Looking for the best nmo mount 2 meter antenna

[ScanMaine]

Im looking for the BEST 2 meter screw on mount antenna on the roof of my truck that I can find... I have a Icomm V8000 radio and looking for the best!!!! Please post Links and Pictures here so I can do some reasearch!!!

Thanks


73's

 

[dksac2]

Much depends on where you live. In a city or area with hills/mountains, a 1/4 wave antenna is many times the best choice. If you live in an area that's flatter, not a lot of obstructions, a 5/8 wave antenna may be your best choice.
In either case, Larson antennas are among the best available and their price is reasonable.
I use a Comet SR 4 X 4 because I need a wide banded antenna for several bands, so that's the best for me, but for strictly 2M or 2M/70 CM, Larson would be my first choice.
I use a 1/4 wave Larson in many cases as I am in a hilly area that has repeaters quite high above the valley.
If you give more info about how you want to use the antenna such as for repeaters or simplex and what kind of area you will be using the antenna in, you might get a more targeted answer.
In any case, the Larson is about the best going. Be careful when looking at the gain specs on antennas. Most give the gain in DBI, not DBD which is a more realistic number.
Make sure you mount it in the center of the roof or towards the front of the top if best pattern is desired. Good mechanical connection between the mount and car body is a must also.
Many times a Comet or Diamond antenna cost more for the name. Professional users like Larson, they work well, excellent construction and the price is right. There is no magic antenna, only good one's and bad one's. Placement on the vehicle, proper installation, grounding doors, hood, tail pipes, to the vehicle body and frame (if your vehicle has a frame) and choosing the right wavelength are some of the more important things to consider.
73's John

 

[ScanMaine]

got alotta mountains.. Im in Maine so

 

[KG4INW]

I like the Larsen NMO150 (5/8 wave) but others may think others are the best. However, have you looked around the eHam reviews? http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/37

 

[ScanMaine]

I already have my mounts 1 kinda in the middle and 1 a foot apart and 3 inches from the rear of the roof

 

[ScanMaine]

I like the Larsen NMO150 (5/8 wave) but others may think others are the best. However, have you looked around the eHam reviews? eHam.net Reviews - Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

No and I have a black Larsen triband 150. 440 800 for my scanner

 

[ScanMaine]

I would like to have the best antenna I can buy. to talk the fathest. we have alot of repaters but there all I high and I can hit 60 of them no prob

 

[dksac2]

I'm not sure there is a "Best" antenna. Buy a 5/8 wave and a 1/4 wave. I have both and change them out as necessary for the area I'm in.
If your hitting that many repeaters, it sounds like you have a good handle on it.
73's John

 

[n5ims]

I'm not sure there is a "Best" antenna. Buy a 5/8 wave and a 1/4 wave. I have both and change them out as necessary for the area I'm in.
If your hitting that many repeaters, it sounds like you have a good handle on it.
73's John

I concur. The "best" has so many different answers based on specific situations. This doesn't say that one antenna is bad and the other is good, it's more like one will work best in one situation while another will work best in another. Using a standard NMO mount will allow you to purchase multiple antennas and use which one matches the situation you expect to be in (or be in most often).

For example, in town, the 1/4 wave will give better coverage to repeaters on high buildings and may fit better in parking garages. On the road, the 5/8 wave antenna will give better coverage to repeaters that are more distant to you. Both will provide good coverage to fairly local mobiles on simplex that are near your same height.

You may also want one of those "low profile" or "stealth" antennas for low ceiling garages. They all should fit nicely in your vehicle so you can swap them out quickly and easily as your conditions change (e.g. move from the 5/8 wave to the low profile when you arrive at your destination and that long whip won't fit in the garage).

The reasons for this (without getting into a serious on antenna design theory) is that the 1/4 wave's signal is like a sphere where it has good coverage both at nearby heights and moderate distances. The 5/8 wave's signal is more like a doughnut that's been squished a bit and covers further out, but not as high (for close signals).

 

[kayn1n32008]

I will also second, or third larsen either 1/4wave OR a 5/8wave. Both work well, and will serve you well. I am all larsen right now, NMO-WB for my LMR radio, NMO-2/70 for my TM-V71a, and soon a NMO-150 for APRS/6m rig. I used to use a Larsen 1/4wave for APRS with excellent results with only a 5w transmitter. I have also in the past used a Larsen 150/450/800 with a VHF portable and had ecellent results into an LMR repeater from over 56Km away. Larsen makes pretty decent antennas, you will not be dissapointed.

 

[mmckenna]

Another nod to Larsen, pretty much all I use both for my own vehicles and at work.
A basic 1/4 wave is hard to beat, simple and quite broad banded.

Take a look at what the public safety agencies (on VHF) are using in your area. Chances are they've done the work to figure this out already.

 

[Voyager]

In hilly terrain, a quarter wave will outperform a gain antenna due to the higher angle of elevation of the radiated signal. (Gain antennas make gain by compressing the signal on the horizon - in the case of being in a valley means your signal is being focused on terra firma, or the hill beside you.) For broadbanded-ness, I would go with a broadband heavy-duty quarter wave like the type made by Antenna Specialists. The thicker radiator gives higher bandwidth if you need it. If you only need a small segment such as the ham band, a standard quarter wave will do.

 

[ranger821]

I use the Diamond 7500A. I don't have a place other than on the drivers side top of the door. Works great.

http://www.diamondantenna.net/sg7500nmo.html

 

[prcguy]

Another vote here for the Larsen 5/8. Its a long antenna but easy on the mount due to the lightweight whip. An antenna would have to be much longer to have any appreciable gain and don't believe the advertised gain figures of the offshore made antennas.
prcguy

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Larsen NMOQ cut to 146 MHz. Will shoot under a 2.2:1 SWR from 136 MHz to 174 MHz.

I've never noticed a difference between 5/8 wave antennas and 1/4 wave. I regularly work repeaters 70-90 miles away on a 1/4 wave antenna and less than 35W. If working a lot of simplex over the great plains, I'd go with a Larsen NMO150 or the WB version of the NMO150.

 

[profiledescent]

Concur on Larsen comments and have used them, though I have begun using Comtelco.

I have found a 1/4 wave on a pickup cab is hard to beat. I've used the Larsen NMO150 and Larsen 1/4 wave on the same mount. About all the difference I've ever been able to notice was improved receive at the edges of coverage, sitting still. However, while driving, the added antenna length (of the 5/8 wave) whipping in the wind, I believe, exacerbated the picked fencing effect.

Here's a pick of my previous truck roof with 2 Larsens and other stuff. The other photo is of the Comtelco model I've switched to. It's more broad banded than the thinner whip springless Larsen. Built like the proverbial brick S..thouse.

 

[profiledescent]

Sorry, files were too big. Fixed..

 

[cmdrwill]

Comtelco A1511B, pictured above, and CXL mount.

 

[W9DWP]

I use a LAIRD / Antenex 1/4 wave whip most of the time for both 2 meters and 70CM. I do use a gain antenna like a 5/8 wave when I am on a trip. on 70CM I use one of the 5DB gain antennas. I also like to use the black antennas as they seem do disappear when you get away from the vehicle.

For scanner use I use a standard 150-160 cut 1/4 wave whip. I have also used a 3DB gain 800 antenna the one with the coil in the middle for scanner use as well. They seem to work great on 800 and good enough on UHF and VHF. On antenna mounting I like to mount them 24 inches apart.. You may want to move your scanner antenna so you are not pumping 70 watts into the front end of the scanner maybe mount it on the right or left front fender or use an L Bracket mount.

 

[cmdrwill]

W9DWP is correct on one point, antennas too close together. And not enough ground plane. Black antennas are harder to see.

You need a minimum of at least a 1/4 wave spacing. and that may NOT be enough to keep from burning up the other radios front end (receiver).

An antenna is only half of it. You need at least 1/4 wave in all directions for the counterpoise or ground plane. That is 22 to 23 inches at VHF. So, YES the antennas are way too close together and do not have enough ground plane.