VHF Antenna Cap?

[dsundy]

Hey all,

Total radio noob here. I am installing a VHF radio into my Jeep for a volunteer organization I'm a part of, and the antenna will be about 2" taller than the cross-beam on my carport.

I am hoping to install an antenna cap such as the one linked below, but everything I see online is listed as a "CB Antenna Cap." This leads to my question: will installing that rubber cap on the end of a VHF antenna have any impact on the signal / performance?

https://www.amazon.com/Firestik-Ant...659416371&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sr=8-2

Thanks for humoring the new guy!

Sponsored

 

[Radio Guy]

What is the diameter of your VHF antenna? A Firestick is about a half inch diameter and that is about what the ID of that cap should be. I can't say I've ever seen a VHF whip that thick.

If your using a simple 1/4 wave VHF whip about 16" tall or a gain type that is longer, they bend easy and typically drag or rub on overhead obstacles all the time with no damage. If they drag on overhead concrete a lot you can eventually grind down the little ball on the end or if there is a complex obstacle that can snag the whip when it changes direction when you back out of the garage that's an obvious problem.

I've had just about every kind of antenna on my vehicles for the last 40+ yrs and have bent a few whips and ground off the little ball tip when I had to park in an underground area with concrete ceiling over a years time and I once bent a huge $600 HF screwdriver antenna on a low overhang so bad it was trashed. It might be good to have someone else park your truck while you watch what happens to the whip so you can determine if its even a problem or if you have to take some measures to protect it.

Adding a plastic or rubber coating to a whip or even part of it will change the tuning very slightly favoring a lower frequency, but probably not enough to worry about.

 

[India-ThreeZeroThree]

That material won’t affect your antenna. But like poster above stated, that’s for a CB antenna which is a fiberglass pole with a wire antenna wrapped around it. Typical VHF/UHF will be like 1/8” or less thick. Shrink wrap tubing will work. And as far as the 2” just to be sure it’s just the 2” from the tip, correct? If so let it ride. Will not hurt antenna or cross beam

Sponsored