Tape Whip Adapter

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-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

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-25
PRC-77

Len In

30.5

128

110

29.5

27.5

180

540

103.5/19

Const.

Fish Pole &
gooseneck

Fish Pole

Tape

Fish
Pole

Wire

AS-2125 telescope

Thread

3/8-24

1/4-20

5/16-18

5/16-24

3/8-16

5/16-24

Base

loading
coil

AB-129

AB-591

A3191126-1

PO/AT-892

A3140084-1

AB-1037
spring

Type

flexi

gooseneck

AB-1036
swivel

Len In

2.25

7.75

3.25

8.25

13" & 3.5"

Thread

3/8-24

5/16-24

f13/16-20

5/16-18

5/16-24

f13/16-20
BNC(f)

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:

the AT-892 Tape Whip
it's Flex base called P.O. (Part Of) AT-892 (missing in the Fair Radio Photo)
the 3 meter AT-271 and
it's spring base AB-591
plus an H-250 handset
all in the CW-503 bag.

Here is a search on eBay that finds some of these kits, if you come up with a better search, email me the URL of the page showing the results.
But be careful because the "Sets" are frequently missing items.
@3 (PRC-25,PRC-77) Radio Accessory Bag Antenna Mic* base handset H-250 at-271 at-892
12 May 2007 - eBay may no longer support the search command @, I've asked about it.

Tape Whip Adapter TWA

Background

Notes

Table of Military Antennas

Glossary

Gooseneck

Flexi

Fishing Pole

Spiral

Related Items

Links


TWA2	TWA2 on AB-591 with AT-271	TWA2 on P/O AT-892 with AT-892	AS-2109

	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 - 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.