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Old April 30th 06, 02:10 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna
Bill Turner
 
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Default Mobile Antenna Question..

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 21:59:19 GMT, "Brian Murrey"
wrote:

I have a 2004 Ford Tarus SES and I was thinking about putting a mobie HF
antenna on it so I can play radio while driving from city to city doing my
job.


*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

Fords of any kind are notorious for noise, but if you are determined
to go through with it:

1. A triple mag mount will work fine with HamStick antennas. I use an
IronHorse one and I guarantee that will not come off in the wind. I
can't hardly get it off with a pry bar.
2. Hamsticks are excellent on 20-10 meters and pretty good on 40.
3. Not so good on 80.
4. I don't know what an "SES" is, but if it's shaped like a regular
car (not an SUV) put the triple mag mount on the trunk. No need to put
it on the roof unless you like people staring at you.
5. Run a separate ground wire from the base of the mag mount to the
chassis of the car. Don't rely on the capacitance of the mag mount,
especially on the lower freqs. On ten meters and possibly 15 you might
get away with it, but on 20 and lower freqs your SWR will probably be
high. Use some forethought and make the ground wire as short as
possible, no more than about six or maybe eight inches.
6. Next time get a Chrysler product. :-)

Also, there is a mobileham forum on www.eham.net which may be a source
of more info oriented specifically toward mobiling.

Have fun!

Bill, W6WRT