can make a awkward patterns for others that are trying to find the "Fox" - you generate a directional pattern using a combination of both antennas to act parasitic to each other.​

So you're set up for Omni - I grant you that But to ask for more - you'll need to use the longer antennas to obtain the signal results - so the choice is yours to make.
 
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A few years back we had a local guy, handle was Splash. I forget the name, but Road Pro or one of the other truck stop brand companies made a chrome plated open coil antenna with something like a 6 to 9 inch huge open loading coil. Splash had either an old Escort, or Dodge Omni type compact car. He had that monster chrome antenna mounted dead center in the room. The car was his daily driver. The antenna worked well for him, no complaints. Splash impressed me with his choice of CB handle, always friendly guy to talk with.
 
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I can easily see your clearance issues.

Wanted to point out though.

You placed this on the CENTER of the roof, so that usually means Omni direction radiator and pickup pattern.

Signals from all Directions.

But, for DIRECTIONAL effects, the antenna needs to have more of the counterpoise, ground image - ahead of - in the direction of the signal you send (in that direction).

You get a larger lobe of signal in both radiation and capture (pickup) when the antenna works a longer ground plane.

The only reason I mention this is the TYPE of antenna you using - a skip shooter, works for a wide range of mounts and mounting locations - but many use it for the Directionality it has.

The effort of Base or Center load on a similar location - your Omni-directional pattern performance problem - is correct in observation.

It is when you relocate the antenna (Base and or Center load) to the edges of such a vehicle (any type of vehicle) does the directionality issues come into play and tend to make edge locations (to the rear forms pattern towards frontal exposure as an example) their performance more equal between the TYPES of antennas used with Top-Load onto the straight whip being the better to best choice - so your problem with location of the Mount tends to favor antennas that can handle the center mounting location and provide some of the best results to your liking.

The experience I speak from comes from using mag mount antennas with a FIXED antenna mounted to the edge of a vehicle - for fox hunts - you initiate the contacts with the mag mount arranged to give a Omni-directional pattern for the start of the "Hunt" - you can then use the Fixed antenna as a means to throw off the scent by changing the pattern of radiation to a longer directional pattern radiating the signal thru the interference pattern of the Mag mount using the FIXED antenna.

You don't move the vehicle, you move the antenna(s) (Yes plural) for the changes in mounting locations of the Mag-Mount and The Fixed position antenna - you can't change the Fixed, but you can change the Mag mount location and how it couples using the fixed antenna. It can generate a "Beam" or interference pattern you can make a awkward patterns for others that are trying to find the "Fox" - you generate a directional pattern using a combination of both antennas to act parasitic to each other.​

So you're set up for Omni - I grant you that But to ask for more - you'll need to use the longer antennas to obtain the signal results - so the choice is yours to make.
Thank you and understood. I love the Skipshooter but I also wonder and still researching if its thin winding wire compared to all the predators metal would hinder transmit power out. I run a Carl Built 400hd with a galaxy dx979. I already have learned about the receive end(antenna type/all that metal vs. covered wire) but still looking for answers on the transmit out side of the story as well. Thanks again for the great reply.
 
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I had a similar post but with a different question. Antenna on Jeeps roof center, Breedlove Puck Mount, LMR400UF Coax. Out of the two, A 5ft Skipshooter or a Predator 10K K-1-17. Which one would you choose for transmit straight talk distance? If you choose to reply please tell why. Please don't reply another antenna including the 108 inch ss whip, I am just asking between these two. Thanks in advance.
I'm not being sarcastic. My personal opinion is to use the good old (could get expensive) "trial and error" method and buy both (or a few) antennas and see what happens. I've used the trial and error method when experimenting with numerous antennas on my new pick up truck. Testing-out about six or seven antennas on the same day, I parked in the same location and talked with the same base station. I narrowed it down to the 6' fiberglass whip, the Predator 10K w/ 22" bottom shaft and the 102" stainless whip. The Predator and the 102" whip prevailed.
 
I'm not being sarcastic. My personal opinion is to use the good old (could get expensive) "trial and error" method and buy both (or a few) antennas and see what happens. I've used the trial and error method when experimenting with numerous antennas on my new pick up truck. Testing-out about six or seven antennas on the same day, I parked in the same location and talked with the same base station. I narrowed it down to the 6' fiberglass whip, the Predator 10K w/ 22" bottom shaft and the 102" stainless whip. The Predator and the 102" whip prevailed.

Depending on vehicle use one must also add Required Vehicle Clearance Height for an accurate comparison.

Advantage to Predator is modular construction (various potential lengths).

But if it isn’t as good as a GR-45 , then other antennas in excess of 4.5’ may not be “best choice”

See JesseJamesDallas recent reports on the GR-45 — originally a SIGNAL ENGINEERING product — as it doesn’t appear to give up performance to a Predator.

“Best” also means an antenna less affected by conditions. Bugs, ice, wind, etc.

“Right compromise” is always an interesting read with a user report/review.

.
 
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I love the Skipshooter but I also wonder and still researching if its thin winding wire compared to all the predators metal would hinder transmit power out.


In a word, yes.

Heat dissipation is the problem with shorter and thinner (more loaded) antennas - the smaller surface, the wire's own resistive effects - the inductive effects of close winds - all play a role in how much heat the antenna can radiate safely and survive without having the outer protective sleeve breaking down - and allowing water entry or even catching fire - always fun thing to see - just not on your vehicle.
 
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In a word, yes.

Heat dissipation is the problem with shorter and thinner (more loaded) antennas - the smaller surface, the wire's own resistive effects - the inductive effects of close winds - all play a role in how much heat the antenna can radiate safely and survive without having the outer protective sleeve breaking down - and allowing water entry or even catching fire - always fun thing to see - just not on your vehicle.
Yes thats what i thought from reading as well. The issue I have is getting out with obstructions(trees 20ft tall all around me and another test with buildings the same height around me) when we were testing. The predator dropped an s unit on transmit and receive when i was lower than the base. When i came up to level or above the base both antennas were the same reading. This makes me think what I read about center and base loads are better on top of hills or flat open plains is true. I love the Skipshooter for what it does as a top load and I love the Predator because of all its metal but I think if I need to get up and out I need to use the Skipshooter. The thing with doing that is what you explained with dissipation however I've used them for years and with more wattage with no issues, just seems the predator would be the choice for that because of all the metal. I know this is minimal either way but if I can get out just that little bit better easy, I'll look it up LOL as I am in know way any kind of tech on this. When I can I use my SS whip or 7ft Skipshooter above all the others over many years especially shooting skip. Just was looking for that edge if any on these two I have chosen and can use where I am driving which is more of a low sea level city.
 
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I had a similar post but with a different question. Antenna on Jeeps roof center, Breedlove Puck Mount, LMR400UF Coax. Out of the two, A 5ft Skipshooter or a Predator 10K K-1-17. Which one would you choose for transmit straight talk distance? If you choose to reply please tell why. Please don't reply another antenna including the 108 inch ss whip, I am just asking between these two. Thanks in advance.
Why not try a 9" shaft with the Predator? A 17" shaft would be useful on a pick-up truck where the coil will be at or above the top of the roof. I use a 22" bottom shaft with my Predator 10K mounted to a Breedlove Stake Pocket Mount.
 
102 steel whip with 6 inch spring..
Actually, the spring I have is 4-1/4". With the combination of the height of the Breedlove Stake Pocket Bracket (#910), the Breedlove Quick Disconnect (#203) and the 102" whip, the total height / length of the antenna was about 109". I removed the whip from the bottom feral and piece by piece, I trimmed the whip until the total height/length with all the parts was 108" and the SWR is just about flat on all forty channels.
 
Actually, the spring I have is 4-1/4". With the combination of the height of the Breedlove Stake Pocket Bracket (#910), the Breedlove Quick Disconnect (#203) and the 102" whip, the total height / length of the antenna was about 109". I removed the whip from the bottom feral and piece by piece, I trimmed the whip until the total height/length with all the parts was 108" and the SWR is just about flat on all forty channels.

One of my grandmothers would — if you asked her where something was in her kitchen — proceed to give compass coordinates: Western door of the Northeast upper cabinet on the Northern wall.

For you we’ll make it easier:

Port or Starboard?
Bow or Stern, of that pickup bed?

.
 

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