My "Makeshift" ground plane !

[MilAirNJ]

Not sure how it works or why it works, but after connecting my mobile antennas to this setup, its amazing the reception I get!

Before I could barely get reception on a few local systems! Now I actually have to use the ATT feature!

Antone have any suggestions or see anything wrong with this? maybe its just stupid luck!

 

[phillydjdan]

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Putting a little sheet metal under a mobile antenna works wonders. After all, they are designed to be mounted on a vehicle roof or trunk lid, etc. I have 3 mobiles magnet mounted to an old DJ amplifier chassis. I just gutted it and kept the big round thing that was bolted to it in place (for weight). Ive alao seen folks magnet a CB antenna on a cookie sheet. Anything big enough to reflect a decent amount of signal and you are golden!

 

[WB4CS]

You've completed the other "half" of the antenna. That's why it works better.

Mobile antennas are actually a half of an antenna, it needs a "ground" (ground plane) to complete the other half. The magnet creates a capacitive coupling to the metal to create ground. The trunk lid mount in the picture is creating a ground as well.

 

[LIScanner101]

If it works, who cares why!! But I do agree that you now have the "missing" ground plane in place.

Good job!!

PS - What kind of antenna is the one with the all-black base on the mag-mount? Also, what are monitoring (I assume mil-air from your screen name but just to be sure I figured I'd ask....)???

 

[LIScanner101]

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I've also seen folks magnet a CB antenna on a cookie sheet. Anything big enough to reflect a decent amount of signal and you are golden!

Funny thing, I used to throw an old magmount RS 800MHz cellphone antenna on a cookie sheet, reach out the window and sort of toss it on the roof of my 2nd story house. Got AMAZING trunking reception.

 

[Eng3ineer]

Funny thing, I used to throw an old magmount RS 800MHz cellphone antenna on a cookie sheet, reach out the window and sort of toss it on the roof of my 2nd story house. Got AMAZING trunking reception.

Haha.. Just did the same thing to see how it would work. Had same RS base only part mag mount in my box of parts and stuff. I dug it out put the top half of car antenna about 15" tightened set screw grab a ladder stuck it on top of my 12x20 portable building metal roof can you say big ground plane. Made a night day difference with 800 trunking here. Guess no need for yagi now.

 

[LIScanner101]

Haha.. Just did the same thing to see how it would work. Had same RS base only part mag mount in my box of parts and stuff. I dug it out put the top half of car antenna about 15" tightened set screw grab a ladder stuck it on top of my 12x20 portable building metal roof can you say big ground plane. Made a night day difference with 800 trunking here. Guess no need for yagi now.

Amazing, ain't it? I couldn't believe it the first time I tried it. I was picking up New Jersey 800MHz sites clear as a bell from eastern Nassau County.