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WILSON VERTICAL CB
ANTENNAS
ON THE HAM BANDS?
Get a lot of bang for your
buck!
By John Reisenauer ~ KL7JR
See
latest updates at bottom of page!
(Updated March, 2012 with maps )
(Updated June, 2011- Mag mount testing on 6
meters)
(Updated July, 2010 - "outdoor" tests from VY1, ant up 7
ft)
(Updated May,
2010 - Using them as horizontal dipoles)
(Updated March, 2010 - Input
from a user)
(Updated November, 2009 - Using them as horizontal V
Beams)
Every now and then I stumble
on a fabulous antenna at a really cheap price that works well on the ham
bands. What would you say if I told you for about $20 you could work a lot
of DX on 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20 meters with one Wilson FGT-2 vertical
antenna CB antenna?
Numerous testing over the last few years
resulted in some very good readings on my MFJ 259B analyzer using Wilson
FGT series CB verticals on the ham bands as verticals, horizontal V beams
and dipoles (horizontal or vertical). Although some of my tests were
conducted "indoors" from a "deed restricted" community, the settings
proved to be good starting points for outdoor use.
My main goal
was to take the economically priced Wilson FGT series CB antennas to a new
level! The verticals had to be easily modified for ham band use (more than
just 10m), easily transported for portable use, compact and provide some
gain within a small footprint. That's a lot of "wants" I know, and I got
just that. Imagine 6 ham bands (6, 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20m!) on a $15
antenna!
Graphic (Wilson
Antennas)
We all know of Wilson's
antenna reputation.
Their website www.wilsonantenna.com rates the FGT-2 with some impressive figures (as
tested against other CB antennas) including a relative db gain of 3 (FGT-3
was rated 4.5 db gain)!
I read in a past issue of
the TCA Magazine
(Canada's
equivalent of QST) where a ham, Tom - VE1TWB /VE1DC, used
this antenna for mobile use on 10, 15 and 20 meters, so I decided to try
it and see if it would also work the WARC bands as well.
See Tom's comments below in the updated
information.
The Wilson FGT series
antennas, FGT-2 through FGT-5, (FGT-2 is two feet long, the FGT-3 is three
feet long, etc. etc.) are top loaded 3/8 inch fiberglass rod construction
with standard 3/8 inch x 24 inch thread
mounting.
They are available in red, white or
black and have "an exclusive impedance matching transformer lead" which
you attach to the antenna mounting connector,
(I simply let it dangle
as in photo #1 below, as I found it doesn"t make any difference if it"s
attached or not).
PHOTO #1
The results of my use of this antenna are as follows.
It was during the winter of 2000 when I really got hooked on this antenna for mobile or portable use. I had racked up over 60 countries on 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20 meters from Cousins Island, Maine, in my rental car (see photo #1 above).
The FGT-2 was bolted to a short mast which was sitting in the trunk and duct taped to the lid hinge. I didn"t want to drill holes or leave connection marks on the rental car, so I found another use for duct tape!
From St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, I worked HB9, OM5, 7X5, PA3, AZ4, EA8, EA7, EA1,5Z4, FS, G0, YV4, 8R1, DF3, DJ4, I8, PW7, F6, PY2, IR4, 9A7 and many others on 10, 15, 17 and 20 meters in the winter of 2003/2004. The FGT-2 vertical was mounted on a CB mirror mount connector bolted to a five foot length of pipe stuck in the sand with 3 ground radials spread out.
From near Bear
Glacier in Alaska, I worked KH6, KL7, HK3, VE7, VE6, VE4, VE2, ZL1,
VK2, VK4, JA1 thru JA7 and all over the lower 48 states on 10, 17 and 20
meters in the spring of 2002.
The FGT-2 vertical was on a tri-magnet
mount on the roof of my truck (see photo #2 below). Put on your parka, the
photo is very "cool"!
Photo #2
From Galveston Island, Texas, I worked VE4,
VE2, VE7, VE3, XE1, XE2, IK7, IK8, JI3, DL8, LY2, VP2, CO8, TG8, 6Y5, IW1
and a few others plus 45 states during 4 weekends of poor band conditions
on 15, 17 and 20 meters in the summer of 2006.
I
used the same mag mount as above but with a FGT-4 vertical. With a 48 inch
stinger, the FGT-4 is resonant across the entire 20 meter band. For now, I
use an auto-tuner and the 20 meter tip and have good results on most
bands. Further experimenting with the FGT-4 is
required.
Tip lengths for a Wilson FGT-2 Vertical CB Antenna:
28.300 to 28.700 MHz 2 and 5/16 inches
24.930 to 24.990 MHz 6 and 1/2 inches
21.200 to 21.450 MHz 13 and 3/8 inches
18.100 to 18.168 MHz 28 and 1/2 inches
14.200 to 14.325 MHz 40 and 3/4 inches
Tip length for a Wilson FGT-4 Vertical CB Antenna:
14.100 to 14.325 MHz 48 inches
Above measurements are for
the whip set all the way in the antenna.
Just tighten the set screw and
go for it. An MFJ
antenna analyzer was used and the measurements should be close for most
uses.
Wilson's FGT series of vertical antennas may be available
through your local CB dealer (shop around for a good price), or check
Wilson's website for dealer locations and antenna specs (http://www.wilsonantenna.com/fiberglass.php).
I've seen ads for the
FGT-2 for $18.95 and the FGT-4 for $23.95 on the web.
For the
whip tips, you can buy them (make sure they'll fit the FGT verticals
first!) or simply use stiff wire (a metal clothes hanger works good!) to
save money.
You'll want to purchase an extra allen wrench as they
are lost easily (one comes with each antenna).
I
highly recommend the Wilson FGT antennas for mobile, portable or perhaps
for low profile fixed station use ON THE HAM
BANDS!
73 de Yukon John,
KL7JR/KL7USI
Updated
information and comments from Tom Brazil, VE1TWB /
VE1DC:
"I know it works well..... I had used this antenna
mobile for about 5 yrs on my tractor-trailer before I decided to tell
anyone about it. I worked stations all over the world on my mobile
antenna.
One night I worked my friend VE1LV-Hal from
Mohave Desert heading to Bakersfield. It was at midnight
when I called Hal and chatted with him for an hour before signing of.
Another time in 1996, I was mobile working Canada Day Contest
from in Erie, Pa, when I hear a JA operator calling me.
I could hardly
believe my ears when I heard him say that he was receiving me at a 5/7 -
5/8 signal on 20 meters in Japan!
I know of quite a few hams here
in Canada that are using the Wilson and really enjoy the antenna. Some
hams can't believe how well it works. A friend of mine VE4DS - Darrell
used the antenna for a year and could not believe how well it worked.
Darrell purchased a Yaesu mobile vertical which worked pretty good but
Darrell said he had to go back to the Wilson because of the better signal
TX/RX on 20 meters.
The antenna does perform well! I remember one day leaving home in Nova Scotia heading for California and hear a DL4 calling. I went back to him and we had a QSO for about half an hour and he could not believe that I was using a 5 foot antenna on 20 meters, because it had a steady signal of 5/8 and never wavered one bit.
I would like to see every ham try the Wilson.
The reason why I designed the Wilson modification was because when I
was mobile, most of the mobile verticals were mostly 8 feet long and they
stick out like a sore thumb on a tractor-trailer and most of them didn't
work very well either. So when I discovered the Wilson I mounted it on the
truck mirror and it looked like a CB antenna but just a little
longer, and it kept thieves away from my truck."
I have a bunch of
QSL cards stored away from stations I worked from all over, but the two
that stick out the most are DL4 & JA.
Anyone that uses this
antenna for the first time won't believe how something so small works so
well."
73 Tom Brazil,
VE1TWB / VE1DC
Updates:
November, 2009.
USING
WILSON FGT-2 VERTICALS AS HORIZONTAL V BEAMS by KL7JR
|
Indoor prototype frequency and swr
measurements of
Multi-Band Possibilities: FGT-2 w/ 3 1/2" stinger - 26.700 - 10 and 12 meters FGT-2 w/ 17" stinger - 19.660 - 15 and 17 meters FGT-2 w/ 30" stinger - 16.260 - 17 and 20 meters Note: R=50 ohms and SWR below 3 in above single band testing indoors. The settings will get you close and better results outdoors (I hope!). Use an ATU for fine tuning and especially if trying multi-band use.
|
November 23, 2009 - The upcoming weeks have passed. Here is another update with outdoor testing on the air!
Test results from the field at 25 below zero for VY1RST (KL7JR
and WL7MY ops) in Beaver Creek , Yukon on November 19-22,
2009.
From Buckshot Betty's Cafe and Cabins in
Beaver Creek, Yukon
Installed in
picture below!
Yes, that's cold snow...and a hot antenna!
The V beam far exceeded my expectations from
such a harsh environment. A pair of Wilson FGT-4 verticals with 41
1/2 inch stingers were used with a TS-570D (100w) and LDG Z-100
tuner.
The tuner easily tuned the V beam all across 20 meters so
I knew the tip length was close from previous
tests!
VE6EPK and VE6EX in Calgary were kind enough to give me a
few minutes to compare the VY1RST antennas. We traded
5x9 reports all the way around (V beam was pointed to the Midwest
states).
Later on 20 meters, I got similar
report comparisons of 5x9 on the 2010 vertical and V beam from hams in CO,
TX, SC, MN and LA which lead me to believe I was getting 180 degree
coverage and some gain with the V beam.
WH6OR on the Big
Island gave me a 5x9 on the vertical and a 5x7 off the side of the V
beam.
For years I wondered if CB verticals
without any special matching or fancy baluns would work on some ham bands
as simple compact and economical beams.
Previous indoor testing in
this article above, (we live in an apartment), on 10, 12, 15, 17 and
20 meters with my MFJ 259B analyzer showed promising results.
Now I know!
Future testing on
other bands to follow. Imagine that, a simple (direct coax
connection) and compact beam for about $50. 73, de Yukon
John KL7JR/VY1RST
------------------------------------------------------
Wilson FGT-3 Verticals Tested as Horizontal
Dipoles
by Yukon John
KL7JR/WP2JR
I've been using CB antennas on the ham bands since 1987 with good results.
I mostly used the base station antennas
(Solarcon A-99, Shakespeare 2010, Super Big Stick etc.) on 10,12, 15, 17,
20 and 40 meters with a tuner but now I'm "driven to" mobile CB antennas
for use as mini-beams on 10-30 meters. Here's what I discovered testing a
pair of Wilson FGT-3s as horizontal dipoles.
Keep in mind dipoles are
closer to 60 ohms than 50 to begin with, so readings around R=60 should be
good. I've noticed that little changes are required when switching from a
horizontal dipole configuration to a vertical dipole or a one element V
beam, so I always start testing as horizontal dipoles.
Your ATU should easily handle any adjustments as mine do.
The Wilson FGT-3 seems to favor 10 MHz (see 10.140 and 10.500 MHz numbers in the chart below), and using the supplied ground strap (aka impedance matching transformer) often aided in more desirable readings! The 28.450 reading ain't too shabby either using the ground strap!
I highly recommend you NOT to cut off the ground straps. Just let them
dangle. You may need them later on another band! "Good" and "poor" R and X
values shown for comparison. The tip lengths below should be good starting
points.
TIP FOR TUNING:
I use metal clothes hangers to
experiment with before I cut any commercially made whips to length. I
found that most dry cleaning shops will give out used, and sometimes new
metal hangers if you ask them nicely!
Note that Wilson advertises
the FGT-3, 4 and 5 as 5/8 wavelength antennas rated at 1000 watts. I have
no doubt the FGT-3s will perform great on the ham bands as the FGT-2s and
4s have for me to date!
73 de Yukon John
All readings taken with MFJ-259B
|
FGT-3 Vertical |
With Supplied | ||||||
|
Pair used as Horizontal Dipole |
Freq MHz |
SWR |
"R" |
"X" |
Ground Connected | ||
|
with 17 1/4" tip |
10.100 |
1.8 |
50 |
27 |
yes |
||
|
with 17 1/4" tip |
10.140 |
1.8 |
57 |
14 |
yes |
||
|
with 17 1/4" tip |
10.500 |
1.1 |
60 |
0 |
yes |
||
|
with 9 1/2" tip |
18.150 |
2 |
48 |
33 |
yes |
||
|
with 9 1/2" tip |
18.150 |
2.3 |
41 |
46 |
no |
||
|
with 12 1/2" tip |
21.280 |
2.2 |
48 |
40 |
no |
||
|
with 12 1/2" tip |
21.280 |
2.8 |
38 |
47 |
yes |
||
|
with 5 1/2" tip |
24.900 |
2.2 |
62 |
35 |
no |
||
|
with 5 1/2" tip |
24.900 |
2.1 |
67 |
30 |
yes |
||
|
with 7 1/4" tip |
24.950 |
2.2 |
63 |
36 |
yes |
||
|
without tip |
28.000 |
3.2 |
50 |
61 |
no |
||
|
without tip |
28.000 |
2.2 |
52 |
19 |
yes |
||
|
without tip |
28.200 |
1.9 |
45 |
22 |
yes |
||
|
with supplied tip (full in) |
28.000 |
1.8 |
50 |
23 |
yes |
||
|
with 3 1/2" tip |
28.100 |
1.7 |
50 |
20 |
yes |
||
|
with 3 1/2" tip |
28.100 |
3 |
72 |
74 |
no |
||
|
with 8" tip |
28.450 |
1.3 |
50 |
14 |
yes |
||
|
with 8" tip |
28.450 |
5 |
23 |
54 |
no |
||
|
Note: 14 MHz tests all mostly with X over 50, so
apparently not 20m friendly! |
|||||||
----------------------------------------------------------
(Update-March 2010) KC0QPJ - Colorado
My name is Chelsey
Johnson, I am a General Class operator KC0QPJ in Colorado. I have had
numerous difficulties getting on the air the last few years because of
space restriction and landlord restrictions. I operate an FT-817 and at 5w
max out it is a challenge anyways.
After reviewing your page about
the Wilson CB antenna mods I decided to give it a shot. I bought 2 FGT-4's
and installed them on back to back mirror mount brackets so that they
would be in dipole fashion. I work on an ambulance and have never been
able to get on the air during our down time at the station. I simply could
not string a wire dipole up..too much possibility to upset the boss or
have some kid get tangled in the supports. But I decided to bring the
Wilson dipole to work and try it out for the first time today. Simply
stated, I'm estatic! I hooked up the Ft-817 and my LDG z100 auto tuner.
The antenna tuned to resonance like a charm across the whole 20m band. I
worked the CQ-WW-DX contest at work today and made 20 QSO's all with a 599
report. I was able to string the dipole up high in a tree and run my coax
into the upstairs of the station, out of the way of any one who might be
concerned/mess with it. For an antenna that is only 25 feet up and a radio
that runs 5 watts at best QRP, it cannot be beat! Thanks for living the
true spirit of Amateur Radio and sharing this awesome antenna idea!
The antenna's are great! Thanks to John,
KL7JR and HamUniverse I now have an awesome portable set
up.
------------------------------------------------------------
Update
July, 2010 by KL7JR, JOHN
FGT-3
as a V beam ("outdoor" tests from VY1, antenna up 7 ft.)
I knew the FGT-3 was 15 meter friendly from my previous indoor tests, and outdoor testing and in
July, 2010
from Cottonwood RV Park near Destruction Bay Canada verified it.
Impressive numbers were obtained just above
and below the 15 meter band. After several attempts
with stinger lengths ranging 10 to 14 inches long,
and whether a ground strap was used or not, I stopped testing in
hopes an ATU would bring the antenna more in line
on 15m. This is yet to be seen and I will try again later on.
with 10" stinger and both legs grounded.....Freq 21.825, SWR 1.1, R 57 and X 0
with 10 1/2 stinger and hot leg grounded.............21.800, 1.1, 65 and 0
with 12" stinger and no grounds...........................21.102, 2.2, 66 and 22
with 12" stinger and both legs groundd................21.080, 1.8, 72 and 24
with 13" stinger and hot leg grounded..................20.571, 1.1, 64 and 0
UPDATE 06-22-2011
Wilson
FGT-4 Testing for 6 Meters by
KL7JR
*Whip
length Freq
MHz SWR
"R" "X"
50 1/2" 50.150
1.2 43
10
14.250 5.9 9 15
48" 50.150 1.4 48 17 Best numbers!
14.250 6 9 14
40 3/4" 50.150 1.5 37 12
14.250 4.8 11 13
37" 50.150 1.3 40 11
32 1/2" 50.150 1.6 43 23
15" 50.150 1.8 50 29
11 3/4" 50.150 2 48 33
*Whip inserted fully in and ground strap left to dangle. 14.250Mhz used for reference only.
Mag mount on
metal chair on top of plastic picnic table for
height.
Antenna Experiment Notes and Tips:
Do not cut off the supplied ground straps (impedance matching transformers) on the FGTs. Leave dangle if you don't use them. Some of the FGT series antennas work better on the ham bands with them connected! If I used the ground straps, I'll list as "yes".
Non-ham frequency ranges shown for "information only".
Remember that dipoles are closer to 70 ohms than 50, so don't worry about R readings in the 70s ( a tuner will help if R in low 40s).
All
measurements taken with whips fully inserted in the
antennas.
I recommend
you have a tuner in line unless you fine tune your antenna to suit your
surroundings especially if the R is 40-50. The tuner will make it
right!
"T" Mount details here>> http://www.hamuniverse.com/kl7jrdipoleTmount.html
UPDATES MARCH, 2012
North America map coverage - Pdf
file download (rotate map when loaded)
World
Coverage map - Pdf
file download (rotate map when
loaded)
Have fun
experimenting and please provide feedback should you experiment with these
verticals. 73 KL7JR kl7jr@yahoo.com
The MFJ-259B gives you a complete picture of your antenna's
performance
anywhere between 1.8~170MHz, even outside the HAM
bands!
Get More Info From MCM
Electronics!