[K3PZN-List] Mobile Antenna Question

[Nick Proy (WT3O)]

Good Evening Everyone,

I have a mobile antenna question. I think I know the answer, but I wanted to see if anyone else had any thoughts.

I just got a new F-150 and want to install my FT-857 and ATAS-120 antenna. This year's F-150s are a little taller than previous years. If I put my ATAS-120 on the bed rails via a bed stake pocket mount, the antenna will be about 9 1/2 feet from the ground to the top of the antenna. I'd still like to go through drive thru (banks, fast food, etc...), but most clearances are about 9 feet. I was thinking of cutting off about 8" of the ATAS whip and let the loading coil pick up the difference. I can't imagine 8" would make a huge difference on 20M or 40M (or even VHF with the auto-tuning antenna).

Does anyone see any problems (other than a slight performance decrease) with cutting off a few inches of the whip?

Thanks and 73!

-Nick (WT3O)

Sent from my iPhone