Abstract: An antenna with a loading coil (26), is constructed with the spacing between turns of the coil and the diameter of the coil being precisely fixed in a mass-produced loading coil. Three rib members (80, 82, 84) are provided that have slots (90) that receive the turns of the coil, with the rib members being circumferentially spaced about about the axis (32) of the coil. The lower ends (94) of the rib members are fixed in radial position to the bottom (144) of the loading coil frame (140), and the upper ends (92) of the rib members are connected to a ring (130) that braces the tops of the rib member to each other and that expands the diameter of the upper portion of the coil, to form a rigid combination of coil and rib members.

Abstract: A base loaded antenna is provided, which securely holds the inductive loading coil of the antenna while minimizing capacitive coupling of adjacent coil turns. A coil support has fins with grooves that hold the coil, so most of the space between adjacent coil turns contains only air. A cover surrounds the coil, and the coil support is loaded in tension while the cover is loaded in corresponding compression. A base on which the coil support and cover are mounted, is held to a vehicle sheet metal body by a star plate that lies on the underside of the sheet metal. The star plate has bent-up peripheral portions that "dig" into the sheet metal to make an electrical ground connection therewith, and a flat middle for making electrical and mechanical connections to outer coaxial conductors.