Community Forums

Ham_Hog · 07-16-2012, 11:43 AM

Thought I would ask all the Ham Radio operators that may be on this forum what antenna they use for 2 meter and 440 MHz operation. Reason I ask is some RV's use a nonmetalic skin that have poor to nonexistent conductivity for the antenna to work against. So what antenna have you used , where do you place it and what do you do about the poor "ground" conditions that the antenna works against?
What do you use for HF communications antenna's?
Tnx & 73's
Bruce W7BCW

W8RLM · 07-16-2012, 04:47 PM

I use a ATAS100 screwdriver mounted on the ladder so that the body of the antenna is just below the highest projection (satellite dome) on the roof for HF. The whip is highest. The antenna is mounted on a spring mount in case it is hit. I use a ground braid down the ladder and is attached to the frame. My UHF/VHF antenna has been a glass mount, but I'm going to mount an antenna on the roof on a stainless steel plate.

W8RLM - Bob

wa8yxm · 07-16-2012, 06:18 PM

Though the screwdrive is a good HF antenna, he asked about VHF and UHF.

I use a home made "J" pole on the back of the house for 2-mtrs, and a NGP (No Ground Plane) "Spike" for 70cm. Alas, it is not well and needs to be rebuilt.

The rebuilt will very likely be a quarter wave with a ground plane added.

But I got to get a "Round Tuit" first.

dons2346 · 07-16-2012, 09:07 PM

My coach has a piece of aluminum in the roof so I use that as a ground plane. I mounted a dual band Comet on the roof.

My HF is a 23" Shakesphere 393 that I raise with powered lift. It lays in cradles on the roof.

YC1 · 07-16-2012, 09:35 PM

Groundplane tape on the outside skin of the roof works for me. You can paint over it but no one can see it anyway.

Jim_Bo · 07-17-2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Though the screwdrive is a good HF antenna, he asked about VHF and UHF.

I use a home made "J" pole on the back of the house for 2-mtrs, and a NGP (No Ground Plane) "Spike" for 70cm. Alas, it is not well and needs to be rebuilt.

The rebuilt will very likely be a quarter wave with a ground plane added.

But I got to get a "Round Tuit" first.

NO - his last sentence asks about HF antenna....sheesh!

I've opted to not put anything on the rig, HF wise...I have a 9' collapsable whip mounted on a piece of PVC that can be disassembled, two 33' radial wires and a homebrew Pi Tuner that I use. Put the antenna up alongside the picnic table or strap it to something and I'm on the air. Bring along a K1 with the four band 40/30/20/15 module. I save the 160/80 meter module for the winter back at home...Hi Hi

72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV

rocknrun · 07-17-2012, 11:34 AM

Haven't installed it yet, but I bought a Hustler for three bands that I found on qrz.com. Going to mount it on the top of the ladder, run a few wires taped over on the roof for a ground plane and run a copper strap from the chasis frame up to the mount. Have no interest in hf mobile, so would just use it in the campground. Pretty much emulating what Steve did here: Let's Drill Holes in YOUR Motorhome!