Okay...so mobile HAM is in my future.

I'm leaning towards a Yaesu 8900 quad-band. Here's the situation for me.

2 meter performance is my priority. There's good repeater coverage in the area that I frequent, and I want to make the most of that. 2 meter is also the most widely used band in my area, so that's where I stand the best chance of getting someone's attention if there's an "incident".

There are a couple of antennas out there that seem to be "matched" to the 8900, but I've done enough reading to know that they're neither fish nor fowl. A lot of folks that seem to know their stuff are suggesting that these antennas are not much more than a dummy load with a radiating stub up top for 10 meter, and their 2 meter performance is mediocre at best. From what I've seen, they also look like they're lacking in the "will stand up to trail abuse" department - especially when compared with a lot of the dual band VHF/UHF antennas.

But I don't want to turn my back on 6 meter and 10 meter completely unless I have to.

Is it logical to look at a "reverse" duplexer installation? Comet makes one (CF-530C). That way I can run a dual-band 2meter/70cm that is optimized to hit the repeaters that I would likely use in an emergency, and still keep the ability to use 6 meter and 10 meter on a separate antenna...perhaps a pair of Hamsticks would work (reasonably) well for covering the 6 and 10 meter bands...I can fit the appropriate hamstick for whichever band I want to work.

Having one antenna mount and swapping antennas every time I want to change bands isn't really a direction I want to go in. I would like to keep good 2 meter coverage pretty much all the time.

To add to all this, I'm still debating different mounting solutions - what will get me reasonable performance but still protect the antennas from trail damage? Possible mounts are:

-Hood seam, between the wheel well and the wipers. This would have to be a VERY flexible and rugged antenna.

-A-pillar, probably on the driver's side. Again, this would need to be a flexible, rugged antenna.

-Ball mount, left side, behind the rear wheel well.

-Spare tire rack (where my CB antenna is now). This is probably the best protected of the lot, but while it seems to be a reasonable ground for my CB antenna, I don't know that this will translate into good performance for 2 meters. This location is next to a reasonable amount of metal, but not over it

I don't think that a front bumper mount is viable given some of the tight spots that I go wheeling in.

So who's got a quad band in their Jeep? Or am I asking for too much here...should I just get a good dual band antenna and save a few dollars by buying a cheaper model transceiver?

 

Mobile antennas will always be a compromise. The duplexer will work, and switching 6M/10M antennas will work. The spare tire mount worked for me. You might try the all band antenna you mentioned, it may give you the 2M performance you want. That is part of the fun of ham radio, experimenting.

 

FWIW, this is what Im running on mine.
Its a Diamond K 412 mount and a Larson 2/70 NMO antenna mount.
Iv been using a Yaesu handheld and it seems to work fairly well for me.
Hopefully, by years end the HT will be replaced with a Yaesu 8800.
Hope this helps.

 

Good stuff!

The other thing that I'm noticing is that the Hamsticks (the only band-specific 6 meter and 10 meter mobile antennas I've seen so far) a seven feet long and don't look all that flexible. I'm thinking that I'd be smart to take them off before going wheeling. Provided that I have a duplexer installed, am I correct in thinking that all of the power for my 2 meter / 70cm transmission will be sent to the 2 meter antenna, and I won't be trying to drive an empty antenna mount?

I do understand that if I don't have a 6 meter / 10 meter antenna fitted and I try to transmit in one of those bands I will risk damaging my transceiver.

Donnie, that looks like a very clean install, and the NMO 2/70 seems to be VERY popular for a dual-bander.

Is it a clamp mount?

 

Just know that as far as antennas go, a monoband antenna will ALWAYS be the best for a given band. That's why the Ham Sticks are so popular. The other very popular rig is the screwdriver type of antenna. Altho big and bulky and pretty spendy to boot, they perform darn near as good as a monobander. Altho I would really love to have a screwdriver antenna, I just can't get beyond the size of the darn things.

As far as the 6/10m Ham Sticks, don't be opposed to a a nice quality spring mount. That will give you all the flex you need. They make quite a few different sizes, you don't have to buy a monster one to get some flex.

You said......"Provided that I have a duplexer installed, am I correct in thinking that all of the power for my 2 meter / 70cm transmission will be sent to the 2 meter antenna, and I won't be trying to drive an empty antenna mount?"

Think of RF kinda like water......it will take the path of least resistance. Meaning it will go to the antenna that is tuned closest to the frequency. But there are "harmonics" involved as well, and anything you put in an antenna system will effect performance. If you plan on running two different antennas, meaning two different mounts and two different coaxes, then you shouldn't run just a "T" barrel connector to both of them, (if that's what you were planning?) What I recommend is a GOOD 2 position coax switch. You'd switch the coax switch to the 2/70 antenna, and then switch over to the other for 6/10m. Diawa makes some good quality coax switches. I'm actually kind of surprised that the 8900 doesn't have 2 coax connectors on the back of the rig.........one for HF and one for VHF/UHF. Maybe they just plan on you using one of the "matched" antennas.

Anyway, it just comes down to how good of performance you want. Like stated before, if you go other than monoband, then there is always a compromise. If it was me, I'd go Ham Sticks. Unless you can find a REAL GOOD quality multiband antenna. Check out the reviews on Eham.

Good Luck.....

 

That's the "gotcha" with a quad band radio, isn't it?

I've been scoping Eham and found a good site geared towards guys than run HF mobile...the guy who runs that site had some VERY interesting things to say about antennas, mounting, and good RF grounds.

When taken as a whole, all of this reading is telling two things:

#1. It's unlikely that any of these multiband wonder-antennas will survive the sort of wheeling that I do.

#2. The best quad-band antenna I can find will do so-so for 2 meter, and poorly for 6 and 10 meter. The best tri-band I can find with do well for 2 meter, and poorly for 6 meter...it offers no 10 meter coverage. Given that good 2 meter performance is a must for me, that means I'll need a second antenna if I want 10 meter anyways.

Given how reasonable the prices on the ham sticks are, I'm leaning towards a physically short 2m/70cm whip, and a second mount to run 6m and 10m monoband hamsticks.

The duplexer that I'm considering isn't just a "T". I've done a bit more research over the last twelve hours, and it's actually got a pair of band-pass filters in it. Provided that I tune the hamsticks while the duplexer is in-line, it looks like it should serve the same function as a good quality coax switch - without the need to worry about having left the switch in the wrong position when I go to transmit.

Now all I've got to do is figure out which antenna mountings will work best, and then pay for all this

 

This is a good practical discussion.

Here are a few random thoughts after reading the posts in this thread.
1. Screwdriver antenna on the trail- My Yaesu ATAS-100 has performed well over the years. I cringe when in the woods but so far so good. most hits are at slow speed. It has to be taken apart and cleaned every year or so to keep it working properly. 2 years on the JK, 3 years on the TJ, several fixed operations on top of the Lighthouse. Hundreds of contacts.
2. Duplexers - I would not leave an antenna mount un terminated just so Murphy does not visit.
3. A good antenna is better than more power in a mobile. A good ground helps.
4. Larsen 2/70 NMO antenna is a good performer. Mine is at least 10 years old and is used just about everyday.
5. I have very little experience on 6M. I like 10M.
6. Keep it Simple.

Your mileage may vary.

 

if you want to use multiple antenna's, get yourself an antenna switch. (1 in and 4 out, that is what i have) Wich ever band your using at the time, rotate the switch to the proper antenna and the way you go.

 

Hey Jeff.....all good on the above for sure. I haven't played radio in quite awhile. How has 10m been....any good openings? If so, are they still few and far between? Local or DX...???
Oh and btw.......Larsen makes great antennas.....
73....

 

Oh and btw......for anybody else considering a screwdriver, this antenna also has some great reviews:

http://www.hamcq.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=3