"KeyBoard In The Wilderness" wrote in message
news:JBXib.64497$vj2.12836@fed1read06...
Words of possible wisdom at URL:
http://www.olypen.com/craigh/antennab.htm

Discusses merits of SS vs Fiberglass flexing and also which is the better
radiator.

Watch which he's talking about.

You can get a straight steel whip.
You can get s straight fiberglass whip.
You can also get a short fiberglass whip.

The short versions are compromises, to the degree that they are shorter.
A 2' antenna is not as good a radiator as a 3' antenna, all other things
being equal.
Usually, you end up mounting where some portion of the antenna is shadowed
by the vehicle, unless you do a roof mount. In this case, a shortened
antenna suffers even more.

There won't be much difference between fiberglass with a copper wire, and
stainless steel.
The copper is more conductive, but it's thinner. Steel is more resistive,
but larger diameter.
Me, I'd take the steel. Fiberglass breaks, steel bends.