Antennas Are Antennas, Right? - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

elementalnature · 05-24-2009, 05:41 PM

Hello guys. I don't drive an X, I drive the first generation equivalent, a '94 GMC S15 Jimmy. But you all have a hell of a Amateur Radio forum.

I recently received my license, KJ4LRZ, and I have decided on a Yaesu FT-8900R. But I am indifferent on the antennas, anyone have any hints?

**rizzjc** · 05-24-2009, 07:48 PM

Wow, that's an open question. You have countless options. Where do you want to mount it, and how many holes do you want to drill?!

I have a Larsen 5/8 wave whip, NMO mount on a bracket at the side of my hood, across from my radio antenna. The 5/8 is too tall for the packing deck that I park in at work, so I picked up a 1/4 wave NMO, and can just swap out when I need better performance, but the 1/4 is perfectly fine for around town. This setup replaced my Larsen glass-mount.

Obviously, the higher the better, but putting one in the middle of the roof wasn't a good option for me, and this works great for everything I use it for.

elementalnature · 05-25-2009, 01:51 PM

Well I thought about mounting it on the drivers side taillight. Its held in by two allen screws so I am thinking that this Firestik Mount will work, but I am not sure if it will work for HAM radio antennas.

And as for size, I am not really too worried about that. There aren't a lot places around here that will restrict the size of the antenna, except for maybe the traffic lights.

**rizzjc** · 05-25-2009, 08:20 PM

The mount shouldn't matter. There was a guy on here who fab'd some mounts to mount to those two screws.

elementalnature · 05-25-2009, 10:15 PM

Okay... so what do recommend for an antenna Joe?

I am going to go for a Yaesu 8800R and operate mostly on the 144 band.

What do you think?

**rizzjc** · 05-25-2009, 10:40 PM

I don't know. Kentucky is pretty flat right? Is your area well covered by local repeaters? If so, then it's a pretty easy line-of-site, so I'd just pick up a decent whip. Like I said, I have a 5/8 wave, but use an 1/8 wave most of the time.
My first antenna was a pretty expensive Larsen glass-mount, 'cause it was on my Dad's truck. Second one was a small 1/8 wave or something, MFJ mag mount, which I still have, and use when I need to install the radio in a different car. Since I added the NMO mount, which seems to be the most convenient mount these days, I was able to pick up the small NMO whip from EBay for less than $15, shipped. Larsen antennas are expensive, unless you find a deal somewhere. The NMO I have now I got from a guy who was dumping some gear - $20 - I couldn't pass it up. When it turned out to be too tall, I just looked for the short whip on EBay.

For my needs, all of these work well. If I was trying to hit more distant repeaters, or work a lot of simplex, then I'd give it some more thought, other than cost.

*CobraMountaineer* · 07-14-2009, 09:55 PM

Go Roof mount OPEK or Diamond foldover dual band with a NMO adapter. Now use the 3/8 NMO. not the 3/4 nmo, or you will tear out the mount from your roof, and leave an ugly hole.

N3BXH
Spin

05-24-2009, 05:41 PM	#1
elementalnature Wannabe Elite Explorer Russellville, KY Nothing yet Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 16 Vehicle Specs	Antennas Are Antennas, Right? Hello guys. I don't drive an X, I drive the first generation equivalent, a '94 GMC S15 Jimmy. But you all have a hell of a Amateur Radio forum. I recently received my license, KJ4LRZ, and I have decided on a Yaesu FT-8900R. But I am indifferent on the antennas, anyone have any hints?

05-24-2009, 07:48 PM	#2
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	Wow, that's an open question. You have countless options. Where do you want to mount it, and how many holes do you want to drill?! I have a Larsen 5/8 wave whip, NMO mount on a bracket at the side of my hood, across from my radio antenna. The 5/8 is too tall for the packing deck that I park in at work, so I picked up a 1/4 wave NMO, and can just swap out when I need better performance, but the 1/4 is perfectly fine for around town. This setup replaced my Larsen glass-mount. Obviously, the higher the better, but putting one in the middle of the roof wasn't a good option for me, and this works great for everything I use it for. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

05-25-2009, 08:20 PM	#4
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	The mount shouldn't matter. There was a guy on here who fab'd some mounts to mount to those two screws. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

05-25-2009, 10:40 PM	#6
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	I don't know. Kentucky is pretty flat right? Is your area well covered by local repeaters? If so, then it's a pretty easy line-of-site, so I'd just pick up a decent whip. Like I said, I have a 5/8 wave, but use an 1/8 wave most of the time. My first antenna was a pretty expensive Larsen glass-mount, 'cause it was on my Dad's truck. Second one was a small 1/8 wave or something, MFJ mag mount, which I still have, and use when I need to install the radio in a different car. Since I added the NMO mount, which seems to be the most convenient mount these days, I was able to pick up the small NMO whip from EBay for less than $15, shipped. Larsen antennas are expensive, unless you find a deal somewhere. The NMO I have now I got from a guy who was dumping some gear - $20 - I couldn't pass it up. When it turned out to be too tall, I just looked for the short whip on EBay. For my needs, all of these work well. If I was trying to hit more distant repeaters, or work a lot of simplex, then I'd give it some more thought, other than cost. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

07-14-2009, 09:55 PM	#7
CobraMountaineer Gotta Love It... Salisbury, MD 1998 Merc Mountaineer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 108 Vehicle Specs	Go Roof mount OPEK or Diamond foldover dual band with a NMO adapter. Now use the 3/8 NMO. not the 3/4 nmo, or you will tear out the mount from your roof, and leave an ugly hole. N3BXH Spin __________________ 1998 Mercury Mounty OBD1 303E Engine, BBK 70mm TB 3" Cat Back Flowmaster Stock Lift(for now) Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Vehicle MEMA RACES/ARES SKYWARN Spotter/Chaser

05-25-2009, 01:51 PM	#3
elementalnature Wannabe Elite Explorer Russellville, KY Nothing yet Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 16 Vehicle Specs	Well I thought about mounting it on the drivers side taillight. Its held in by two allen screws so I am thinking that this Firestik Mount will work, but I am not sure if it will work for HAM radio antennas. And as for size, I am not really too worried about that. There aren't a lot places around here that will restrict the size of the antenna, except for maybe the traffic lights.

05-25-2009, 10:15 PM	#5
elementalnature Wannabe Elite Explorer Russellville, KY Nothing yet Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 16 Vehicle Specs	Okay... so what do recommend for an antenna Joe? I am going to go for a Yaesu 8800R and operate mostly on the 144 band. What do you think?