Mobile antenna advice needed

[KB3MBM]

Hey all!

I'm looking for a little advice and help with an antenna for my mobile rig. I've got a Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm in my Jeep Wrangler. I'm currently using a magnetic mount from MFJ. I want to get a hard-mounted antenna, but I'm not sure which one to get. So, I'm here to get some ideas. I'm going to try to get to Ham Radio Outlet's store in New Castle, DE this week after work--but that's dependent upon my hours, and me being able to work through lunch to get out early.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Any and all help is appreciated.

Rich Carpenter
KB3MBM

[KA4DPO]

Here is my recommendation. Don't drill any holes in your vehicle unless you absolutely have to. This will not only invite rust but will seriously reduce the resale value.

Try some of these no hole mounts and see if any can be applied to your situation.

http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=9&childID=14

[ne3r]

I don't worry so much about the resale value of the car. By the time I get rid of it, there will be a lot more things to drag down the value than an NMO mount!

Basically, it is hard to beat a properly mounted antenna in the center of the highest point of the vehicle. If you can't do that, some of the lip mounts like the Comet CP-5NMO do a good job getting a good connection to the car body if you scuff some paint where the set screws grab (on the inside, where you won't see it when you take off the mount).

I personally like the Larsen NMO 2/70B, if that one is too tall, go for the Larsen NMO 2/70SH. These antennas work best when mounted top center.

73 de Joseph Duranl NE3R

[kc7gnm]

Hey all!

I'm looking for a little advice and help with an antenna for my mobile rig. I've got a Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm in my Jeep Wrangler. I'm currently using a magnetic mount from MFJ. I want to get a hard-mounted antenna, but I'm not sure which one to get. So, I'm here to get some ideas. I'm going to try to get to Ham Radio Outlet's store in New Castle, DE this week after work--but that's dependent upon my hours, and me being able to work through lunch to get out early.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Any and all help is appreciated.

Rich Carpenter
KB3MBM

I owned a Jeep Wrangler many years ago and mounted my antennas on the stop mount for the spare tire. I also went to the dealership and bought anotherone and mounted it on the opposite side which gave me two mounts. If you are considering not drilling then the one mount can be used and then just go and buy another mount to replace it when you want to get rid of the vehicle. It works like a champ. I wish I had pictures to show you but I sold that jeep back in 96. I now have my antennas mounted on the inside of the bed of my Dodge Dakota near the tailgate. They work great there.

[KC6ZLV]

You didn't mention if you want a dual-band or mono-band antenna.

For 2-meters, I've tried a handful of antennas over the years. My favorite is the Larsen NMO-150. It costs about $25-30, depending on where you buy it. Anyway, I had the antenna since 1992 with no problems. Unfortunately, someone stole it off my truck earlier this month.

[n4ndx]

Hey all!

I'm looking for a little advice and help with an antenna for my mobile rig. I've got a Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm in my Jeep Wrangler. I'm currently using a magnetic mount from MFJ. I want to get a hard-mounted antenna, but I'm not sure which one to get. So, I'm here to get some ideas. I'm going to try to get to Ham Radio Outlet's store in New Castle, DE this week after work--but that's dependent upon my hours, and me being able to work through lunch to get out early.



Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Any and all help is appreciated.

Rich Carpenter
KB3MBM

I only heard good things about the Wilson 2 meter Mag 500 watts max on www.eHam.net (http://www.eHam.net) great reviews, you should try it. I just bought one for my first ham radio . Is a little on the expensive side but well is all worth it. That`s what I used with my previous cb radios only it was for AM instead of 2 meter band.

Hope this will help

[ky5u]

If your roof is metal, a chasis mount right in the middle of your roof is best. Anything else is one form of compromise or another.

[KB3MBM]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

KA4DPO: I'm not worried about resale value, I'm never getting rid of my Jeep--I have a bit of money invested in it to make it a little gnarlier than the average vehicle. If I have to drill a hole, than I have to drill a whole. Besides, Jeeps are like kit cars, you can replace any- and everything on it quite easily.

KC6ZLV: Yeah, I mentioned that I was looking for a dual-band antenna here:

I've got a Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm in my Jeep Wrangler.

I use both bands for my local repeater, and when I'm travelling.

KC7GNM: I already looked into that one, but it's a no go. On the older jeeps there was a metal plate at the tail light. Somewhere in the 200x models it all became plastic, like mine. So I've got no metal base to attach. Now, should I happen to be able to afford a new rear bumper, than that story changes a little! :D

For all of the high, centered, and at the top suggestions: My Jeep is a soft top. And even if it were a hardtop, they're made of fibre glass. So no metal for ground plane there either.

I'm going to take a trip to HRO and see if the gents there have any suggestions. They are pretty helpful via email and what-not, so maybe if they're able to eyeball the Jeep they can come up with something. I've also been talking with some of the local HAMs and they've had a couple of good suggestions as well.

Again, thanks for all of the suggestions!

73 KB3MBM

[K0RGR]

I've seen people mount antennas to their roll bar - be sure you have a ground if you do. This won't work if you don't live in the desert where the top is rarely used.

I would think that a trunk-lip mount would work well on the side of the tailgate.

[K7JEM]

Put in a permanent mount NMO, then choose a dual band antenna that you like. They basically come in three flavors: short, medium, and long.

The short ones are basically a QW on 2M, and some gain on UHF. Very adequate for repeater usage, and only about 18" tall.

The medium ones are about 31" long, and have a little gain on 2M, and more on UHF. These cost a little more, and can give slightly better performance.

The long ones are usually more than 50" long. They give higher performance at the pain of being very tall. They are quite a bit more money.

Choose one for your application. I used to use the medium length ones, then switched to the short ones, not much difference, and a lot lower profile. In many applications, shorter is better from a physical standpoint.

Joe

[kc7gnm]

KC7GNM: I already looked into that one, but it's a no go. On the older jeeps there was a metal plate at the tail light. Somewhere in the 200x models it all became plastic, like mine. So I've got no metal base to attach. Now, should I happen to be able to afford a new rear bumper, than that story changes a little! :D

You might want to go to the dealer and ask them for one for a 1990 jeep. They should still have them for parts. They are metal and work great. You could mod that real easy to fit your jeep.