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ham radio antennas ground plane

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#11 huskyrunnr

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Posted 22 September 2017 - 05:37 PM

Ah, I see that Larsen is the 144 MHz version of the Metz.  Looked it up and saw NGP stands for No Ground Plane. I'm not familiar with commercial offerings. That looks like a good one. How does the SWR look? 

 

MFJ makes a version of the old AEA Hotrod. Its called the Long Ranger. I bought several for my students to mess around with. All of them were horribly out of tune and match. I know Larsen has a good rep.


Edited by huskyrunnr, 22 September 2017 - 05:40 PM.

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#12 ntsqd

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Posted 23 September 2017 - 02:28 AM

When trimmed according to their chart the SWR was spot-on.


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Thom

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#13 Idahostat

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Posted 24 September 2017 - 12:18 AM

Hello Group

 

When I put antenna(s) on the roof ( it is an option ) rather than running a bracket extension off of the camper jack mount which is doable  I am considering torque a possible problem ( I think if I just use foldable bases for the antennas for the camper/radios which would only be deployed/erected when "camped", "my" torque paranoia will be less ).

 

Any way whether I use a bracket extension or my camper roof I will need to ground, right? If so braided not single wire grounding straps to the frame, I am intimidated by the a braided strap running to the roof ( it does have to flex or fold, unfold ( "pop-Up thing" ) any thoughts on this, problems experienced or foreseen?

 

Terence


Edited by Idahostat, 24 September 2017 - 12:18 AM.

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Terence
 

Ford F350XL, ( Badging indicates "STX" ) CC-LB-SRW, FX4, Snow plow/Camper prep. Bought ( August 2017, used Hallmark Everest ( Mfg in Dec 2015 ).

 

 

 


#14 ntsqd

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Posted 24 September 2017 - 03:23 PM

I pondered putting the antenna on the camper roof. That metal roof sure looks like a nice ground plane even if it is aluminum.

 

The reason that I didn't pursue it is because every time the roof went up or down it would exercise the coax. I could see the center conductor in that section fatiguing pretty fast - even though I tend to use Ancor Marine coax on vehicles for its stranded center conductor. So then bulkhead connectors top and bottom to make replacing that section of coax fast & simple? Could do it, didn't like it.


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Thom

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#15 Idahostat

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Posted 08 October 2017 - 10:03 PM

Thanks NTSQD

 

 Yeah the flexing of the coax and grounding flex for the roof seems difficult.

 

I have decided for the time being to stick with a hood mounting ( Comet 720 for the 27meter Untunable/factory tuned "Francis"  ), NMO Larsen for the 2/70 ), listening mostly on the 27 meter ( leave off most of time ) Yaesu will keep me reading and fiddling for the rest of my days I care to spend on it.

 

When I get better acquainted with the new Yaesu 2/70 in the cab I will do a separate pair of antennas ( structure mounted off the camper jack or just my buddy pole on a tripod ) for the HF/VHF I plan to put in the camper and expect to use wile parked/camping.

 

Terence


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Terence
 

Ford F350XL, ( Badging indicates "STX" ) CC-LB-SRW, FX4, Snow plow/Camper prep. Bought ( August 2017, used Hallmark Everest ( Mfg in Dec 2015 ).

 

 

 


#16 Trout1 Project

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Posted 02 November 2017 - 03:24 AM

Took the kids for a late season fishing trip to the Deschutes then came home and had a great couple evenings in the workshop on my radio install. Put a TYT TH7800 Dual Band with a TRAM NMO antenna on the roof rack. First experience using CHIRP and it was effortless downloads.
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