crazy question about mag mount antennas

[FFRXing]

Do mag mounts actually have to be on a magnetic surface in order for them to work properly? Reason for asking, is that I currently have a Larson tri-band nmo mount on my car, and it works quite well, so I was thinking of putting one with a mag mount on a ledge of an upstairs window sill in my house..only problem is, the sills are wood on the inside, so I aquired a nice piece of flat, 4 inch wide steel to sit on the sill for the mag mount..But is it really required to have the mount sit on a piece of magnetic material to work properly?....thax Jim

 

[n5ims]

Doesn't necessarily need to be magnetic, but ground plane generally required.

Most mobile antennas require a ground plane to work properly. While this doesn't necessarily need to be magnetic, it does make it easier. Depending on the frequencies, a steel cake pan or cookie sheet my do the job at very little cost.

 

[FFRXing]

thanx for the info... I'm glad i got the answer I was looking for..thanx againn5ims!