There is probably much
more to be said about best coupling for maximum gain.

Maximum Gain, that seems to be all people think about.

Max. Gain is not always a good thing.

Example which is better for 2 meter mobile a 1/4 wave 0 dB whip a 3 dB 5/8
wave or a 6 dB collinear ?

A true 6 dB collinear makes a very poor mobile antenna.
Unless your parked on level ground, then it works fine.

The 3 dB 5/8 wave works good if you are on fairly flat terrain.
But get into the mountains or use repeaters that are on
10,000 ft. + mountains like we have here in WY and Colorado.
A 0 dB 1/4 wave whip can some times work better.

People put a 3 dB gain mag mount on the back corner of the
finder, setting at a 30 degree angle and wonder why it don't work as well as my
0 dB 1/4 wave mounted in the center of the roof of a van. (Mounted in a hole
in the roof, not a mag mount.)

All I am saying is there is more to an antenna than Max gain.
What about bandwidth, pattern etc.

There, I feel better.

73 Al Lowe N0IMW
Arrow Antenna

"N0IMW" wrote in message
...
There is probably much
more to be said about best coupling for maximum gain.

Maximum Gain, that seems to be all people think about.

Max. Gain is not always a good thing.

Example which is better for 2 meter mobile a 1/4 wave 0 dB whip a 3 dB
5/8
wave or a 6 dB collinear ?

A true 6 dB collinear makes a very poor mobile antenna.
Unless your parked on level ground, then it works fine.

The 3 dB 5/8 wave works good if you are on fairly flat terrain.
But get into the mountains or use repeaters that are on
10,000 ft. + mountains like we have here in WY and Colorado.
A 0 dB 1/4 wave whip can some times work better.

People put a 3 dB gain mag mount on the back corner of the
finder, setting at a 30 degree angle and wonder why it don't work as well
as my
0 dB 1/4 wave mounted in the center of the roof of a van. (Mounted in a
hole
in the roof, not a mag mount.)

All I am saying is there is more to an antenna than Max gain.
What about bandwidth, pattern etc.

There, I feel better.

73 Al Lowe N0IMW
Arrow Antenna

Son, you forgot "loss".
When I drilled that hole in the middle of the roof of the brand new Durango,
I married that truck.
Then there are the two BIG holes, one in each rear quarterpanel.
At 90,000 miles I'm about to do the FIRST brake job; It's an OK truck.
Anyone remember how Chrysler's still in business?
Anyway, here's my rig:

Comet 144/222/440 on an NMO mount topside center, small Hi-Q screwdriver 5'
above ground on the left rear quarterpanel.
Tarheel 4' screwdriver 4' above ground with a 4' whip on the right rear
quarter panel, toroidal transformer matched for 20 ohms.
For 160/80 I also have a BIG Hi-Q for the right side.
Rigs are Kenwood: 742 and 480HX.
No tuners.

73
H., NQ5H