Mobile Antenna

[scannerowner]

Ok, I know it's a long shot, but can I use a HT antenna on a mobile with a right angle adapter?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Probably not a good idea for transmission.

1) RF is likely to get back into the radio via the power, mike, speaker cables and do weird things.
2) The mobile expects that there is a low VSWR and that is difficult to attain without a ground plane like the vehicle body.
3) HT antennas will likely overheat and melt.
4) Some Right angle connectors, specifically UHF type, are notorious for bad VSWR.

 

[scannerowner]

Gotcha. Just trying to figure out an antenna for a house in an HOA without it being much of a problem.

VHF/UHF only.

 

[buddrousa]

I have seen a antenna built into a flag pole

 

[trentbob]

I have seen a antenna built into a flag pole

But the question would be Buddy... does the HOA allow flag poles

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Garbage can lid, NMO mount VHF and UHF antennas. Throw lid on top of garage, challenge HOA to determine if a garbage can lid on roof is a violation of HOA.

 

[buddrousa]

If you fly a religious flag?
I have seen ones that do let people have flags.

 

[scannerowner]

I'm wondering about a mag mount, but unsure how high up I can go.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm wondering about a mag mount, but unsure how high up I can go.

Do you have access to the attic? If your roof/siding/insulation isn't metallic, you may have pretty good results with installing the antenna up there. Many do that successfully.

Also, the Ventenna was a good solution for many, but www.ventenna.com shows that they've shut down. Still, you could make an antenna look like a sewer vent pipe. Doesn't even need to be a real sewer vent.

 

[KC3ECJ]

Is it just for 2 meter and above?
Throw simple steel whip up.

 

[AK9R]

Get a roll-up J-pole and hang it up on the inside of an exterior wall. Just make sure that the antenna is at least a quarter wavelength away from any metal such as wiring in the wall or a metal window frame. It's not the best solution, but it works and your neighbors will never know.

There are many sources for roll-up J-poles. I like the ones from N9TAX: https://n9taxlabs.com/shop

 

[k6cpo]

Probably not a good idea for transmission.

1) RF is likely to get back into the radio via the power, mike, speaker cables and do weird things.
2) The mobile expects that there is a low VSWR and that is difficult to attain without a ground plane like the vehicle body.
3) HT antennas will likely overheat and melt.
4) Some Right angle connectors, specifically UHF type, are notorious for bad VSWR.

Not to mention, you're going to be putting yourself right in the RF field, most likely in violation of FCC exposure standards.

 

[k7ng]

3) HT antennas will likely overheat and melt.

True.
I once let the smoke out of a perfectly good Diamond SRH999 by running 20W into it without thinking about what I was doing (it's a long story).

I did make a half decent antenna once by taping a 19" piece of wire on to a window, connecting coax center to that, and taping two 19" pieces of wire horizontally, and connecting the coax shield to those. Well, it kinda worked and didn't break anything.

I know someone who bought one of those 2M 'on glass' antennas and used that on a house window. I think my tape-and-wire antenna would work at least that well, tho.

 

[bharvey2]

A 2M/70cm antenna solution in an HOA environment is often easy to come by but your specific environment would govern what would work best. Can you give more detail of your living arrangement? e.g.: standalone house, apartment complex, upstairs, ground floor, building construction, etc.

 

[ladn]

Ok, I know it's a long shot, but can I use a HT antenna on a mobile with a right angle adapter?

Most HT antennas are designed to handle about 5W. Most mobiles put out more power than that.
As others have said, the attic antenna, roll up J-pole, or mag mount+trash can or cookie sheet are far better solutions.

 

[trentbob]

Most HT antennas are designed to handle about 5W. Most mobiles put out more power than that.
As others have said, the attic antenna, roll up J-pole, or mag mount+trash can or cookie sheet are far better solutions.

I have to say Rodger I agree with you again. A good ground like a cookie sheet or more creatively something larger from The Culinary community is best.

 

[Omega-TI]

If you want to go stealth, try the VENT PIPE ANTENNA

 

[a417]

If you want to go stealth, try the VENT PIPE ANTENNA

see post #9

 

[Omega-TI]

see post #9

Uh huh, which is exactly why I posted the link I did, it complements his and it shows an overview of how to make one. So what's the problem?

 

[scannerowner]

I'm thinking about the magmount idea. Seems too easy. I just don't know what my range could be from inside the house. I'm hoping to do the same for a scanner antenna and then split it to 2 scanners.