2M antenna with 3/8-24 threaded base

[KB3HG]

I also have a 2m co-linear with 3/8-24 thread. I picked it up at a ham fest back in the 70s. works fine at the bumper mount even better on the rear deck. but its about 6 feet long. The swr was good and as an odd quirk would work on 11 meters. I was told that when I bought it at the ham fest. Strangely it worked on 11m. Still have it, have not used it in years. but its a different antenna. I don't even remember what brand it is, Cushcraft or Hustler?  Now I have NMO or 5mm mounts that I cobble together.

Tom Kb3hg

[AC4RD]

At HF or 6m, few hams use mobile antennas that are much longer than about 1/4 wavelength,
and you can match that with ...
But hams DO use half wave, or 2 x 5/8 wave antennas, or many other designs, on VHF/UHF,
and that is where the NMO makes these possible because it provides a ground connection
for the required matching networks.

OK, I've got your point; I've been misunderstanding what you were getting at.  Sorry!

You're right, I've never bothered with anything other than a simple quarter-wave for VHF or UHF. 

[KC9Q]

If you don't care about antenna gain, then you can use a 1/4 wave 2M whip.  A 1/4 wave at 2M is about a 3/4 wave at UHF which will give you dual band operation.  Similar principal as a 5/8 wave (3 dB) 2M whip can also be used as a 1/4 wave whip for 6M.

[KJ4YOJ]

I use a Hustler SF-2.  It's cheap, but it requires tuning.  It works great on 2M, and I even tuned it up on 10M once and worked Canada with it (from Nashville, TN)  http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm/1999.html


73,
Paul KJ4YOJ

[KG6YSF]

Firestik makes both quarter wave and five-eighths wave fiberglass whips. They look just like their 11m antennas. I have been looking at them for the 2m in my Jeep. I abuse it at least monthly so I want something simple and robust. Granted it is just a 2m not dual band. The quarter wave with a stainless spring and ball mount is what I will probably use. and it will match the 11m that way.

[M6GOM]

If you don't care about antenna gain, then you can use a 1/4 wave 2M whip.

The difference in gain of any mobile vertical antenna over another is so low as to make it almost worthless installing them over a simple 1/4 wave antenna. Because we mostly use repeaters on VHF/UHF mobile the elevation pattern of a 5/8 wave or longer is actually detrimental in a lot of areas.

Certainly my own extensive A/B testing between a 1/4 wave and 5/8 wave monoband 2m antenna has found no discernable difference to a repeater up to a distance of 55 miles away either on the S meter or RX audio strength and I've talked through that repeater with the 1/4 wave with just 10W. Simplex on flat land I've not noticed any difference over a 25 mile distance.