Continuity From Wilson 1000 Base to Antenna?

Hey everyone,

I have a Cobra 200 GTL DX with a roof mounted Wilson 1000. Today, while doing other work in the van, I noticed I had crimped the antenna cable and pronged the PL259 across my meter to check it out. I found, what I thought was a short in the line.

Turns out, once I disconnected the antenna from both the radio and the coax, and tested everything individually, the crimped coax didn't have a short after all -- I actually found it between the Wilson Coil and the antenna itself.

In other words, holding just the Wilson from the coil to the antenna and testing the inner and outer returns a continuous "circuit". However, once I remove (unscrew) the hex bolts from the antenna stud and pull the antenna away from the coil, there's no short (or continuity).

Is this normal? Or is there a problem?

I have continuity from the tip of the assembled antenna and both ends of the PL259. One probe on the antenna tip at all times, one probe on the outer screw results in continuity as well as the center pin.

I had a second Wilson laying around, this one a magnet mount 1000 and tested that one and again, the same deal. I have a good circuit with no opens or shorts from the radio to the coax to the antenna mount, but once I attach the base with the antenna attached (but not yet affixed to the vehicle or the radio) it registers a short at the PL250 end. Both the outer and inner are connected,

What do you guys think?

Thanks for any suggestions/opinions/etc.

Jeff

 

Never knew that, thank you. I was afraid to plug it back in in fear I'd trash the radio.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what I did. I have a second Wilson that's a magnet mount and removed the magnet from the coil and repeated the test. Same exact result. So then I thought... I can't have two shorted antennas. I take far too much care in maintaining my stuff. So...

I just came from the Wilson website and take a look at this:

Testing the Antenna Coil:

1. Remove antenna coil from the mount.
2. Touch one lead (negative or positive) of meter or tester to the center pin at the bottom of the antenna coil.
3. Touch the other lead of meter to either the threads on the bottom of the coil, or the chrome mast at top of antenna.
4. In either position, if the meter shows a shorted condition (needle swings to the far right), or reads continuity, the coil is in proper working order.

​

Apparently this is intended design. I never heard of a CB antenna shorted at the coil, but there goes.

 

At the moment, my radio is on the kitchen table, as I am working in the van around where the radio should/would/will be (again). So I won't be able to check the SWR for a couple of days. But I had already checked the coax for continuity (but didn't get an ohm reading). There's no short in the coax, or anywhere else until I screw the antenna onto the base. That's how I came to find the shorted (and intended, apparently) base coil.

And Wilson seems to indicate this is normal for their antenna!?!?

Would be great if someone who also uses a Wilson would chime in here with their findings.

 

Thank you for the details and explanation, Leon. I'm learning!