2M/440 antenna - how/where is yours mounted

[vsheetz]

Icom 7100 with the radio base unit mounted near the rear of the Motorhome and long separation cable to the control head in the Motorhome.

Thinking of options for 2M/440 operation while in motion and stationary.

- short antenna mounted at the top of the ladder.
- longer antenna mounted midway or so off the side of the ladder
- other?

What are your experienced?

Thx!
Vince
W6CD

[wb7auk]

Vince,
Given the location you indicated the top of the ladder is best, lower on the ladder no
matter the antenna will be effected greatly by the ladder.

[vsheetz]

Originally Posted by wb7auk

Vince,
Given the location you indicated the top of the ladder is best, lower on the ladder no
matter the antenna will be effected greatly by the ladder.

Yes, that is my concern that the ladder would have be of substantial negative impact. I could mount it away from the ladder a foot or so. The compromised short antenna (18-24") at the top of the ladder is a concern as well.

[wb7auk]

Originally Posted by vsheetz

Yes, that is my concern that the ladder would have be of substantial negative impact. I could mount it away from the ladder a foot or so. The compromised short antenna (18-24") at the top of the ladder is a concern as well.

Mounting below the roof line you will be effected by the ladder as well as
the metal frame work in your coach, and a foot away will have little effect
on this.
I use a Larson 2/70 mounted at the roof line as it is a 1/2 wave on 2 and
two 5/8's on 440 so no ground plane needed.
On HF I use a Mini tar heel at the roof line but changed the short whip they come with to a much longer one when parked.
With this set up I cover all bands from HF to 440.
Reports from many hams I know say that my signals are hard to believe
they are from a mobile.
All this with a Icom 7000

[wa8yxm]

Well my rig is in the cockpit so I use a Diamond NGP dual bander mounted on the Velvac Mirror Arm.

But .. Well, Like longer antennas. Not sure I care for ladder mounts. Go head Drill a hole.

use half a trucker's "Mirror mount" bracket and a good Diamond NMO mount I think Diamond sells it. Will check.

The Diamond CRM is the closest thing but I really do not like that mount all that well.. The one I have is much heavier and instead of a U bolt it has 4 bolts and nuts and a backing plate.. I do not use the backing plate, Just the "L" part with lag bolts.

[Wb2IVU]

I have a Icom 706M2G, which has one HF and one U/V antenna connection. So it turns out a 1/4 wave 2 meter antenna is pretty much a 5/8 wave on 440. One antenna, two bands, works great. And its mounted on the top of the ladder.

[coupevilleDF]

Thanks

[wa8yxm]

I put my Diamond NGP dual bander on the base for my Velvac Mirrors, that is for the cockpit VHF/UHF rig.

the 2nd antenna is rear mounted, I need to rebuid it this summer (It will be a J-Pole) it's fed by a slightly larger Kenwood TS-2000.

[Softail96]

I don't see any pictures which would be really nice.
My coach is all fiberglass whereas my older Boat towing RV (19foot, prefect package for Seattle Ferry system) had a metal roof and sides. It was a older rig, 1974 and mounted just above the cab on the overhang, it worked good as a ground plane. I used the Larson series dual bander but on my Fiberglass, not sure what to use.
I plan on having the radio up front with me while driving.

KB7DBD

[wyorancher]

I use ladder mounts for the HF and 2 mtr antennas. I also use RG8 coax.

Check out the below web site and scroll to the bottom. Nice RV ladder mounts. Tower Electronics.

http://http://www.pl-259.com/page5.html

[Wb2IVU]

This is the HF Antenna's on the back of my Coach. The ladder mount is from Tower Electronics, about $45 The mast, top hat and antenna coils are Hustler. What you can't see it the 2/440 which is mounted on top of the ladder on the right side. I find the ladder has no adverse effect

[wyorancher]

Originally Posted by Wb2IVU

This is the HF Antenna's on the back of my Coach. The ladder mount is from Tower Electronics, about $45 The mast, top hat and antenna coils are Hustler. What you can't see it the 2/440 which is mounted on top of the ladder on the right side. I find the ladder has no adverse effect

I use same ladder mount from Tower Electronics. My ladder floats. I got better SWR by grounding the ladder to the MH frame. I used 1" x 1/8" aluminum strap, and stainless hardware.

[Softail96]

Nice install.
I never did upgrade so I am still a tech plus but do listen. Maybe one of these days I will get busy and upgrade.
For now, I mostly do just 2 meters. My plan was to have my radio up in the cockpit area so when I am driving I can listen as well as use it.

The front of mine is all fiberglass so I am not quite sure how to go about putting one up in front other than a glass mount.
Still pondering it..
Thanks guys.
Anyone else have any pictures of there antenna installs ?

Thanks.
KB7DBD

[hutchg]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

I put my Diamond NGP dual bander on the base for my Velvac Mirrors, that is for the cockpit VHF/UHF rig.

the 2nd antenna is rear mounted, I need to rebuid it this summer (It will be a J-Pole) it's fed by a slightly larger Kenwood TS-2000.

I've thought about mounting on the mirrors, too. Do you have pictures you would share with us?

Thanks