Tape Whip Adapter TWA

©Brooke Clarke, N6GCE
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TWA ver 2
with AT-271
with AT-892
AS-2109 BaseSpringTelescoping Ant
TWA2
TWA2 on AB-591
with AT-271
 TWA2 on P/O AT-892
with AT-892
AS-2109
Background
Notes
Table of Military Antennas 
Glossary
Related Items
Links
Ordering

Background

Many military portable antennas use a 5/16-24 thread.  Most ham radio and CB antennas and bases use 3/8-24 threads.
The Tape Whip Adapter accepts the military antenna thread and mates to common ham and CB antenna bases.  In addition the Tape Whip Adapter has enough clearance to accept the AB-591 spring base so that the AT-271 can be used on common antenna bases.

Notes

Most of the military antenna components with 5/16-24 threads have a small piece of plastic inserted into the male thread to make the part self locking.  If you experience some torque when installing check for this before you run a die on the threads.

When taking down the AT-271 start at the top so that the spring in the base can work.

Although you can physically combine the P/O AT-892 base and the AB-591, the P/O AT-892 gooseneck is too weak to support the AT-271, it will just fold over.

The AS-2109 uses 5/16-24 thread at all its connection points so the TWA2 can be used at any of them.

The PRC-104 whip antenna socket has 3/8-24 threads so this adapter can be used to mount an AT-271 with the AB-591 on the PRC-104.  It also works great as a way to attach an antenna wire to the whip socket.  It's smaller than the AB-129 and can easily be finger tightened.

Table of Military Antennas 

Antenna
AN-130
AN-131
 AT-271
AT-271
AT-271
 
AT-272
AT-892
AS-3575
37695-721153-3 37695-518026-1
AS-3683
narrow
A3140101-1
Wide
AS-1320
AS-1321
AS-2109
Radio
BC-1000
BC-1000
 PRC-8, 9, 10, 28
PRC-25, 77, 104
SINCGARS
RT-1439
PRC-6
PRC-8, 9, 10, 28
PRC-25, 68, 77
PRC-68A, 126, 128
PRC-128
30-88 Mhz
PRC-128
PRC-136
130-174 Mhz
SINCGARS
PRC-47
PRC-47
PRC-25
PRC-77
Len In
 30.5
 128
 110
110
110
24
 29.5
27.5
27.5
36
17
 30
180
540
103.5/19
Const.
 Fish Pole & 
gooseneck
Fish Pole
 Fish Pole
Fish Pole
Fish Pole
 Tape
 Tape
Tape
Tape
Tape
Tape
 Tape
Fish
Pole
Wire
AS-2125
telescope
Thread
3/8-24
3/8-24
 3/8-24
3/8-24
3/8-24
1/4-20
5/16-18
5/16-24
5/16-24
5/16-24
5/16-24
5/16-24
 3/8-16
3/8-16
5/16-24
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Base
loading
coil
na
AB-129
AB-591
A3191126-1
na
na
PO/AT-892
na
na
na
 A3140084-1
na
 na
AB-1037
spring
Type
na
na
 flexi
flexi
flexi
na
gooseneck
gooseneck
na
na
na
 gooseneck
na
 na
AB-1036
swivel
Len In
 2.25
 na
 7.75
7.75
3.25
na
8.25
8
 na
na
na
 9
na
 na
13" & 3.5"
Thread
?
na
3/8-24
5/16-24
f13/16-20
na
 5/16-18
5/16-24
na
na
na
 f13/16-20
BNC(f)
na
 na
5/16-24

Glossary

I wish to thank Alan Tasker (links, articles) for help in clarifying these terms.

Gooseneck

A "gooseneck" base stays where it is bent. This is used to keep the antenna vertical no matter what the orientation of the radio, such as when the radio is mounted to a soldier's back and the soldier is lying prone (horizontal).

Flexi

A "Flexi" base is semi-flexible, and is used to prevent breakage to the long "fishing pole" rigid type antennas. Many antennas, like the AT-271, are fragile, and by using a flexi-base, there is some give to prevent the antenna from being damaged should it encounter an obstacle.

Fishing Pole

A "fishing pole" antenna is made from multiple rigid sections that snap together, much like those of a fishing rod. Sometimes these sections are held together with a spring loaded cord (AT-271A for example), and sometimes there is just a central flexible steel cord (AT-271B for example). Some of these antenna types have threaded ends and no central cord, and they screw together (AS-1320 for example).

Spiral

A "spiral" antenna is what is commonly called a "rubber duckie" antenna, i.e. flexible, with an internal
spiral radiating element.


These Fishing Pole type antennas were not designed for mobile applications, rather they are for portable fixed application.

The PRC-25 Accessory Kit contains:

Related Items


M-422 M-422 Antenna Adapter -  accepts MS-116/AB-23 masts and has a standard 3/8 x 24 stud
Rigid construction.  The length is needed for the long threads on the MS-116 type mast sections.
AB-129
AB-129 - accepts 3/8-24 male threads at the top
Stiff Spring protects the AT-271 fishing pole from wind or shock.  Without the AB-129 the thin wall tubes in the AT-271 may fold over when stressed.



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Links

Shortened Antennas for Portables by Dennis Starks
Fair Radio - mil radios and accessories
Steve Hanney - mil radios and accessories
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created 11 July 2002.