Mobile Antennas

[W4JJA]

I am purchasing a FT 450D Transceiver and I would like to use it part time in my pickup. I have a good tower/antenna setup here at home but I need an antenna for the truck. I need some help on choosing an mobile antenna.
What are you guys using?
What do you recommend?
Thanks,
Jack

[W4JJA]

The bands that I am interested in are 20, 15, 10 and 6 meters
Jack

[K0BG]

Without knowing how interested you are, about all I can do is suggest a screwdriver of some sort. Since it is a casual endeavor, about anything will work to some degree, but I'd stay away from a short, stubby screwdriver if it were mine.

Might spend some time on my site before you make a decision.

[N0UYR]

I'll second the screwdriver recommendation and the look at his website recommendation. Without knowing what your driving, I can't say much more. Will this be used for weekend trips, or once a year vacations, or activating rare counties a few times a year??

I've got Ameritron's screwdriver with the pipe thread mount on the back of my F-150 and like it; but if your driving a Mini Cooper that's not going to work well.

[K0PVW]

I run with a Hustler System, and have 2 seperate masts with resonators. The first is my common QSO Party and county hunting set up running 40M in the Middle and 20/15/10 on the 3 element adaptor, the second mast has a center whip to make the length 55"(1/4wave aprox) for 6M and 3 outer resonators for 17/12/10FM, in addition I keep 30M and 80M hamsticks available too in case someone needs a very close contact.

[WX7G]

For 20-10 meters the ATAS-120 screwdriver is fine and the FT-450D will autotune it.

[AC4RD]

I run with a Hustler System, and have 2 seperate masts with resonators. ...

I'm using Hustler resonators, DXE masts, and homebrewed cap hats, and I'm very pleased with it, overall. Much much cheaper and less fuss than a screwdriver installation, and good performance on 20 and up. There's a link on my QRZ page if you want to see a few photos. I worked a guy in Arizona yesterday (I'm in N.C.) on 15m phone who was a solid S9 on my 706's meter, and when I asked for an honest signal report he said I was S7 and peaking a bit higher at times. IMO that's pretty decent performance for a mobile antenna. I use a bumper-level mount--and investing in a 3/8x24 tap and die has made it much easier to cobble things together to give them a try. :-)