On 14 Jan 2007 18:37:35 -0800, "Nelson Blaha"
wrote:

I intend to get a piece of square sheet metal (ground plane?) about
half a meter each way, and build a bracket to hold it outside my window
horizontally. In the center of the sheet metal I'll install an NMO
mount for my mobile antenna.

Hi Nelson,

Sounds like a lot of work when two, three, or four radials would do
just as well. The sheet metal plan is usually reserved for folks who
believe in the magic of magnetic mounts.

I'm actually planning to ground the sheet
metal using the electrical ground in the wall socket (surely
something's wrong with THAT!)

Why bother? Electrical ground, and RF ground, and a Ground plane each
have different requirments. An electrical ground is not always a
suitable RF ground (and much could be said with all the combinations
and permutations of these three terms).

I look forward to better alternatives!

Do less, enjoy more.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC