HAM Antennas

[noid]

I'm putting a dual band (2m/440) radio in my car and am looking for a good antenna. I'm mostly new to HAM radio so I dont understand antennas as well as I probably should. Anyone recommend a good dual band antenna? I'm looking for something that screws onto my external antenna mount (cool aftermarket one for my jeep), not one of those POS magmount antennas. Recommendations anyone?

[bascule]

You can never go wrong with a stylish copper j-pole

[theprez98]

I'm putting a dual band (2m/440) radio in my car and am looking for a good antenna. I'm mostly new to HAM radio so I dont understand antennas as well as I probably should. Anyone recommend a good dual band antenna? I'm looking for something that screws onto my external antenna mount (cool aftermarket one for my jeep), not one of those POS magmount antennas. Recommendations anyone?

Here is a good list of mobile antenna vendors/dealers. Also, try here.

Mike/N3WI

[Abby_Normal]

I'm putting a dual band (2m/440) radio in my car and am looking for a good antenna. I'm mostly new to HAM radio

I'd rather have a bacon radio myself.

[John D]

I'm putting a dual band (2m/440) radio in my car and am looking for a good antenna. I'm mostly new to HAM radio so I dont understand antennas as well as I probably should. Anyone recommend a good dual band antenna? I'm looking for something that screws onto my external antenna mount (cool aftermarket one for my jeep), not one of those POS magmount antennas. Recommendations anyone?

If you want to try one out I have one that used to be installed on my old truck (and haven't gotten around to try it on the new one). Next time you are by check it out. It is the standard cookie cutter dual band removable antenna.

-John

[oldzoot]

Dual Band antenna

You might want to use a Motorola mount - not the usual 3/8 threaded mount that a CB antenna would screw into. The Motorola mount has less loss at the higher frequency 440Mhz.

Another factor to consider is the design of the antenna itself. Most 1/4 wave antennas need a ground plane to work. This is fine if you are installing the antenna in the center of the roof of your car. 1/2 wave and 5/8 wave antennas do not require a ground plane and work well either on the side of a car (gutter or trunk edge mount) or on a fiberglass surface ( truck shell or RV ). I use a Diamond brand antenna which is a collinear 5/8 wave / 1/2 wave for 440 / 144 mhz on my RV.

73 Zoot

[Rescue]

Having been a ham (extra) for 14 years....the best car antennas for general use (and also generally pretty cheap) are Commets.

I tend to favor the back hatch mounts since they screw down very tight. I also put a small strip of metal between the screws and the car so that it acts like a vice.

[noid]

I'll have to post a pic of the mount on my Jeep, but its pretty slick. Goes between the rear tail light package and the body, then sticks out to the side. Its kinda funny, this thread is very very old, but your input is actually very timely because I am just now getting around to putting a radio in

[Rescue]

FWIW, I've had a number of mobile radios and the best one by far that I've had is the older model of TM-D700A.
It's a Kenwood. All of my other radios (handheld and HF) are Yaesu/Vertex.

[noid]

I'm actually going with a Vertex for the car. My main driver behind this is that I am on the local sheriff's search and rescue team. I need a 'part 90' radio and it looks like if I go with the Vertex I can mod it to get on 'part 97' frequencies, which is perfectly OK. But when I modify a part 97 radio to get on part 90 freqs, oh noes..

[Rescue]

I'm actually going with a Vertex for the car. My main driver behind this is that I am on the local sheriff's search and rescue team. I need a 'part 90' radio and it looks like if I go with the Vertex I can mod it to get on 'part 97' frequencies, which is perfectly OK. But when I modify a part 97 radio to get on part 90 freqs, oh noes..

Hehe....I'm in the same boat so to speak. I use Vertex for all the official stuff and Yaesu (minus the one kenwood) for Haming. Out here nobody from the FCC monitors much so the occaisional oops isn't that critical as it would be elsewhere. But in addition to what you mentioned I also have to run Narrowband NTIA compatable. Vertex is the cheapest supplier which can do that (that I like). So, good choices.

[erehwon]

As long as the final result doesn't look like the dreaded porcupine car.

[astcell]

As long as the final result doesn't look like the dreaded porcupine car.

No hubcaps = cop car.

[klepto]

No hubcaps = cop car.

I noticed that, why?

[Thorn]

I noticed that, why?

Totally useless flashy trash.
You'll loose them on the first hard corner anyway.
When you do loose them, that sonofabitch Lieutenant will make you pay for them. (LTs are like that.)

<shrug> Take your pick.