One Radio Two Antennas

[KC2VAW]

Considering using two antennas with a Yaesu FT-8900r. One for 6 and 10 meter FM and a second for 2 meter and 440 FM.

If anyone has tried this and has any feedback I'd like to hear it.

Currently using the Diamond CR-8900 Quad Band. It's about 5 years old and very badly beat up (pretty near shot, actually). Hoping to lessen the compromise necessary by using two antennas.

What's the current wisdom?

[KCJ9091]

I thought about doing that but could not find a 10/6m dual band mobile antenna.  I tried a SB-15 for 6/2/.7 and NMO27 for 10 for a while and went back to the CR8900.

[K3GM]

You won't find a 10m/6m antenna.  Instead, consider two options:
1) A 10m antenna and one 6m/2m/70cm triband antenna with the appropriate diplexer.
2) One 10m, one 6m, and one 2m/70cm dual band antenna and a Comet CFX-514J triplexer.

I ran my '8900 for many years with option #1, but recently switched to option #2 and all Larsen antennas.  Note that option #2 does not give you all four bands at once.  You have to switch out the 6 and 10 meter antennas, but it allows you to run all quality, as well as uniform size color and shape Larsens.  BUT I've come up with an idea.  See below.

[KX0Z]

What diplexer did you use that split the 10m/6m separately?  I have the Diamond CR627B triband antenna for 2m/6m/440 and it works well.  Still trying to figure out solution for 10m..

[K3GM]

I used a Comet CF-360B diplexer, one port 1.3-30MHz, one port 49-470MHz.
By the way, I've come up with an untried way of running four individual antennas simultaneously:

-Output of the FT-8900 and run it to the input of a Diamond MX-610 Diplexer.
This has 2 outputs, 1.3-30MHz and 49-470MHz. Attach your 10m antenna to this
port.

-Attach the 49-470MHz port of the MX-610 to a Comet CFX-514J Triplexer. This
triplexer has outputs for 6m,2m, and 70cm.

The outputs of this triplexer are SO-239's so you can plug the PL-259's from the
antenna mounts directly into the triplexer eliminating any lossy gender
changers. The only jumper you'll need is from the FT-8900 to the input of the
MX-610.

[KI4SDY]

There are plenty of CB antennas out there that can be use for 10 meters in almost every configuration and or mount. Add the Diamond CR627B and a switch box for the ten meter antenna. Problem solved with good performance!

[K3GM]

The issue is not the 10m antenna.  The issue is getting 10m split off from the other 3 bands that come out of the same port.

[KJ4OBR]

Here's what I do with my 8900:  for 2-440-6m I'm running a Maldol ex510b-nmo triband antenna. For 10m I'm using a Larsen NMO-27 cut for the FM portion of the band (take care trimming, a little goes a long way and replacement whips are a pain to find..ask me how I know!). The antennas are fed through a comet CF-360  http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-001439 I also have a larsen nmo 150 5/8ths wave that tunes up great on 2m and 6m that I play with every once in a while. Everything fits in the garage, looks and performs fine.

I have considered adding a 2m-440 diplexer connected to the cf-360 to allow me to run a separate 440 antenna (same idea as K3GM) and using the Larsen 150 full time on 2m and 6m, but haven't done it yet, I've been happy with the Maldol after I figured out an initial SWR issue (bad SWR meter grrr). if the Maldol dies I'll probably try it.

Some pics:
Current setup: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108388273845581073968/albums/5693931148402558865

Previous setup before car was totaled: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108388273845581073968/albums/5407021333513623297

hope this helps!

73
Dave

Considering using two antennas with a Yaesu FT-8900r. One for 6 and 10 meter FM and a second for 2 meter and 440 FM.

If anyone has tried this and has any feedback I'd like to hear it.

Currently using the Diamond CR-8900 Quad Band. It's about 5 years old and very badly beat up (pretty near shot, actually). Hoping to lessen the compromise necessary by using two antennas.

What's the current wisdom?