Springer antenna - adjustable?

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Springer antenna - adjustable?
Topic Started: 13 Jul 2012 - 20:54 (215 Views)
Gregory Beetle	13 Jul 2012 - 20:54 Post #1
Posts: 95 Group: Member Member #2,817 Joined: 29-Jun 2012 MANDATORY_Country England MANDATORY_Location Reading, Berkshire MANDATORY_FirstName Mark	Bit of a daft question: is it possible to adjust a Springer antenna? Mine's the larger (about 1.65m) type. Although theoretically a CB antenna, I actually find it's tuned a little on the high side. SWR is perfect on 10 metres, but rises to about 1.6:1 by the time you get down to around 27 MHz - in other words, it's a bit too short. It's about the same whether I use a magmount on the car roof, or the hatchback mount beside the rear windscreen. Any advice? You can adjust the whip by only a couple of inches, and that's not enough. Is it possible to compress (or stretch?) the spring?



Ugly_Bob	13 Jul 2012 - 23:08 Post #2
26 Charlie Tango 065 Posts: 1,479 Group: MemberF Member #483 Joined: 8-Sep 2010 MANDATORY_Country England MANDATORY_Location South Leicestershire MANDATORY_FirstName John	The simple answer is "No". It sounds like it's been over trimmed - maybe even for use on 10 meters. But 'stretching' the coil won't work, as it's a resonant length overall - and wouldn't really make any difference. It either needs a new whip (I think they are available) or a piece welded on somehow. Ugs



Macaroon	14 Jul 2012 - 00:11 Post #3
Posts: 17 Group: Member Member #2,270 Joined: 6-Jan 2012 MANDATORY_Country England MANDATORY_Location north kent MANDATORY_FirstName bob	Why on earth are you worrying about such a trivial amount? even if you got the swr down to 1.00 you wont get any difference in performance I repeat no difference and just for luck no difference!



Gregory Beetle	14 Jul 2012 - 10:07 Post #4
Posts: 95 Group: Member Member #2,817 Joined: 29-Jun 2012 MANDATORY_Country England MANDATORY_Location Reading, Berkshire MANDATORY_FirstName Mark	Many thanks. 1.6:1 I can certainly live with. Obviously, I wouldn't DREAM of operating below 27.965 , but the SWR does rise quite steeply if you go much below that: would be nice to get it down a little (in case I go on holiday in New Zealand ). I'm going to a rally tomorrow, so I'll have a measure of my existing whip and see if I can find anything.



Cherokee	14 Jul 2012 - 10:09 Post #5
Da Injun Posts: 12,752 Group: Admin Member #6 Joined: 24-Jun 2009 MANDATORY_Country Wales MANDATORY_Location The Vale of Glamorgan MANDATORY_FirstName Steve	As Ugs has said, you can't gain a bit more length mby stretching a coil as you'd still have the same length of aerial. The little picture helps. The only way to add ot tlength is to solder, or otherwise attach, additional length to the top or bottom. I think I'd try simply taping a long nail or a drill-bit to the tip of the whip and see if it makes any difference. . . then maybe solder a few CMs of heavy wire on. Quote: I wouldn't DREAM of operating below 27.965 Really? I'm happy enough going all the way to 26.965 Attached to this post: Spring.gif (9.02 KB)



Scottydog	14 Jul 2012 - 10:30 Post #6
26 Charlie Tango 441 Posts: 2,548 Group: Admin Member #691 Joined: 13-Dec 2010 MANDATORY_Country England MANDATORY_Location Sunderland MANDATORY_FirstName Lindsay	You could try fitting a bayonet quick release fitting to the antenna it will give an extra few inches but to be honest your SWR is fine as is SD



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