another_mike
Adventurer
I currently have a HT (Kenwood D74a) on 2m/70cm. Tx and Rx from inside the van is less than stellar. Ive decided on mounting an antenna to the drivers fender. The majority of the time im using APRS.
Why a fender mount? My van is already like 9 feet tall. I have a full length roof rack and that space is already taken up by a 300 watt solar panel, roof vent fan and road shower. Possible a few more things in the future so permanently mounting on the roof is not currently an option. Maybe once everything is configured to my liking ill go there. For now, the fender will do, and im sure any antenna outside the vehicle will work better than the HT inside the vehicle.
I just ordered the mount from here: https://www.wearecb.com/hood-cb-antenna-mount-van.html While this mount is 3/8", obviously they make 3/8 NMO mounts, so antenna options are open. Length of cable from base of antenna to the HT connection (SMA-M) will be 6 feet at the most.
I was leaning toward using a Comet SSB-5 NMO. At 38", this will put me close to the highest point on my roof, so no need to worry about getting out to fold it down/remove it.
Once I install the mount and I confirm there is room, I had this in mind: https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-mabt8-1154
Now the radio end connector. Should I end it in something like a PL-259 to make any future decision for a mobile transceiver easier? and just use jumper to make it SMA-F? The HT being 5w max, might this give too much loss?
Advice welcome, thanks.
Why a fender mount? My van is already like 9 feet tall. I have a full length roof rack and that space is already taken up by a 300 watt solar panel, roof vent fan and road shower. Possible a few more things in the future so permanently mounting on the roof is not currently an option. Maybe once everything is configured to my liking ill go there. For now, the fender will do, and im sure any antenna outside the vehicle will work better than the HT inside the vehicle.
I just ordered the mount from here: https://www.wearecb.com/hood-cb-antenna-mount-van.html While this mount is 3/8", obviously they make 3/8 NMO mounts, so antenna options are open. Length of cable from base of antenna to the HT connection (SMA-M) will be 6 feet at the most.
I was leaning toward using a Comet SSB-5 NMO. At 38", this will put me close to the highest point on my roof, so no need to worry about getting out to fold it down/remove it.
Once I install the mount and I confirm there is room, I had this in mind: https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-mabt8-1154
Now the radio end connector. Should I end it in something like a PL-259 to make any future decision for a mobile transceiver easier? and just use jumper to make it SMA-F? The HT being 5w max, might this give too much loss?
Advice welcome, thanks.