CB or Ham (or both)

[ntsqd]

I'd just start with one of the huge range of NMO type mounts. Buy a 1/2 wave, No Ground Plane type antenna now, can get a CB NMO antenna later (one of my trucks has one).

I tried a Firestik on their bracket for our CTD/Phoenix pop-top and never could get the SWR below 3:1. At this point I'm guessing it's their mount because I converted it to NMO and can't get a NGP 1/2 wave antenna under ~2.75:1 yet that same antenna on top of a 20' tall mast had an SWR of 1.5:1

 

[Tango2]

I've installed countless nmo mount antennas, and they do always outperform what I'm attempting IMO. However, my problem is that I don't want holes in the roof at least until I decide on which roof rack system I want.

I now have a bandi mount, and I just got my technician ticket on Saturday (not in the uls yet). I think for short term, I'm going to get a Ln adapter to run my uv-5r through an antenna on the bandi mount until I decide on/buy a dedicated mobile xcvr. Any antenna recommendations? I'd love to keep it short enough to get in the garage without needing to remove it, but that may be a pipe dream.

 

[pdimarco65]

Any antenna recommendations? I'd love to keep it short enough to get in the garage without needing to remove it, but that may be a pipe dream.

I'd highly recommend the Comet SBB-2 for a low profile amateur antenna for 2m/440. I have that and an SBB-7 and both get excellent signal reports. The SBB-2 is 18" long and I have it mounted to a Diamond lip mount on the rear hatch of my 100-series LC.

A friend is an engineer for a local firm that does significant RF work for the military. He swears by Comet antennas and says they did some testing on them proving their performance. That was enough to convince me.

 

[Tango2]

That's good enough for me. I guess I'll give that a shot. I'm trying to figure out what hardware I'll need to install this on a bandi mount. It looks like there is a pl-259 connector on the end of the antenna. Not exactly sure what I should use here, and digging through walcottcb and comet's site, I can't seem to find anything that seems like it will work.

 

[pdimarco65]

The Comets I have are both NMO mounts. I had a Bandi for my FJC and I'm not sure it could be adapted.

FYI NMO requires a .75" hole.

 

[Tango2]

Well there are two variants to the SBB-2; one is the SBB-2 (UHF / PO / PL-259 connector) and SBB-2NMO which is the NMO mount. I think this (SBB-2) would be the best bet for the bandi mount, but not sure which adapter to use. It looks like I need some sort of "bulkhead" female to female UHF connector that has a locknut to fix it to the bandi. Then just thread the antenna on the top and the coax on the bottom?

I'm probably way off though...

 

[pdimarco65]

I did not realize they had both. In any event you probably can get the appropriate adapters to work with the non-NMO version. May want to try Ham Radio Outlet, or some of the other reputable Amateur Radio shops online. Good luck and let me know if I can be of help.

73,
KB1MAU