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#1
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Best antenna for an Icom T90A (rig and car)
Daniel J. Morlan wrote:
Anyone have what they think is the best antenna for a 2m, 70cm, 6m? Price isn't an object in this case. I just want a choice of some great antennas. I have a mag mount right now, but it's got a Bayonet-style antenna, and not the screw-on. (Pardon the lack of expertise, I'm a comparative new ham) WW6DJM Dan Hi Dan. I took the liberty of forwarding the message to rec.radio.amateur.antenna. It is a better group for this subject. Your question is a little broad. I'm not sure of the application, base or mobile, or if you would like a multiband or what. If you want a good general purpose antenna, there are multiband 2m/70cm ones out there. Single band antennas work well also. I've made a ground plane for the house, and the mobile antennas use the car body for the ground plane, although I've heard some discussion to the contrary. A number of people like J-pole antennas, I've just built one for 2 meters, and am evaluating it now. If you want more "gain", you might look into one of the multi-element antennas. These are a good deal more expensive, and need a rotator, as the gain in one direction is offset by a null in the opposite direction. But so much depends on what you want to do. If repeater operations are your main interest on the higher frequencies, then the ground plane/jpole approach is better IMO, unless you are on a fringe area and need the gain just to hit the repeater. On six meters, there are a number of options, from dipole to the multiple element antennas also. The same ideas apply. Hope this helps, but if you like, you can give us a few more details. - Mike KB3EIA - |
#2
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On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 10:19:02 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote: Daniel J. Morlan wrote: Anyone have what they think is the best antenna for a 2m, 70cm, 6m? Price isn't an object in this case. I just want a choice of some great antennas. I have a mag mount right now, but it's got a Bayonet-style antenna, and not the screw-on. (Pardon the lack of expertise, I'm a comparative new ham) WW6DJM Dan Hi Dan. I took the liberty of forwarding the message to rec.radio.amateur.antenna. It is a better group for this subject. Your question is a little broad. I'm not sure of the application, base or mobile, or if you would like a multiband or what. If you want a good general purpose antenna, there are multiband 2m/70cm ones out there. Single band antennas work well also. I've made a ground plane for the house, and the mobile antennas use the car body for the ground plane, although I've heard some discussion to the contrary. A number of people like J-pole antennas, I've just built one for 2 meters, and am evaluating it now. If you want more "gain", you might look into one of the multi-element antennas. These are a good deal more expensive, and need a rotator, as the gain in one direction is offset by a null in the opposite direction. But so much depends on what you want to do. If repeater operations are your main interest on the higher frequencies, then the ground plane/jpole approach is better IMO, unless you are on a fringe area and need the gain just to hit the repeater. On six meters, there are a number of options, from dipole to the multiple element antennas also. The same ideas apply. Hope this helps, but if you like, you can give us a few more details. - Mike KB3EIA - My guess is that he's interested in a mobile antenna due to mentioning the mag-mount. Diamond has a 6/2/440 mobile antenna available in either UHF or NMO mount; it can be connected to just about any type of vehicle mount as long as you go UHF to UHF or NMO to NMO. The radio mentioned is a handheld with an SMA mount, a means of connecting the PL259 to the SMA is needed. I'd recommend one of the newer adapter cables as using a direct 239 to SMA adapter will put notably more stress on the SMA connector on the radio and that's inviting problems. Howard KE6something or other |
#3
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Ah! Thanks a lot! Actually 2 Meters is really the ONLY one I'm
wanting to be using. I have a new Icom T90A, and just want a nice car antenna for talking on 2 meters. It's an HT. I have an actual Icom V8000 rig, but that's for indoors. (Got a beautiful Diamond X-50 for that, and I get repeaters all over the place here in the sierra foothills. Though I have to get to work on my coax, which is damaged, but ... Got the new coax and connectors, and will be dealing with that after I move to Indianapolis.) For now, I want to operate with a reasonable degree of effectiveness from inside my vehicle with my HT. It's a fine, fine HT. My biggest concern is 2 meters, and whether or not it comes with the coax I'll need to put on my car. Again, I am VERY new to this hobby, having only gone on the air a dozen times (since moving has taken all of my energies) and I want something to use in the car. I have a mag mount, but it has the bayonet style connector. I'll need an adapter, but I ALSO want to get a good antenna. My radio only puts out 5 watts max. I wouldn't mind being able to test out some 6M, but 2M is most important for me. Thanks so much for your help and interest in helping. 73, WW6DJM Dan Mike Coslo wrote in message ... Daniel J. Morlan wrote: Anyone have what they think is the best antenna for a 2m, 70cm, 6m? Price isn't an object in this case. I just want a choice of some great antennas. I have a mag mount right now, but it's got a Bayonet-style antenna, and not the screw-on. (Pardon the lack of expertise, I'm a comparative new ham) WW6DJM Dan Hi Dan. I took the liberty of forwarding the message to rec.radio.amateur.antenna. It is a better group for this subject. Your question is a little broad. I'm not sure of the application, base or mobile, or if you would like a multiband or what. If you want a good general purpose antenna, there are multiband 2m/70cm ones out there. Single band antennas work well also. I've made a ground plane for the house, and the mobile antennas use the car body for the ground plane, although I've heard some discussion to the contrary. A number of people like J-pole antennas, I've just built one for 2 meters, and am evaluating it now. If you want more "gain", you might look into one of the multi-element antennas. These are a good deal more expensive, and need a rotator, as the gain in one direction is offset by a null in the opposite direction. But so much depends on what you want to do. If repeater operations are your main interest on the higher frequencies, then the ground plane/jpole approach is better IMO, unless you are on a fringe area and need the gain just to hit the repeater. On six meters, there are a number of options, from dipole to the multiple element antennas also. The same ideas apply. Hope this helps, but if you like, you can give us a few more details. - Mike KB3EIA - |
#4
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Daniel J. Morlan wrote: Ah! Thanks a lot! Actually 2 Meters is really the ONLY one I'm wanting to be using. I have a new Icom T90A, and just want a nice car antenna for talking on 2 meters. It's an HT. Okay, now we have something to work with. I'm using a 5/8th wave antenna on my car. It works pretty well. I'd suggest one of those. The brand is MFJ. Some don't like them, but it has performed well for over 3 years now. It has a small bottom loading coil. If you can spare the height, a full length version should perform a bit better. Most come with coax. Then you have to deal with mounting. I use a mag mount, and can run the cable between the doors of my Cherokee and it looks good. If that doesn't work for you, you can possibly run the cable down the back and into the trunk, then back up. You can also use a trunk lip mount and do the same. If you are really brave, you can body mount the antenna, but that is quite a project. I don't recommend glass mount antennas for 2 meters. After mounting the antenna, get a bnc or sma adapter, according to your needs, give the swr a check, and there you go. The big thing to look out for on installations is to avoid crimping the coax between doors, trunk lid, etc. That can create a swore problem. I used a HT in the car for quite a while. (FT-50) Worked just fine. You should be happy with it. With a decent antenna and 5 watts, it is impressive how well it works. - Mike KB3EIA - |
#5
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"Daniel J. Morlan" wrote in message om... Ah! Thanks a lot! Actually 2 Meters is really the ONLY one I'm wanting to be using. I have a new Icom T90A, and just want a nice car antenna for talking on 2 meters. You want a mag-mount 5/8wave Larsen... it's a nice 1/4wave on 6m, too. Get the Larsen mag mount, too... your present mag-mount (probably BNC, with a duck on it) is insufficient... BNC connectors are not rated for outdoor exposure. Just run the coax in the passenger side, via the rear door's front edge, down the center post, and under the rocker panel to the dash. __ Steve KI5YG .. |
#6
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Okay, what I ended up getting was a Larsen... A 5.8 wave... I'm using
a diamond mag mount (pinched my fingers on that sucker... Good magnet!) Had to get a SMA adapter... I told the guy to include it, and he didn't... Good guys at HRO though... No shipping at least. Fast delivery. Can't ask for more than that, really... I look forward to giving it a test flight tomorrow. Thanks for the information folks! It really helped. 73, WW6DJM " Stephen Cowell" wrote in message .com... "Daniel J. Morlan" wrote in message om... Ah! Thanks a lot! Actually 2 Meters is really the ONLY one I'm wanting to be using. I have a new Icom T90A, and just want a nice car antenna for talking on 2 meters. You want a mag-mount 5/8wave Larsen... it's a nice 1/4wave on 6m, too. Get the Larsen mag mount, too... your present mag-mount (probably BNC, with a duck on it) is insufficient... BNC connectors are not rated for outdoor exposure. Just run the coax in the passenger side, via the rear door's front edge, down the center post, and under the rocker panel to the dash. __ Steve KI5YG . |
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