Getting the right UHF aerial that won't break

[Bamurru Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bamurru]

Greetings all
This is my first post on Pradopoint, so I apologise in advance for any breach of forum protocols
Anyway I have a 2009 120 series Diesel with a lightweight aluminium bullbar
I bought a UHF aerial on line: Uniden AT 870-V which snapped at the whip with the vibrations on the bulbar on the Cape roads. I replaced just the whip with a heavier GME model but then the screw in fittings failed although the whip was fine
I need to start from scratch. Thus can anyone recommend a suitable UHF antenna/aerial that is strong enough for the bouncing lightweight bar. Nothing flash reception wise.......just strong
Appreciate any advice
Cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

I fitted mine to the awning. No vibrations there.
Or fit a shorter whip.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

I've got the GME AE4018 whip which was $35 from TJM. Just a standard black whip. My UHF aerial is mounted on the mount point on a TJM steel bar. Mine snapped on the corrugated roads in the Cape as well last year. It developed a fatigue point in the bottom quarter and eventually snapped and folded over. I kept driving and didn't worry about it and it eventually broke and came off the car. I still had communication though and could talk to the other cars with me no probs. I just bought another.

When I first bought the antenna from TJM I originally had one of the thicker single piece ones in mind because I didn't want to have it break if driving through a bush track and clipping some side foliage. The manager there couldn't strongly recommend enough not to buy those thicker antennas. He said if you break it your up for a whole new antenna which can get expensive. He recommended the thinner whip type on the metal spring base which if it got broken, could be replaced quite cheaply. He said that was what most people by far were using.

My only recommendation to you would be to buy a shorter whip what won't fatigue and break, or just pack a spare whip for a trip like that. At $30 odd, no big deal.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

I always carry a spare, just in case. I broke my last whip on some of the side bushes on the track to Lambert's Centre of Aus. Really any aerial would have issues in some environments.

I do have the spring base

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

If GME go for the thicker/stronger spring base. Use a flexible fibreglass antenna [ the metal ones will fail with about half an hour of corrugations] and regularly check that it stays screwed on. A bit of electrical tape around the attachment point will help. Carry a spare if doing a lot of dirt.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Bammurru that antenna you have, use one of the shorter stubby flexible whips and it will be less prone to breaking.

It is the harmonic vibrations set up in the longer whips when on bullbars that make them break.

The shorter 6 inch whip will not affect the performance of your radio much, in fact having a non gained whip can help in some situations.

However sounds like you are getting a lot of vibration if the actual base is also shaking itself to bits. Maybe need to consider mounting the aerial somewhere else.

[Fred63 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fred63]

If GME go for the thicker/stronger spring base. Use a flexible fibreglass antenna [ the metal ones will fail with about half an hour of corrugations] and regularly check that it stays screwed on. A bit of electrical tape around the attachment point will help. Carry a spare if doing a lot of dirt.

Mine used to unscrew it actually has come off twice.
I put a little bit of Silastic on it. Has not moved since.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I have the uniden version of the GME AE4018. The pack I bought had the long whip and a short 150mm whip. The short one is really flexible and looks funny when its vibrating, but its not likely to break.

[awwricecracker Member Find all posts View Profile Close awwricecracker]

I install the RFI cdq5000 regularly. They last up here with all the corrugations - you get what you pay for

[SimpleSi Member Find all posts View Profile Close SimpleSi]

I also have the RFI CD5000. No issue on 10,000km trip around the center. Pleeeeenty of corrugations. http://www.prestigecom.net.au/rfi-cd...uhf-cb-antenna

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

I have a GME AE4703 and my missus has a GME AE4704 and neither has broken after thousands of round corrugated roads and a few run in's with trees. I highly recommend them both.

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Got the short stubby aerial when I recently fitted a gme 3550s. Fitted to oem roof rails on recommendation of Electric Bug in Adelaide. As they said, "height is might", don't need a stick, less dramas and better reception when fitted to roof rail. No issues with vibration. Have a longer wire aerial for longer range out bush if needed.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

I have tried all types of antenna on the bullbar and I agree the RFI ones are probably the best designed, strongest and most reliable. I guess that's why you see them on emergency services and mining vehicles.

The one I currently have is this one - and it is black which means no glare or reflections.

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/rfi-cd...na-with-spring

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

ZCG http://zcg.com.au/d/ZN3-77-11B/

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/rfi-cd...uhf-cb-antenna

Previously had an RFI CD951 Explorist 6.5db whip but it didn't last long mounted on the bullbar. The SS whip disintegrated on the way to Lake Gairdner within a year of install.

CDQ5000 has been installed over 4 years on the bullbar and no problems at all.