2m ham antenna choices

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jonheld

jonheld

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Threads
456
Messages
13,146
Location
New Jersey
Website
www.sdsysdesign.com
I just recently got into the ham thing for more reliable trail comms. I have a Kenwood TM-271A unit mounted below the single DIN stereo in my dash. Almost looks factory installed, if you don’t look too close ;)
I have a Diamond K400SNMO mount on the upper hatch of my 80 Series and 2 Diamond antennae ½ wave and ¼ wave. Both have the “spring” curly Q in the center of the antenna which makes it easy to bend when whacked by trees. My entire setup can be seen here https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/349781-thinking-ham.html, startintg at post 25, but the radio has been moved to the dash since this writeup.
After a full season with this setup, I’m a bit unhappy with the antenna situation. We have a lot of tight trails in the Northeast and the antennae take quite a beating. I’m looking for an antenna that I don’t have to be so concerned about and can take some punishment without complaint.
I have also considered moving the mount to the ARB bar like my Firestik CB antenna. Perhaps with another fiberglass whip. I’m interested in hearing about real world experience in the trees with other antennae.
 
i have the 400 mount on my rear hatch of my 80 as well. (maybe 2/3 the way up the rear window to tuck the hard part of the sbb1 largely behind the body, leaving the rubber up and over. the fold over on my sbb25 also sits right into the gutter perfectly so i can fold it down if i felt like it. i use the SBB-1 for when i'm worried about antenna dmg. and for DD really, since it fits in the garage for trail com its perfect for my needs. i typ run lowest power and never have problems.
when we are way out i put on the sbb25 (which is 5/8 wave IIRC and def doesnt' have the curlies.) and it is a much better antenna when you are trying to reach out just due to db of course. i have also beat it through some thickets and had it come out ok, but i cringed and swore, and then swore to not do it again. one of those times you realize it, and all your doors are closed in by brush so you just keep going and wincing...

i haven't moved my mount since where i have it works and i'd worry about affecting performance up there. i checked swr with both my antennas and my radio and didn't have to tune anything so i am happy.

have you broken your antennas or just makes you nervous?
 
Here is a pic down the profile of the rig to show protection. That is the sbb1 in the pic.

2011-11-01 17.59.14-1.webp
2011-11-01 17.59.14-1.webp
 
jonheld said:
I’m looking for an antenna that I don’t have to be so concerned about and can take some punishment without complaint.
... I’m interested in hearing about real world experience in the trees with other antennae.
Click to expand...

Sti-co Flexi Whip. 1/4-wave 2M antenna that absolutely will not break no matter what. It needs some ground plane. I run one on the roof of my FJC and the performance is very close to that of my 5/8-wave Hustler.

Stico Flexi Whip Antennas, Accessories in Orchard Park NY | Sti-Co
 
sl33p3 said:
i have the 400 mount on my rear hatch of my 80 as well. (maybe 2/3 the way up the rear window to tuck the hard part of the sbb1 largely behind the body, leaving the rubber up and over. the fold over on my sbb25 also sits right into the gutter perfectly so i can fold it down if i felt like it. i use the SBB-1 for when i'm worried about antenna dmg. and for DD really, since it fits in the garage for trail com its perfect for my needs. i typ run lowest power and never have problems.
when we are way out i put on the sbb25 (which is 5/8 wave IIRC and def doesnt' have the curlies.) and it is a much better antenna when you are trying to reach out just due to db of course. i have also beat it through some thickets and had it come out ok, but i cringed and swore, and then swore to not do it again. one of those times you realize it, and all your doors are closed in by brush so you just keep going and wincing...

i haven't moved my mount since where i have it works and i'd worry about affecting performance up there. i checked swr with both my antennas and my radio and didn't have to tune anything so i am happy.

have you broken your antennas or just makes you nervous?
Click to expand...

You and I have the mount in the same place. While I haven't broken any they have been bent. I also have to swap between 2 and that gets a bit old. I'd like 1 antenna that I can keep mounted with good range for on road use when travelling and one that I don't have to be concerned about in the trees.

In your reply you gave several abbreviations like sbb1 and sbb25. I have no idea what that means. If they are antenna models, please tell me the manufacturer.
 
wesintl said:
I've had good reception using larsen nmo 150 on my arb bull bar tabs. both on my 70 and 80.

I use one of these OPEK NMO3 (F) PL-259 to NMO Antenna Adapter CB Radios, Base CBs, HAM Radios, CB Antennas, Microphones, Speakers, Stryker, Connex, Galaxy and more at WalcottCB.com and it drops right in the arb tab instead of using the nmo cable.

you can also use one of these. Gamiviti - roof racks and cup holders

It ends up being lower than on the rear hatch and the 5/8 whip is light and flexible.
Click to expand...

That adapter seems like a nifty idea. I'm still looking for the right antenna first. Then I'll deal with the mount if I decide to move it.
 
jonheld said:
You and I have the mount in the same place. While I haven't broken any they have been bent. I also have to swap between 2 and that gets a bit old. I'd like 1 antenna that I can keep mounted with good range for on road use when travelling and one that I don't have to be concerned about in the trees.

In your reply you gave several abbreviations like sbb1 and sbb25. I have no idea what that means. If they are antenna models, please tell me the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

they are comet antenna models, pick your retailer of choice... (and not to be a dick but the first 5 of 6 hits just typing "sbb25" in google were the antenna, i was lazy on the first post and couldn't think of the manuf. without doing that msyelf ;) ).

IMO if you want big performance and hope for durability in a single antenna you better think whip. i don't mind swapping a NMO antenna, and for me it has to fit in the garage door, so even a good 1/2 - 5/8 wave whip won't kink over in 6" over the roof without damage (where i have it mounted), or using a breakover like the sbb25, which is more work than just removing the nmo. :meh:

just figure you will buy a few more antennas trying them out and once you find a favorite one, it will break :rolleyes:

good luck
 
I've gone through quite a few 2/70 antenna mostly Diamonds even managing to snap an M285S which is just a 5/8 whip off at the base :frown: Mine lives on the roof of my 100 and the Diamond NR-770RSP I've used for trails for nearly a year now is surviving quite well so it looks like the coil spring base instead of a fold over is doing the trick for me :)
 
VanGo said:
Just order a diamond NR770HB antenna and C213SMA coax. I tore the system down at the beginning of the summer to relocate the antenna to the hood using Gamiviti's mount Gamiviti - roof racks and cup holders , I'll post back with details.
Click to expand...

That's the same Diamond as I have now with a different mount. I wanted to get away from the "curly Q" in the center of the shaft, as that's where they bend when whacked.

I've been looking at the fiberglass whips similar to my 4' Firestik CB antenna. I want something that will get whacked repeatedly without complaint. My CB antenna will fold onto my hood when pushed by branches.

Are fiberglass whips not good for 2m ham?
 
Jon-

I do not have personal experience with fiberglass whip 2M antennas, only CB, hopefully someone with more experienced will have some solid tech to add here. I did post this question for "fiberglass whip" 2M antenna on the amateur radio facebook page- I'll keep you posted with any results.

Now for the diamond antenna... I selected this one primarily for highway and open road travel as the reviews were favorable and it can easily fold out of the way if required. My thoughts for continuous trail travel, where obstructions are a concern, would be to swap out the antenna for a lower profile antenna like the COMET SBB-1. I have relocated the 2M antenna to the hood so I can "see" the antenna to help determine if I have clearance past the antenna and for better ground plane. HTH
 
The larsen nmo 150. It's cheap, reliable, good up to 200w. The whip is replaceable from larsen but unless you go to bend it in half i doubt you would need to replace it.
 
VanGo said:
Any experience with the Diamond 285 antenna....
Click to expand...
Performs well and the whip is quite flexible but if you catch it low enough down, the (plastic) base case breaks. On an upper tailgate mount I doubt you could catch it low enough down to do that. Mine was on a roof bar mount when I did that and maybe no antenna would have survived that particular branch.
 
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