UHF Spring Based Aerial - Which is better; fibreglass or Stainless Steel Whip?

[leachy_9]

The RF performance of the stinger is excellent. Mine is a 1.1m 4.5dB unit and even in open country I have always had as good or better range than people using other brand 6dB aerials.
Leachy

[D4D]

Besides being tough the Stinger has excellent RF qualities. I am pretty sure it was Leachy's at the GTG. Everybody else on the UHF you could hear normally, whereas Leachy would always boom in and have a strong clear signal.

You can buy a 4.5dB (1.1m) and 6dB (1.8m) model. I'll probably buy the 4.5dB as that is a good compromise for the VIC High Country. The 6dB is good for open road touring.

[rob_macca67]

It looks like you can unscrew it from the top of the spring and unscrew the coax from the bottom of the whip... be good if owners could comment...

Where were u looking to see that?

[Snaga]

I think the RFI looks to have a better mounting system, and I dont like the way the coax comes out at 90 deg to the whip.

[photoprado]

Pics from the site:





These are about the same price as the RFI. comes in 1.1 and 1.8m versions too.
If the RFI breaks (doubt it) I'll go for one of these next.

[Snaga]

One thing I noticed from the pics.... it looks like u can't remove the aerial from the base.... is that correct? This might be a bit of a PITA when not using the UHF and driving in and out of your garage...

It looks like you can unscrew it from the top of the spring and unscrew the coax from the bottom of the whip... be good if owners could comment...

[leachy_9]

My Bushcomm has stood up to a beating. In the time I've had it I've seen every other brand/type of aerial fail. They are expensive, but you will not be replacing it regularly like other aerials and it wont leave you without a radio mid trip.
The whip unscrews from the base if you have garage height restrictions. But the since the cable connects into the whip and not the base when you remove the whip the end of the cable hangs loose. Just put a rubber cap over the connection and strap it to the base.
Leachy

[AJ120]

Get a Bushcomm Stinger, it will be the least UHF antenna you will buy.
http://www.bushcomm.com.au/index.php/products/whips

x2 for a Bushcomm Stinger

Pity I didn't know about these before ordering a new arial a few days ago, SWMBO told me I had to get the GME 4705 as they look tough! Who am I to argue

Cheers Andrew

[D4D]

It is on my 'to do' list for the next big trip. I have seen one and they are very good and out perform any antenna on the market. The whip is removed from the spring which stays on the vehicle.

[rob_macca67]

x2 for a Bushcomm Stinger

One thing I noticed from the pics.... it looks like u can't remove the aerial from the base.... is that correct? This might be a bit of a PITA when not using the UHF and driving in and out of your garage...

[rob_macca67]

Get a Bushcomm Stinger, it will be the least UHF antenna you will buy.
http://www.bushcomm.com.au/index.php/products/whips

WOW.... do u have one of these? They look VERY Sturdy. 4.5DB, is that good enough distance wise??

[leachy_9]

Get a Bushcomm Stinger, it will be the least UHF antenna you will buy.
http://www.bushcomm.com.au/index.php/products/whips

x2 for a Bushcomm Stinger

[photoprado]

That link that posted had this down the bottom:

** Recommended for highway use and medium 4WD use.
** Not recommended for diesel vehicles with excessive bullbar vibration **

So, I might give that one a miss considering the movement u get on corrugated roads

I can attest to that. My CD900 whip broke just inside the black section last trip.

Replaced with a CDQ5000 today.

[wooley]

Thanks Andrew.... U confirmed my thinking.....

I was leaning more towards the Fibreglass ones but didn't know which one to get. The one where the wire is coiled externally or the bigger/thicker ones where the wire is coiled internally. I have heard that the ones where the wire is coiled internally can suffer on corrugated roads where the internal wire becomes loose and rattles around inside the fibreglass aerial.....

Anyone experienced this at all?

Never had any problems, one of mine has done ~600,000km (maybe more) and it's still cool.

[rob_macca67]

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index....roducts_id=635

That link that posted had this down the bottom:

** Recommended for highway use and medium 4WD use.
** Not recommended for diesel vehicles with excessive bullbar vibration **

So, I might give that one a miss considering the movement u get on corrugated roads