Question about my new Predator 10K

Lightninrod · May 8, 2009

I just installed it on my F150 front bed rail. It has the long, 27" shaft to place the coil above the cab roof.

I put my Maco meter inline and tested for SWRs on ch. 1 and 40. With the stock, uncut stinger installed, the SWRs showed 1.3/1 from 1 to 40--decent but not optimal. I then drove around and got a report from a experienced CBer that in was in another mobile who told me it sounded like the deadkey was too low so I opened it up a little and he said it sounded fine then. Everything is OK right...?

Well, my question is this, even with the 10K stringer bottomed out in the antenna's top piece, the stinger is very long/high. I can't use(mostly monitering ch. 19 to help with local info requests---short transmissions)the antenna on its mount with my truck in the garage without the stinger curving over at the garage's ceiling. Plus, it just 'looks' too long...

I tried the shorter(about 2' shorter) stinger from my Wilson 2000 and the SWRs were at 3/1 ch. 1 to 40 with that stinger so I d/k if I can shorten the 10K stinger and still get a decent SWR ratio.

Any help or suggestions?

FriedTater · May 8, 2009

Which model do you have ?
I run a 10K Competition on my truck that about 5'5"(still under 13'6")
I'm thinking you have the big one,you can probably cut 18" off that stinger and start from there. I wouldnt settle for anything short of 1:1

Lightninrod · May 8, 2009

It's the 'standard' one; one coil but with the 27" lower shaft. I haven't measured it but the stinger is close to 5' long. I did try the Wilson stinger in it and it's maybe 3' long but the SWRs went up to 3.0/1 at 1 and at 40 so shortening the 10K stinger doesn't sound like it would work. I thought with the longer, lower shaft, the length of the stinger could be shorter but I'm wrong.

I called the store owner I bought it from in TX and he said it's meant to be that long and since it showed 1.3/1 across the band, I shouldn't expect to get it any lower by cutting it.

I guess I'll just use the Wilson when it's in the garage and change to the 10K for traveling.

Thanks for the reply and the link.

Rat · May 8, 2009

Cut the stinger a 1/4 inch and see what happens. You will still have plenty and up and down adjustment. If it drops a little then hack off another 1/4 inch. You should beable to tune it to 1:1.

FriedTater · May 9, 2009

Where in Tx did you buy it ?
Most shops already know what works with Predator antenna's,dropping the first 18" is a good place to start.

jessejamesdallas · May 9, 2009

Lightningrod...The stinger that comes with the Predator 10K's, are always going to be a little "too long", this is because you can buy the 10K's in a variety of different configurations, like lower shaft lengths from 6" to 27", and different coil set-up's, which will all affect the length of your stinger after it's tuned...So, all 10K's come with the same stingers, (except for the "Comp" and "SW" versions) and the buyer will need to "Trim-2-fit" so to speak...

On the Single Coil Predator 10K's, usually after the thing is tuned, they will be any where from 68" to 72" tall, from the base to the tip of the stinger. You can add a small coil to the antenna, and make it maybe a foot shorter.

That said, probably the most that would need to be trimmed off your stinger, to get the SWR down to 1.1, would most likely only be a couple of inches, at best. Which is not going to help you in the garage...

Best thing to do, is get a "Quick Disconnect" for the antenna, and then take the 10K off the truck before parking inside the garage...(Google "Hank Breedloves Machine Shop" they build some of the best mounts avalible)

-JesseJamesDallas
Predator 10K
Technical Support

Lightninrod · May 9, 2009

Thanks JJD. I was hoping you would reply since you're one of their tech reps. Here's my reply from another board so that those here may see it too:

Thanks JJD. I'll just live with it and forgo an extra coil and/or a shorter stinger for the 10K. I already have one of Breedlove's QD mounts. I got it a few weeks ago and had it in my 2000 Trucker. It's now on my 10K. And, yesterday, I ordered the QD part of the Breedlove kit so now I'll be able to swap antennas quickly; the 10K for traveling and the 2000 for monitoring in the garage.

Appreciate the replies y'all.
Click to expand...

FT: I got it from this site. I called the owner yesterday, asking him what I might/should do and he essentially said what JJD said.

Thanks again y'all.

mlbmd · May 22, 2009

I have a Predator 10k, 27" shaft, Breedlove mount, on the front rail of my pickup. Unable to tune to SWR of anything close to 3 or below. Can tune a 5' Firestik, same mount, same coax, to 1.2.
Have trimmed the stinger to total antenna length of about 68". Have new full length stinger ready to start trimming again.
Any ideas will be appreciated.

jessejamesdallas · May 22, 2009

mlbmd said: ↑

I have a Predator 10k, 27" shaft, Breedlove mount, on the front rail of my pickup. Unable to tune to SWR of anything close to 3 or below. Can tune a 5' Firestik, same mount, same coax, to 1.2.
Have trimmed the stinger to total antenna length of about 68". Have new full length stinger ready to start trimming again.
Any ideas will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

With that high of a SWR reading, I suspect you have a problem either with the fender mount getting a good ground. or bad coax/or coax connector...The 27" single coil Predator 10K in most cases is the easiest of the bunch to tune...If you have a MFJ Antenna Analyzer, it maybe easier for you to figure out where the problem is with the tuning...If you don't have one, or can't find someone that does, it maybe worth your wild to go ahead and install the antenna, then find a CB Shop that has a Analyzer, and let them set the SWR...Also to, if they run into the same problem, maybe they can re-check everything for you to see whats wrong...Not being there to help with your install, it's hard to say for sure whats wrong, other than re-check the coax, connectors, and ground.

When you get the 10K installed, and slip the stinger all the way in the top section of the antenna...without cutting any off the stinger, you should have a SWR reading between 1.5 and 2.5 SWR...That's if everything else is OK...If it's hitting 3.0 or higher, then something else is wrong...

Really...Since the other antenna seems to work fine using the same mount and coax, this is puzzling...

-JesseJamesDallas
Predator 10K
Technical Support

Pig-Pen · Feb 18, 2012

What kind of antenna do I need (Predator) a single or double coil, and also what kind of coax?

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