Please help

[emd001]

so ive spent 4 hours on the net today reading about antenna mount points and i have totally confused my self. What i read talked about height and ground plane. So if i mount my antenna (its gonna be a comet ssb7 nmo mount for my yeasu 8800r) in the center of roof itll really have some height but will lose ground plane? or if i mount it in one of the stake hole mounts then the ground plane is there but there won't be as much height on it? are those ways of thinking correct? and then between those two options which is the ideal for my antenna? ill also have a 800mhz scanning antenna on the roof as well with a cb antenna mounted to the drive side of the toolbox. So ive confused myself, can someone please help straighten me out? Thanks for any help.

 

[fineshot1]

Sounds to me like you have it backwards. The center of the roof is where you want to mount it for better ground plane effect. I'm guessing from what you said its a pick up truck but please tell us and confirm that.

 

[emd001]

im sorry. yes its a single cab dodge ram.

 

[af5rn]

A hole drilled in the centre of a metal, non vinyl-covered roof is always the best place for your antenna, both height and ground plane wise. The two usually go hand-in-hand. You can get just as good a ground plane from the centre of your trunk lid, but you lose height that way. Similarly, you can get great ground plane from the lid of your metal tool box, but again lose height, as well as getting a lot of your signal reflected back from the cab of your truck. It does sound like you are choosing your locations wisely, by putting the ham and 800 on the cab roof and the CB on the box. Should work out well for you.

 

[emd001]

ok great, i really appreciate yalls responses. I really had myself confused there pretty good.