2m Mobile antenna abuse?

[BRENLIM]

Hi mates,

Am currently using a Yaesu FT-1500M 2m radio and also a Diamond 1/4 wave antenna (about 19 inches) mounted on the roof via the roof rack on my 4 wheel drive.

Purchased a Radiall Larsen 5/8 wave antenna with a 3dbd gain but I wonder if the Larsen antenna which is about 51 inches long would withstand abuse if I regularly park it at the underground car parks and my home garage where there is not enough clearance for the antenna.

Furthermore, where is the best place to mount the antenna besides the roof which is the best place to mount the antenna? I am thinking of moving the antenna down lower so that I have more clearance for the antenna.

I welcome all suggestions.

Thanks in advance and 73.

[KL7IPV]

The antenna can take some hard knocks, but not as a regular diet. You could do what is done with CB whips....tie a light string or monofilament line from the top of the two meter whip and pull the whip down when you enter a low overhang. Tie a knot or something near the top of the antenna so you can pull the antenna down and hook it to stay down so you can use both hands for driving. Good luck.
73 Frank
KL7IPV

[N2MDB]

You didn't say if you had a trunk lid or not..but I have a 5/8 wave (radio shack magmount) on my trunk lid and it seems to work just fine.. I haven't side-by-side compared it to the roof, but it does definitly perform better than the 1/4 wave on the roof.

If you don't have a trunk lid, there is always the front fender - but that puts the antenna close to your body which may be a bad idea depending on the power you are running.

[K8KAS]

A 1/4 wl on the roof is hard to beat. Don't kid your self a 5/8 wl antenna lower on the deck or cowel will not out perform a 1/4 wl on the roof. The roof is the only place that will give you a 360 degree pattern with out major lobes.If you do want the slight gain the 5/8 offers (its not 3db) put it on the roof. Roof-Roof-Roof.

[KE4SKY]

If you are going to run a 2 meter or dual-band mobile  and must park in an indoor garage, a roof mounted 1/4 wave or short dual-band antenna "usually" out performs a 5/8 wave mounted lower on the vehicle truck deck.  Larsen, MaxRad and Antenna Specialists all make commercial grade, heavy duty dual-band whips which can stand repeated bashing into fire sprinkler heads and low overheads.

But the biggest bang for the buck for an economy mobile antenna is the www.hamstick.com cellular look-alike dual-band mag mount with the 18 inch "pig squiggle" whip and 3" mag. mount.  It's been a fine performer for me.  I carry an FT5100 dual-band mobile with a 17ah gel cell battery, and heavy duty fused cigarette lighter plug cord with in-line noise filter in a Pelican case, so that I can use it in whatever agency poor car, rental vehicle, etc. I want to put it in.  

Sweeping the hamstick quarter-wave, economy dual-band antenna with my MFJ-469 I have found that it's very broad banded and it works very well on high-band VHF and marine frequencies, as well as the 460-MHz public safety band and GMRS.  Everybody should have one of these as a spare or loaner antenna in their jump kit!