[TowerTalk] Mobile antenna for SUV

[Dan Hearn]

Roger, I have a Toyota Highlander with a roof rack. If you really want to
have a good mobile signal with vehicles like this mount the antenna on top
and unscrew it when garaging the vehicle. Here is how I did it. Move the
horizontal bars on the rack to the rear and about a foot apart. Mount a 1/4
inch aluminum plate a foot or so square to the cross bars with husky ty-raps
thru holes drilled thru the plate. Connect a widecopper strap between the
plate and slip it thru the rubber gasket at the top of the rear lift door.
Connect the copper strip with a couple of sheet metal screws to the sheet
metal just below the rubber gasket so it is out of the rain. It works great
with Hamsticks and doesn't mess up the car. A friend copied mine and uses a
large trapped antenna. It looks pretty large but he has a good mobile sig
and no mechanical problems.
 I have thought about making a motor mount to fold the ant forward or
possibly a pivot mount which could use a piece of nylon HD fishing line
accessible thru the sun roof to pull it down forward. It is easy to access
the ant from the rear bumper.
73, Dan, N5AR

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of K8RI
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 12:03 AM
To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Mobile antenna for SUV


I've been considering running mobile for the first time since 1963.
Both Rigs and cars have changed a lot since then and not just in price.

I have a Toyota 4-Runner and am considering using a Yaesu FT897D which I've
been using in the shop.
Thing is, I don't know what to do about an HF antenna.  I'd like to run 75
through 6 meters, but would settle for just a couple of the bands such as
40, 20, and 15 although I'd like to keep 75.
Where do I mount the thing?  If on the back the rear of the SUV is nearly
vertical would present quite a obstacle to the radiation from an antenna
that already approximates a leaky dummy load.
I do have to eventually put the thing inside, but at least I have an 11 foot
tall door on the shop.

Unlike the motor home I'd be using this under motion.

Any suggestions as to a good mobile antenna I could try?

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com

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