school me on antenna base AB-558

[maddawg308]

Saw a couple at a local surplus shop in good shape, I thought the base said "AB-588" but the -588 is for microwave only, and a search on AB-558 brings up a picture that looks like what he has. Looks like it's a whip base for VRC-12 series radio installations, from what a Google search brings up. But I have never seen it in use. Anyone have more information on the AB-558 base, or any pics of it in use on their vehicles?

 

[1958 M274]

Saw a couple at a local surplus shop in good shape, I thought the base said "AB-588" but the -588 is for microwave only, and a search on AB-558 brings up a picture that looks like what he has. Looks like it's a whip base for VRC-12 series radio installations, from what a Google search brings up. But I have never seen it in use. Anyone have more information on the AB-558 base, or any pics of it in use on their vehicles?

The the upright flexible part is the same as an AB-15 if I remember correctly, just with a green plastic base to bolt into a scoop mount instead of the porcelain base used on the older AB-15.

 

[ke6rwj]

I remember these as a replacement to the AB-15 mount that had the porcelain insulators, im looking in some manuals to see what year they started...

 

[ke6rwj]

you should be able to remove the center bolt/connector/whip from the porcelain AB-15 and install it on this one.

 

[ke6rwj]

http://radionerds.com/images/2/25/TM_11-5820-401-20-1.pdf Page 2-32, its used with the R-442 and is interchangeable with the AB-15

 

[papakb]

The Ab-588 has the same footprint as the MX-6707 or the AS-3900 so if all you need is a simple receiving antenna this fills the hole. It does use the AB-15 flex section and you can either use the MS-116/7/8 sections or an upper from the AT-1729 as your antennas. I think they were originally for armored vehicles that didn't have a 2" hole to install the AB-15.

I've seen them in both green and tan.