1/4 wave whip for a base station

[Traffic_Guy]

In trade for some reduced range you could look at NGP (no ground plane) antenna kits, like this one: Amazon.com

It has its counterpoise in the special coax included with it, so no radials are required. They don't have the range of a whip with an actual ground plane but they still work. There are some other options you can Google as well. You can add more coax with a connector but you must use the piece they give you as the first portion of coax connected to the antenna, as it has a measured amount of wire in it connected to the antenna base to give the effect of the ground plane you (and Fiberglass boats and RVs) are lacking.

That's the limit of my knowledge but just googling that term (NGP/no ground plane) in your antenna search will show you more info and more options/brands.

The big problem with the NGP is the coax is limited to 17' apparently. So the antenna has to be right next to you. Same problem im pondering. The Antron 99 looks like the best option.

 

[slowmover]

I have a friend that used a 1/4 wave Sirio Boomerang antenna. It worked very well for him local and skip.

Same here. A friend who ran it up on a painters pole mounted in a bucket and on his condos patio.

From nothing to something is the endorsement.

I have one sitting here to try in the same way. Bought as my sons HOA dilemma isn’t much better, so run up to use, bring down afterwards


Shipping package is narrow vertical. Am thinking it could come down and I can put in back of pickup topper without much drama if I’m the one who uses it.

Get home, play radio a few days, then take-down (store) till next time I’m home.

I can connect to radio rig in either travel trailer or in my pickup.

Or — while on the road — quickly get something up higher than vehicle-mounted if outsize ears for local seems a good idea.

— To round out what other have said, it’s not a high winds antenna (Llano Estacado user), but is satisfactory to that point.

To the OP: there are some unorthodox uses of unusual antenna choices where willingness to experiment comes across as crucial in the attitude of the reviewer.

Spring being here, fully, good luck!!

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[slowmover]

simple and compact antenna that will easily outperform any fire stick dummy load.

Amazon.com

Might need this adaptor for larger masts:

Amazon.com

Thanks for the recommendation of the SIRIO GP2745.

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[slowmover]

I am looking in to this idea. I won't have time to assemble all the parts before I go back to work next week, but it will be a work in progress for the coming months. Just one more question.... What is the proper length whip? I've heard 102"... 108".... Wanna do this right the first time.

Tangentially, when at the crossroads above (having received recommendations) I often go to reviews on eham and thereby have been able to take in a wider variety of ideas.

There has oft been that which was accessory to my search, and which changed how I viewed a problem.

Was over there just now looking at telescoping pole info and realized I had forgotten about “drive-on pole mounts” (secured under vehicle tire) as an alternative to a heavy 5-gal bucket (lifting in/out truck bed not a thought to relish).

I’ve plenty of projects which simmer at length, yet no one’s fault but my own that project notes aren’t what they ought to be, ha!

eham reviews a handy starting point for those not familiar.

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[arudlang]

The big problem with the NGP is the coax is limited to 17' apparently. So the antenna has to be right next to you.

I don't think that is true, just the final segment of coax connected to the antenna itself MUST be the special coax that was designed for the antenna (with the counterpoise inside the insulation of the coax). There is nothing wrong with then adding on an extension of traditional coax the rest of the way to the radio.

[Radio] <--- Traditional Coax of whatever length needed ---> [SO239 Barrel Connector] <--- Special NGP Coax that came with the antenna ---> [Antenna]

Should work just fine.

But if you have room and budget for an A99, by all means that is the way to go. It's been a long time since I read the start of this thread, I thought the premise was that you were not able to put up a large prominent antenna.