Get Your HAM License

you wont get out well on that 1/4wave. YOu will be ok just using local repeaters, but when you get into the mountains and have a long stretch to a repeater you will want something bigger.. I am personally fond of the hood mount that i made and is still in use by CopperT. The other option is to use a duplexer and run two separate antennas. one for 440 and one for 2m. your 440 will be a very short antenna and then you can run a stainless steel whip for the 2m antenna that will be bend and not even flinch.

My hood mount.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/78821-custom-ham-radio-antenna-bracket-mount.html

 

I like that. Will the antenna perform the same on the roof compared to that location on the hood?

 

Yeah for *way* deep in the outback, I'm getting one of these to keep in the bed:

EDIT. Oops, wrong one.
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3478
Quad bander.

But 1/4 wave antennas come in for more grief than they deserve. I used a cheap little MFJ mag mount with a 5w HT back and forth with the Bakersfield repeater up and down I5 - it only finally dropped out about 140 miles away, just a bit shy of the 152 turnoff.

 

No, It will be better on the roof.... Smack dab in the middle of the roof is the absolute best place. but for the sake of clearance the hood mount is a decent compromise.

 

This is what you want in an emergency.... you cant use it for 440, but you will be heard on 2m. Throw in a 100w amp and you are set.

http://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=476&idproduct=236

 

I guarantee a high gain on your front fender will do far better than a 1/4 wave on your roof. I agree though, if going with the roof mount, a 1/4 wave is cheap, small,and usually strong. I believe it is Larsen who makes a wide-band VHF quarter wave with a spring on the bottom. Almost indestructible.

They are strong, but no matter how strong the magnet, a branch sweeping across the magnet will knock it off. They also all move around, and usually rust a bit, so it kind of screws up a big circle of paint with rust stains and scratches. A permanent NMO hole will require a 3/4 inch hole in your sheet metal. I believe a specialty smaller hole for thicker metal exists(3/8th), but don't think you can run/fish it from outside so you'd prob have to drop your whole headliner. They are also far less common. The antenna connection is unchanged at standard NMO though.

EDIT: Just to add, I still feel one of this, designed for your truck, is a far better long term solution both for resale and reliability.

 

Won't the antenna bend to a certain extent? It won't break right?
I'm about to build a roof rack and I was thinking about putting a hole in the middle for the antenna to come out. 4" or however big I need it. Then the mag mount would sit under the basket. That would most likely help a lot.

 

relentless will make you a hood mount like mine.

 

I may do that. However I'm not all that cracked about having it in that location. I may resort to that as a second option. I also don't mind putting a hole in the roof for a permanent mount.

 

Yep it works, just don't let the drill walk or wiggle when drilling. If you mess up the hole and its too wide, it will leak and is very very tough to get a permanent seal afterwards.

I've done in on many occasions though, mostly on Semis and other large trucks, and some that I've done are 5-7 years old now with no leaks.

When the antenna is on your roof though, be careful not to let any branches sweep across your roof right at roof level. If it catches the coil and tears the NMO out, its another situation where the resulting hole will be very hard to fix/seal so you don't get leaks.

 

There are hole saws made specifically for nmo mount. Antennax makes one. If you ask around on a repeater I'm sure you can find someone with one.

 

Yep I've got one, though I wouldn't say it is worth it to do one antenna. A normal 3/4 works fine, just don't push it through your headliner. I used one for years without issue.

 

Passed the technician exam. Now just gotta get a radio and antenna!

 

Nice! Congrats.

 

Got my callsign! KJ6NND

Now I need my radio installed!

 

Congrats! I'm KJ6NFL

 

What's up JD! I remember seeing this thread a couple weeks back and said if JD can do it so can I. I passed my tech license this past Saturday. Still waiting for my call sign.

So next time I can stay in comms with you guys. Now just gotta get my hardware.

 

Congrats! It wasn't hard at all huh? What are you thinking about getting?

 

Totally simple, it was all about memorization and those online tests are the way to go. I also had a book which proved useful when on the shitter. I'm going to take my General soon. Thinking on getting a dual band and looking into the Yaesu 8800r.

 

Is that the same one Paul has? I know his is a dual band too.