Advice on mobile antenna

[AlexM8885]

Hi, just new to the forum and also amateur radio and was wondering if I could ask for some advise on a suitable mobile antenna for the car. I am interested in something that would be ideal for tx on 2m/70cm but also maybe have the capability to receive airband.

Currently I have the MRW-100 from Moonraker but looking for something a bit better. I have a mag mount which can accept PL259 connection and an adaptor if I need to go BNC.

Any help/advise would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex

[SgtBilko302]

Buy a Diamond SG-7900. Dual band with really good gain. Will also allow you to RX the airband.

https://hamradiostore.co.uk/amateur-rad ... -7900.html

May be a bit expensive but they're built to last. I bought a Chinese copy a few years back and at 15 mph and a speed bump it snapped. It was replaced free of charge but has never been used.

Paul.

[AlexM8885]

Hi Paul,

Many thanks for getting back to me. I've checked the SG-7900 out and I'm fairly impressed. Added to the shopping list. Many thanks

[dt630]

Hi.
If you get the Diamond check the grub screws that hold the whip in the coils.
I have had these come loose before.

DT630

[specializedrider]

Im am also looking for a mobile VHF antenna but idealy something under 1M as i might have to store it in the car when not used.

[paulears]

On my work van with a nice big flat roof I have 4 antennas with common mounts and have swapped and fiddled on all kinds of antennas. I need access to ham, marine and business bands but also some time for hires, air band. 5/8ths are the best for ham bands (and the others I guess) but they are worst for out of band reception by a very noticeable amount. Band width on ¼ wave antennas make them for me a clear winner. I have ¼ waves for 2m, marine and business band and the marine one is the most useful. Vswr is fine on all three,miso one radio gets used on these the most. All ¼ waves also give good vswr as a ¾ wave so business and ham bands also work well. This doesn't work with ⅝ wave antennas. Vswr on air band is a bit higher at just over 2:1 but as he hand helds I hire don't object, the marine VHF ¼ wave give pretty good air band reception. My van roof is a decent ground plane of course, and the polar pattern is pretty even. Everyone always criticises ¼ waves but for me they're by far the most effective.

I've also got a network radio so I cut a ¼ wave for that to try. Forget it. The feeder loss wiped out the performance, and the small antenna on the radio works much, much better than an external one!. If I had a car it would be a magmount ¼ wave centre of the roof. No messing!