{{Unreferenced, date=May 2019, bot=noref (GreenC bot) The Whip-a-way was a type of folding

whip antenna A whip antenna is an antenna consisting of a straight flexible wire or rod. The bottom end of the whip is connected to the radio receiver or transmitter. A whip antenna is a form of monopole antenna. The antenna is designed to be flexible so th ...

. It was popular with users of

Citizens band radio Citizens band radio (also known as CB radio), used in many countries, is a land mobile radio system, a system allowing short-distance person-to-many persons bidirectional voice communication among individuals, using two way radios operating on ...

, and also had military uses.

Versions

Consumer

The Whip-a-way is a seven-section, tubular, folding whip antenna. A plastic-covered cable (or braided plastic cord) under spring tension is threaded through the sections to keep them together when assembled for operation and prevent their separation or loss when disassembled. Spring tension is provided by a spiral spring in the base section. An antenna top cap installed on the tip of the antenna provides protection for personnel. The construction is the same as is used for sectional fishing poles. The base has a male 3/8-24 thread which is the same as is used on most

ham radio Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communic ...

and CB antennas. The antenna was 9 feet long when fully assembled. The product was distributed by South Shore Distributing of

Hempstead, New York The Town of Hempstead (also known historically as South Hempstead) is the largest of the three Administrative divisions of New York#Town, towns in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County (alongside North Hempstead, New York, North Hempstead and Oys ...

. It was popular during the 'CB craze' of the late 1970s - early 1980s.

Military

A military version (AT-271A) was manufactured by various military subcontractors, consisted of seven sections, 7.5 feet long when fully assembled. Each of the seven hollow tubular metal sections has a plug on one end and a socket on the other end. All the sections are connected by a string made of either a cloth or metal cord. At the bottom of the base element there is a spring inside the tube to tension the cord. This way all the elements are kept in order when they are disconnected from each other and are held together when assembled. Antennas Citizens band radio