Total Bus Height ... How High Is Too High?

[orbitalsolutions]

Hello Shane,

Thanks for the real-world info about height, I appreciate it.

Hello John,

That Galaxy DX99 is one sweet radio. Thanks for the photos, your
roof looks great!

I'm an old 2-way radio guy myself. Out here in the west every one
is running power because we are all so far apart. Connex has a new
model called the 4600 Turbo. Fully tuned it will do 205 watts on AM.

Well, I just have to have one.

No need for a linear, it's all in one (blue face lit) box. I want
to use a Predator 10-K with it. They have a Short Whip model with a
9" shaft that stands 4' 6" high straight up. I want to put it on
the foof, slightly forward of the center of the bus.

Here's my problem...

The K-10 is light, but the drag on the twin coil center loads is
higher than you might think. I want to mount it with a Shakesphere
4187-HD stainless ratchet mount. This will still allow me to
operate it while driving, from a laied back position like you do
with your Wilson, and get my height down to where it needs to be.

The Shakesphere mount is threaded 1" x 14. The antenna I want to
use is 3/8" X 24. So I need to find an adaptor, or a different
ratchet mount that would be strong enough and have the 3/8 x 24
thread.

So far, I have found neither one. Shakesphere told me that they
used to sell the adaptor for years, but the company that made them
is no longer supplying them.

Any Ideas?

If I ever get this station transmitting I might be able to talk to
China ... LOL !!

-James
78FC33SB
LasVegas NV


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John"
wrote:
>
> James,
>
> I have a different setup than most 'Birds come equipped with and
this
> is from my experimenting with CB's including the base station that
I
> frequently talk on almost daily when I am home. I have been using
> CB's since the early 70's and I have had a lot of experience with
> different antenna setups over my 30+ years of cross country
driving
> in my old business;
>
> http://hometown.aol.com/iamflagman/page1.html
>
> The antenna that I use is a Wilson 2000 brand antenna and as you
can
> see in the following photo, I have it bent over and secured in a
> fashion, where it will not be affected by trees and overpasses and
it
> is very good at receiving and transmitting. I have checked this
with
> a DOSY SWR/SIGNAL STRENGTH/POWER meter and the SWR is surprisingly
> extremely low at a little above 1 on the SWR scale and that is
good
> and it does not harm my radio which is a Galaxy DX99 and I don't
use
> a linear with it for extra power. I have talked at least 2 miles
on
> channel 19 which is the truckers channel with a lot of other
people
> talking, to see if I could talk over them, with no problems and I
> have talked to a friend of mine on his base station 35 miles away,
> but that was on a clear channel, with no other people talking on
it.
> I was told that this would not work, but I have used the setup for
> over a year, with no problems. Here is a photo of the antenna
setup;
>
> http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/37202640
>
> I prefer this setup over the co-phase (2) antennas that came on
the
> early model 'Birds, as it is more simple, being you only have one
> antenna to work with and there is no need for the co-phase,
because
> whereas trucks need this setup to talk around the trailer that
they
> are pulling, that is higher than the cab of the truck itself, we
> don't have that problem, as our antennas are above the body that
is
> behind the antenna. The co-phase antennas were the best technology
> back in the 60's and 70's, but in my opinion you can't beat a
Wilson
> antenna, especially when you have an excellent ground plane
provided
> by the all metal roof of a 'Bird.
>
> Feel free to email me off of the forum, if you need any further
help.
>
>
> "REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001"
> John Finn
> '82 35FCRB
> BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE
> TO VISIT THE "FINN'S INN EXPRESS" REMODELING ADVENTURE
> GO TO;
> http://www.pbase.com/image/24977457
> ALSO VISIT THE:
> Wanderlodge Owners Group Forum
> http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/wanderlodge/
> '66 SUPERIOR / IH 392 GAS V8 32' PUSHER "FOR SALE"
> SEE THE OLD COACH AT:
> http://www.pbase.com/image/26052733
> HOPKINS, SOUTH CAROLINA
>
> /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "orbitalsolutions"
> wrote:
> >
> > I'm replacing antennas. I need help in understanding how high
is
> too
> > high. Yes, I can quickly remove the CB antenna if I have too
(It
> will
> > be the highest.)
> >
> > But I don't want to, at least not very often.
> >
> > If my total height is 14' 8" is that too high? Will I be
alright
> on
> > the big roads?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > -James
> > 78FC33SB
> > LasVEgas NV
> >
>