I need some ideas on an installation I am planning on doing. I have a kenwood VHF public safety radio and thinking about getting a VHF/UHF ham radio. What would be the best install for antennas? One antenna for both or should they be two different antennas? So any ideas would be helpful as which way to go and maybe what equipment would be better than another, thanks.
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Need some ideas
- Thread starter ScanWV
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b7spectra
EMS Dispatcher
1st thing would be - what type vehicle is it going on/in? Roof or trunk is a good way to go, permanent mount are nice. Antenna's depend on whether you want high gain or 1/4 wave.
The vehicle is a chevy cobalt and thinking about trunk mount 1/4 wave but haven't really decided on that as of yet
Two radios running VHF would require two separate antennas, period. And the more distance you can get between the two the better (if one or both are going to transmit). And i'm talking 3 to 6 feet minimum.
I've used a VHF 1/4 wave whip for VHF/UHF comms for years. Cut properly, it is a 1/4 wave on VHF, and 3/4 wave on UHF. I use a LAIRD (formerly Antenex) thick-whip with spring cut for 146 Mhz. It is VERY broadband and actually tunes very nice for 144-148 Mhz, and 442-448 Mhz transmit and receive.
It's a LAIRD B132S (silver) or BB132S (black). I personally use the black antennas on my 2001 CVPI.
I can't find much difference between this antenna and a dual-band commercial antenna cut for the ham bands.
Of course it works just fine on the public safety frequencies, but I don't have much cause to transmit there anymore since I retired as a LEO a few years ago.
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