Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Ive got the Larson 2/70B. Works for my needs so far but since I’m a noob still, I’m not what’s better or worse. This was recommended to me from @Tynan

https://www.gigaparts.com/larsen-nm..._g75kwU5Wkv6Vl_gaor93a7e-2ITpcNBoCvZoQAvD_BwE

 

Did you drill the roof to mount it?

 

That is an excellent antenna. One of the best ones on the market.

 

Currently the wire is coming in through the drivers rear door gasket. Need to come up with a more permanent solution. Haven’t thought about a hole in the roof but it’s an option. More research is needed.

This is great to know!

 

Drill baby, drill.

 

But parking garages....

 

@riz_atx has some special considerations for drilling, as in, a prinsu and soon more obstructions over part of his roof. He and I both have a trunk lid mount, actually mounted to the side rail of the prinsu, and that mount has an NMO mount on it. It's kind of nice as one thumb screw and it folds down flat against the rack. I have solar on my Prinsu, and the way it's mounted I really can't do a NMO through the roof, but I would if I could!

 

Someone say prinsu?

 

That is exactly what I did.. a very similar mount, and it was finding your picture on the forum that gave me the idea in the first place! Thanks for that sir!

 

And then I asked @Tynan like a million questions and so I have the same thing

 

Would it be better to have a 1/4 wave antenna mag mounted on the roof or a 1/2 wave antenna on the front fender/hood gap

 

A magnet mount is always going to have a better ground plane when attached in the middle of a metal roof, but they aren't perfect. Generally a 1/2 wave is going to give you a little bit more distance, but it all depends on your situation. @Lars might have some better answers to that.. I think he's had every kind of antenna known to man on his rig! He helped me when I was deciding what to pick up.

 

Right, that’s why I’m wondering if it would be better to have a smaller antenna on a better ground plane or a longer antenna on a worse ground plane.

 

My dual band antenna is on the roof, well.. technically, it's on the prinsu rail.. so it is NEXT to the roof. That being said, I can hit the repeater on the other side of town from work no problem, about 25 miles as the crow flies on 5 watts.. and full quieting (No background static) at 25 watts on 2m. Like I said, it is going to depend largely on your circumstance. In addition, not ALL antennas require a ground plane to be effective persay.. just a good ground.

 

I'm running a dual band stubby on a mag mount right now in the center of the roof. It's good some days and others it kinda lacks some. I'll be ordering a Comet SBB2 NMO mount and drill the roof soon on mine. I'm out on the very edge of coverage for the local repeater I use. I got a hot spot for the house to connect in on DMR for now. It fits the bill for now since I'm about in the middle of both linked repeaters and can't really get in that great. I can get in usually on the mobile from the driveway but I'd rather be in the house than sitting in the truck at night to talk. Better antenna on the truck will work a lot better for me.

 

I bet your D710 will do better

Morning Murph. Haha

 

Would have ordered it last night but Giga parts didn't have one in the Huntsville store. Didn't have the new DMR radio either. WTH?

 

Amature radio is becoming hip. They can't keep parts on the shelf!

Just remember, you got in before the craze.

 

My roof mounted Tram dual band $15 dollar antenna has been working great with my D710..

$30 TRAM 140MHz-170MHz + 430MHz-470MHz Dual Band NMO Antenna (1181)

https://www.amazon.com/Tram-140MHz-..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=7FNTJ6DCYJCTQP9NY2QR

from a run this past Saturday in steep rugged mountainous terrain dropping down into box canyons in the outskirts of the Mojave desert and back up again..
4th Annual SAN G. TRAIL RUNS & TW Family Reunion 9/21-23

 

They're just so cool. Haha .The D710. How'd that aprs run?