I am looking for an antenna to mount on the roof-rack of my 87' 4runner. I will likely use a folding mount for the occasional garage entry. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks.
dual band VHF/HAM antenna recomendations
- Thread starter helipilot77
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I have a Larsen 2/70 on my 80. But it's an NMO mount. Not sure it they come in any other mounts. A friend recommended the Larsen antenna and everything I read had nothing but good things to say about it. It seems to perform very well mounted on the front corner of my bumper.
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- #3
Great! Thank for the tip. I'll look into that one.
I had a Larsen 2/70 and it was a bit too whippy and tall for my needs. I replaced it with a Comet B-10 and have great performance. Reception wise I feel it's very similar to the 2/70 at a fraction of the height and cost.
Both are NMO mount which I prefer.
Both are NMO mount which I prefer.
This Larsen 2m/70 works very well and is popular with many wheelers due to its size and that it has a spring
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-000567
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-000567
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Yep, 2m/70sh is a nice antenna. Just make sure the grub screws are DEEPLY set into the whip or after many hits on low branches the whip will disappear... I've posted the details before if you search this subforum.
cheers,
george.
cheers,
george.
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- #7
Thanks for the tip on the grub screws. I would hate to loose it for such an easy fix. Why do most people dislike the NMO mount?
Because they don't want to drill holes. Unfortunately drilling holes is the way to get decent performance out of a mobile antenna, even a really good antenna like the larsen 2/70. Side mounting.... roof racks.... You might as well stick with a rubber ducky.
To the OP, there's a number of folding antennas out there but they tend to be on the long side. (~40" & +)
Antenna Mount
So far so good using the NMO Hatch mount on the LX, I think it is CP5 NMO.
Using a couple of antennas stored in PVC in the rig to protect them when not in use.
Reached out 42 miles the other day to hit a repeater, using Comet SBB-7NMO for the big antenna and off road using Comet SS460SBNMO which has a spring.
What I like about the mount if it gets to brushy etc. just rotate it where it can be protected, it rotates on three different planes.
So far so good using the NMO Hatch mount on the LX, I think it is CP5 NMO.
Using a couple of antennas stored in PVC in the rig to protect them when not in use.
Reached out 42 miles the other day to hit a repeater, using Comet SBB-7NMO for the big antenna and off road using Comet SS460SBNMO which has a spring.
What I like about the mount if it gets to brushy etc. just rotate it where it can be protected, it rotates on three different planes.
if you offroad with a lot of brush/tree-limbs/overgrowth..... that spring in the vertical element of the antenna will be the end of the antenna. Brush and small limbs seem to grab it and eventually it will be "hammered"... Great for open areas but any antenna with that spring type configuration will be dust in some areas...I've lost 2 already of the same antenna. I think the antenna is great otherwise.
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- #13
Thank that is a good tip. I guess I will have to remember to remove it if I am going through anything too brushy.
I'm going to give that one a try....looks like it should be less prone to damge given the area we go...I'll save the diamond to swap out when I ever get the chance to hit any large open spaces.
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Here in the east most antennae are short lived. I have 2 Diamond NR72BNMO and NR73BNMO which both gave very good performance but don't like trees at all. I'm not sure they will ever work properly again 
I picked up a Larson 150 SS whip which is 2M only, but that has been beaten by trees for the last 2 years and always comes back without issue. However it is not the best performing antenna on the road as it is very flexible and always off axis.
I started an installation of my new dual band V71A in my LX450 and went with the same hatch mount (Diamond K400SNMO) but picked up a Comet SBB-1NMO from previous recommendations here and other places. It is a shorty, rubber coated flexible unit and is dual band. We'll have to see about performance once I wrap this up.
I picked up a Larson 150 SS whip which is 2M only, but that has been beaten by trees for the last 2 years and always comes back without issue. However it is not the best performing antenna on the road as it is very flexible and always off axis.
I started an installation of my new dual band V71A in my LX450 and went with the same hatch mount (Diamond K400SNMO) but picked up a Comet SBB-1NMO from previous recommendations here and other places. It is a shorty, rubber coated flexible unit and is dual band. We'll have to see about performance once I wrap this up.
I bought the Larsen NM02/70SH....looks good for trail use. Stainless, short about 19inchs, dual band, spring base, sturdy well-made. I'm sold on it...not yet installed. Also for people who may not know... this guy makes some good mounts ( https://breedlovemounts.com/ ). I have no affiliation but read a number of good reviews from a number of hams. I bought one of his NMO mounts. HD well made is the short answer.
I got a Comet SSB 27", just waiting on the cables to do the fresh install and remove CB. Going with a PL-259 to SMA adapter to use with the handheld for now.
What mount did you use for your Diamond 770HB? Did you use the Diamond hatch mount? Looking for the part number to order and the HRO website is a nightmare to wade through.