OkieBoyKJ5JFG
Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2022
- Messages
- 43
I want to put a 2m/70cm radio in my 2009 Ram 1500 short bed, single cab truck. The problem is getting a decent ground plane. I did some experimenting with a mag mount antenna and the only places I could get SWR below 2.0 were on top of the cab and smack in the middle of the hood. The truck is modestly lifted and I don't want to put an antenna on top if I can help it because I won't be able to go through bank or restaurant drive-thrus. I bought a Nagoya NMO-HDA which supposedly doesn't require a ground plane but I get SWRs from 2.5 - 4+ no matter where I place it. Behind the cab, on the rail halfway down the bed, at the end of the bed...no improvement. Today I read that NGP antennas require a different type of coaxial cable than regular antennas, but I couldn't find anything to tell me what that coax is. First, is that correct? Second, if it's correct, what coax do I need? Thanks!