Which NMO antenna for my mobile 2m/440?

[geoff5093]

I am most likely going to get the 7800 dual-band radio, and I am currently looking for an antenna for it. I asked in my other thread but thought this would be more appropriate in this section.

I'm using an NMO trunk-mount, and I would like the antenna to be under 30", however I can live with it being up to 38".

I was looking at these two antennas, what do you think?
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/3912.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/1578.html

 

[ts548]

I am most likely going to get the 7800 dual-band radio, and I am currently looking for an antenna for it. I asked in my other thread but thought this would be more appropriate in this section.

I'm using an NMO trunk-mount, and I would like the antenna to be under 30", however I can live with it being up to 38".

I was looking at these two antennas, what do you think?
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/3912.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/1578.html

If you can handle 40" then I would seriouly look at this Diamond. Diamond SG7500NMO. I'm fixing to order this antenna for my FT-7800 also. It gets a hefty 4.7/5 rating on eham and has some great db gain 3.9/6.0.

 

[djeplett]

I run the 7800 and I use the Radiall/Larsen NMO 270B:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/larsenm.html
Great quality, 1/2 wave on 2m and 2-5/8 wave on 440. I own two, one for each car I have. On my Alero it's on the trunk deck and on my Explorer its on the driver side cowl on an L bracket. Works great. You can't beat Radiall/Larsen's quality.

 

[geoff5093]

I run the 7800 and I use the Radiall/Larsen NMO 270B:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/larsenm.html
Great quality, 1/2 wave on 2m and 2-5/8 wave on 440. I own two, one for each car I have. On my Alero it's on the trunk deck and on my Explorer its on the driver side cowl on an L bracket. Works great. You can't beat Radiall/Larsen's quality.

So you would recommend that? Apprx how far can you two communicate using simplex (if you use it)?

 

[kc8zdf]

I use the Comet SBB-5nmo antenna for my ft-7800. I have it nmo mounted to the roof of my truck and can talk to repeaters 35 miles away. And as far as 50 miles on top of a tall hill. Depending on band opening as well. I have tested many antennas to see what gave me the best performance and from the antennas I tested MFJ 5/8 wave antenna, MFJ-1412 which looks exactly the same as the SBB-5, and a 1/4 2m 440 antenna and the SBB-5 showed great performance for next county over repeaters and worked great for loacl. I can clear things just fine and would recomend this antenna for your setup.

My other ham friend got the EX-107RBNMO from comet and which this antenna is just a little shorter. But got equal results to the SBB-5NMO.

Here is the link to the comet antennas which I have told you bout and just scroll up or down to see the model numbers that I have talked about. Good Luck and hope I help...
http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=4&childID=4

 

[K8PBX]

I use the Comet SBB-2NMO with my Icom 208H and I'm very pleased with how the antenna performs. It's pretty low profile too.

 

[W4BOZ]

I use the Comet SBB-2NMO with my Icom 208H and I'm very pleased with how the antenna performs. It's pretty low profile too.

It is somewhat small, but I have one of these too and it works well with my TM-V7A. It's surprised a lot of people on VHF simplex.

 

[prcguy]

I'll recommend the Larsen NMO 2/70B also. I've had plenty of others and have broken some of the Comet and Diamond models. Many of the off shore brands never fit the NMO mount properly. The Larsen just keeps on working.
prcguy

 

[k4njk]

Another vote for the Larsen 2/70.

 

[KT4HX]

Another thumbs up for the Larsen 2/70 NMB! Solid and reliable.

 

[timkilbride]

I use a antennex vhf 1/4 wave tunned for for 2M. It loads up just fine on 440 also. It is 18 inches tall, very flexible, and not really noticable at all.

 

[geoff5093]

I just went back and looked at the specs and my scanner antenna is 36" tall, I was thinking it was 26" for some reason, so now having a 40" antenna doesnt seem like as big of a deal anymore, lol.

The Larsen 2/70B looks like a great antenna, so it's either that or the Diamond NR73BNMO. Both are 34" tall, however the Larsen has 1.6/3.5dB gain, whereas the Diamond has 2.15/5.3dB.

 

[mfuller1950]

Another vote for the Larsen 2/70 antenna, excellent swr on 440, others may not be as good.

 

[prcguy]

The gain figures for many mobile antennas are complete BS, especially the foreign made stuff. Do they specify gain over a dipole or isotropic radiator? Isotropic is about 2.14dB more than a dipole. Even if their not lying gee, lets see, a Celwave 7ft tall stationmaster on UHF has 5.25dBD gain. How does Diamond get the same from a 34" antenna?
prcguy

 

[geoff5093]

So it looks like the Larsen NMO 2/70B would be the way to go. It has decent enough gain for the size, isnt much taller then my current scanner antenna, and looks good.

Thanks again guys!

But before I buy it and my radio, I just want to double check that it is compatible with this mount: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200143068391&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=010

 

[mfuller1950]

Yes it would be, any mount that says "NMO" will work.

A couple of links

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/larsenm.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/larsenx.html

 

[djeplett]

So you would recommend that? Apprx how far can you two communicate using simplex (if you use it)?

It's hard to give a good distance comparison because there are sooo many variables:

-Where is the antenna mounted on your vehicle
-What is the topography like between you and the station you're trying to work
-How much power are you using
-What does the other station have for an antenna

Just to name a few...

But I have worked a buddy on 446 simplex from 15 miles away. I have gotten into a 440 repeater while I was mobile that was over 40 miles away. I routinely work repeaters that are a county away while I am mobile on 2 meters. It all depends on your specific conditions. I recommend the Larsen mostly because of it's quality. There are higher gain antennas out there, but for the size you want the Larsen will give you years of service.