OK. Looking for some input. I have been doing radio work for 25 years and am at a point on my wifes JK that I am looking for some ideas. Currently her Jeep has a dual deck APX with all bands. UHF and 800 Mhz are NMO flat brackets mounted near the roll bar. As she runs a tonneau cover all summer these don't stand out. For the most part the only channels in those bands are the TAC and a few TLMR trunked systems so in reality anything will work. For VHF I have run a 5/8 wave Larsen on a flat stainless NMO bracket on the front fender for years. For 99% of our SAR stuff this works fine.
My issue is for a new ham radio I want to install. I plan to install the FTM400 but need a good antenna, especially for VHF (2MTR) as I plan to use APRS 99% of the time. Being there isn't alot of good space on a JK I actually thought about building a bracket to mount to the roll bar in the center of the roof. We run a bimini top all summer so I have access to it. I know there is little to no ground plane there so was thinking a 1/2 wave VHF antenna. I see rugged ridge along with others sell one. I am actually looking for real world experience using one of these in a similar application. As said I plan to use 2MTR 99% of the time with APRS and a repeater for voice or listen to a WX channel. If i did any UHF it would be RX only so im not really worried.
So has anyone used a 1/2 wave antenna and is it worth getting ? I'll need one with a spring and plan to run the Larsen NMO mount as i like the enclosed cable to keep water out. I did try the diamond trunk lip style mount on the back door and didn't have good results so want something up high.
My issue is for a new ham radio I want to install. I plan to install the FTM400 but need a good antenna, especially for VHF (2MTR) as I plan to use APRS 99% of the time. Being there isn't alot of good space on a JK I actually thought about building a bracket to mount to the roll bar in the center of the roof. We run a bimini top all summer so I have access to it. I know there is little to no ground plane there so was thinking a 1/2 wave VHF antenna. I see rugged ridge along with others sell one. I am actually looking for real world experience using one of these in a similar application. As said I plan to use 2MTR 99% of the time with APRS and a repeater for voice or listen to a WX channel. If i did any UHF it would be RX only so im not really worried.
So has anyone used a 1/2 wave antenna and is it worth getting ? I'll need one with a spring and plan to run the Larsen NMO mount as i like the enclosed cable to keep water out. I did try the diamond trunk lip style mount on the back door and didn't have good results so want something up high.
