VE6AB Mobile Ops
VE6AB Spring Tales
This CAL-AV Mark 5 military grade all stainless spring mounted on my mobile is built in the US, and is no doubt the best quality spring I have ever used with one of my HF antennas, and in fact I now own several of these springs, with both of them in use.
The size of this all stainless steel spring is aprox 2” in diameter, and approximately 5” long, and weighs 2 1/4 pounds. The spring has a tinned copper braid strap, which is internally connected from one end to the other.
The spring has flats milled in place on the end caps, allowing for a wrench to be used without marring the finish of the spring, when installing the antenna mast, as well as the mounting of the spring.
When purchasing this spring, there are options available, one option allowing you to pass your run of coax through the spring. Of course the options come with a extra cost.
The spring requires 9 foot-pounds of torque for a 10 degree deflection. The torque is measured with a perpendicular load applied 36 inches above the spring base on my mobile.
A lot of ham's believe that a spring creates grief with the Standing Wave Ratio of the antenna while underway.
I am here to tell you it isn't so...and what the problem is when you are having problems, is the fact your using a poorly constructed spring.
The SWR of my 17 meter monobander stays as tuned while crusing down the highway at 110 kph, and just so you know, the antenna has no sway once-so-ever at this speed..
The advantages of having a spring as part of the antenna has already proven itself, as I tried to drive in to my garage while my 17 meter monobander was in place on my mobile.
I became aware of the fact, by the noise of the antenna being pushed back at a 30 degree angle, and the fact that the coil was cutting a groove in the trim around the garage door opening.
I backed out, and the antenna stood back up tall and proud.
The only damage done, was to my ego!
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
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