Firestik or Wilson?

Can i throw another brand in there?

Francis 4ft .

They are a great antenna... Just another to think about, If your set on a glass

I like my 3’ Wilson. Decent receive/transmit when tuned properly and it doesn’t stick up above the jeep far enough to get damaged (it’s on the back bumper towards the middle).

Big A said:

Can i throw another brand in there?

Francis 4ft .

They are a great antenna... Just another to think about, If your set on a glass

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Not so sure about those...they say they're "pre-tuned" and "tuning...on the vehicle is usually not necessary." Anyone who has ever tuned a CB antenna on a vehicle knows that even the smallest change to the antenna or vehicle alters the SWR, and can do so on a large scale, so I don't know how that claim or antenna can be good for your radio, unless you like replacing it often, or you're just plain lucky.

any of the vendors sell wilson antennas? having a hard time finding one...

Alec W said:

I like my 3’ Wilson. Decent receive/transmit when tuned properly and it doesn’t stick up above the jeep far enough to get damaged (it’s on the back bumper towards the middle).

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can you confirm that the wilson has a set screw on the tip?

As long as you get the "Silver Load" Wilson, Your good with the set screw.

Wilson Silver Load

Wilson might be lower quality these days, Since Barjan bought them a few years ago.

I am an old school CB'er, And Francis was KING of the fiberglass whip years ago. Maybe not the case anymore.

anyone know of a place where i can buy a small signal amplifier for the cb in my jeep? yeah, i know, they are illegal. but the question still stands.

mcnaught6 said:

anyone know of a place where i can buy a small signal amplifier for the cb in my jeep? yeah, i know, they are illegal. but the question still stands.

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Welcome the the Mecca of Linears! Just make sure you get a 10 meter mobile

07_Rubi said:

My Firestick antenna got stolen while my jeep was at the dealership. i was reasonable happy with the setup i had (cooltech UltraMount Kit) but the adjustable tip on the firestick didn't have a set screw. I believe the wilson antenna has one. So; should i get another firestick or a wilson?

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Bummer yours didn't have the locknut on it. I'm using a 3' firefly (lighter) and love it. I also alternate to a 108" SS whip.
There won't be a setscrew, but there should be a locknut on the adjuster.

Wow... You put a 102" whip on there?

I used those alot also... I am a believer in "you can't beat 8 feet"

No set srew is correct! Because they are a full 1/4 wave antenna. 18 ft of coax and your good!

i love my fire stick but all i use it for is trails

Big A said:

Wow... You put a 102" whip on there?

I used those alot also... I am a believer in "you can't beat 8 feet"

No set srew is correct! Because they are a full 1/4 wave antenna. 18 ft of coax and your good!

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Sorry, my bad, that's right about the length. After the 6" spring, total length is 108. Yeah, it looks bad a$$, like a big R/C Jeep. I get 2.0 across every channel.

The set screw comment was supposed to go with the fiberglass ant. part of the post. Firestik glass antennas don't have set screws, they have a lock nut to keep the adjuster in place. I don't know how the Wilson's are made.

07_Rubi said:

My Firestick antenna got stolen while my jeep was at the dealership. i was reasonable happy with the setup i had (cooltech UltraMount Kit) but the adjustable tip on the firestick didn't have a set screw. I believe the wilson antenna has one. So; should i get another firestick or a wilson?

Click to expand...

Hmmm... was a tunable tip firestik? I have a 4' firestick II with a tunable tip and it uses a jam nut setup. Was it just missing?

Big A said:

Welcome the the Mecca of Linears! Just make sure you get a 10 meter mobile

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any recommendations from that page? how do i use it once i get one?

mcnaught6 said:

any recommendations from that page? how do i use it once i get one?

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This info is for entertainment purposes only.

The linear goes between the radio and the antenna.
You usually have to have the radio's power cut back to about 2w dead key, with a mod swing of about 3-4 watts if I remember correctly. Linears aren't setup to handle the full power of the stock radio.

If you get a big one, keep a fan on it if you use it a bunch, they get really hot.

That's about all I know..

scrogg said:

Hmmm... was a tunable tip firestik? I have a 4' firestick II with a tunable tip and it uses a jam nut setup. Was it just missing?

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yea, it was a firestik 2...the jam nut you talk about wasn't on it.

Alec W said:

I like my 3’ Wilson. Decent receive/transmit when tuned properly and it doesn’t stick up above the jeep far enough to get damaged (it’s on the back bumper towards the middle).

Click to expand...

does the wilson antenna have a wire coming out @ the bottom?

07_Rubi said:

yea, it was a firestik 2...the jam nut you talk about wasn't on it.

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FYI

You can buy a Firestik repair kit for the Firestik 2 for 1.95 at Walcott CB.
It comes with a 1/4"x20x1.25 brass tuning screw, brass jam nut, a rubber o ring and a red plastic tip.

John L said:

FYI

You can buy a Firestik repair kit for the Firestik 2 for 1.95 at Walcott CB.
It comes with a 1/4"x20x1.25 brass tuning screw, brass jam nut, a rubber o ring and a red plastic tip.

Click to expand...

That's great info John.