wrote in message
...
On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:24:06 -0400, "Steve"
wrote:

Hello,
I want to put an antenna on a -fiberglass- motorhome (class a) and I'm
not
sure about the no gound plane vs the regular mobile antenna choices. I
have
a ladder
rack on the back, and a luggage rack on top, but I'm not sure of how much
ground I can get from that.

I have a 102" whip laying around and I thought about mounting that to
the
back bumber with a homemade plastic 'standoff' at the top of the motorhome
to keep it from swinging.

Good idea, or no? (tree pruner is not what i want) but from the bumper I
can
use most of that 9' before it clears the roof on a fiberglass body.

Strange combo.


Mounting an antenna on the side or back of a motorhome can be
ineffective in some directions. You really need to have an antenna
as free of obstructions as possible.


Agreed but remember the body and roof are fiberglass on this motorhome. Non
conductive.


The best choice for a lack of ground plane is a set of dual antennas.
Something like this: click on dual antenna kit
http://www.firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm


I've generally heard one antenna works better than two unless you can
seperate them more than is practical in -most- applications
but I could be wrong about that. The NGP antenna involes using your coax
length to match the swr, right?

My plan is to cut enough coax to reach from the whip mount to the radio, and
none for tuning the swr.

Thanks for the help, tnom, I only want to do this once so I figure to ask
questions first..maybe test
and tune along the way. I fugure the 102"will see right through most of the
coach, no?

73
Steve.

Thanks for the help, tnom, I only want to do this once so I figure to ask
questions first..maybe test
and tune along the way. I fugure the 102"will see right through most of the
coach, no?

73
Steve.

What metallic framing is just under the fiberglass. What wiring?
Any of this running parallel in close proximity to the antenna will
have an effect.

wrote in message
news

Thanks for the help, tnom, I only want to do this once so I figure to ask
questions first..maybe test
and tune along the way. I fugure the 102"will see right through most of
the
coach, no?

73
Steve.

What metallic framing is just under the fiberglass. What wiring?
Any of this running parallel in close proximity to the antenna will
have an effect.


Yeah that's the question and I won't know until I try it. My other concern
is overpass clearence with it. It already has a two foot
CB antenna on it and I ain't impressed, so I'm looking to upgrade. I'll
mostly use it on ssb ragchew.

73
Steve.