I just looked at the website and saw several "Phantom" antennas listed. Did not look at each one, so I don't know all the specifics of them. The one I did look at claimed 3db gain... Maybe, maybe not... You do not say how far you are from the repeater, which would help a LOT. Also if you have access to the attic, that would be the best place to mount. I saw that the antenna I looked at ( ETRAB4503) is suggested to have a 12.3 - 13.5" ground plane. As a mag mount, it can be set on the fridge as suggested, can be set on a cookie sheet, attached to a rafter in the attic, or on a tall file cabinet. Most suggestions so far will work to an extent for you, but knowing how far you are from the repeater, the height of the repeater antenna, and the local terrain will help to determine which is best for your situation. I realize the best would be an outside antenna (I have MANY on 3 towers, from 40' to 110'), but this is NOT the norm, or even feasible for a lot of folks, as is your situation. If you already have the antenna, go ahead and use it, or at least try. You probably would have been as well off to use a simple 1/4 wave ground plane, but since you've already purchased this gear, use it. If in the attic, you will need more coax I am sure. Here, we can get into another debate over using the simple coax coming with the antenna, and needing an adapter to add more. This will cause many to jump in, and start fussing about losses and so on. Oh well, work with what you have, and can get, it WILL work!! Maybe not with an S-9 signal into Tehran, but should still be pretty noise free to the repeater. Later on, read, ask more questions, and make it better. I would also suggest you get ready to be prompted to get an ultimate SWR of 1:1... More than likely, that's NOT going to happen either! The lower the better, but as a Storm Spotter, you have more to be worried about than the perfect SWR. Your radio should be smart enough to take care of itself in the case of high SWR, by reducing it's power, or shutting the xmit off altogether. I am a Ham Radio Operator, setup many portable stations for the hurricane evacuations, as well as a Storm Spotter in Central Texas. We get the evacuee's, and the tornadoes from the 'canes. Every now and then, we get our own storms to that actually start here
At any rate, we don't always have ideal situations, stations, etc. If you have to strive for the very best, try contesting, that seems to keep a group happy, and they can spend the Tens of Thousands of dollars on the perfect setup. Somewhere in here, I keep getting the idea of the very lowest part of the intestinal tract, and some get that way about radios and antennas. Me?? If it works, work with it.. If not, experiment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Knightrider...