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Call Sign : 26-CT-3918 Posts : 44 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2020-12-20 QTH or Location : Willerby,hull Equipment Used : Anytone At5555 thunderpole base station.
Subject: What is this? Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:38 pm
Hello all.
Maybe a stupid question but was is the screw at the bottom of my steel pole 18ft thunderpole 5/8wave?
See photos.
Dont want to unscrew just in case it messes with swr.
Seasick Contributor
Posts : 79 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-02-19 QTH or Location : Norfolk Equipment Used : Uniden BCT 15X
Subject: Re: What is this? Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:54 pm
Just a guess, but it is probably holding the loading coil in place. I used to use old CB antennas back in the early 80's for all sorts of bands & because they all have loading / matching coils inside their base. I had to remove them & I believe, although it was years ago, that it was simply a matter of removing the antennas base & then undoing a screw, or two.
Last edited by Seasick on Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:53 pm; edited 1 time in total
David.gwynfa likes this post
chazwozza Senior contributor
Posts : 127 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2020-02-15 QTH or Location : England Equipment Used : Radios
Subject: Re: What is this? Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:52 pm
It does 2 things 1 it connects the mast to the insulator ( if removed you can slide mast up and down) 2 the screw itself connects to the driven element part of the coil
Razz229, David.gwynfa and Seasick like this post
courtney New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4007 Posts : 5 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2021-02-22 QTH or Location : London Equipment Used : President Mckinley, President Grant 2, CRT SS9900
Subject: Re: What is this? Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:09 pm
Undo it and throw it into nextdoor neighbours garden.....it will improve your swr
Blue Boy Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-3366 Posts : 50 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2019-09-14 QTH or Location : North Manchester Equipment Used : crt 6900n - midland 705d - Age : 71
Subject: Re: What is this? Mon Mar 01, 2021 11:13 pm
Secures telescopic driven element to the housing which in turn is connected to a coil in the housing. Can corrode pretty badly and affect performance. I regularly remove it and check and grease it. On one bottom mount arrangement (Silver rod but virtually same) I've drilled right through and put a good standard stainless steel bolt through with the intention of strengthening the join and improving the connection. Seems to work...
Today at 12:19 am by 
Subject: What is this? 
