[Antennas] More opinions please

Fri, 5 Apr 2002 12:43:17 -0500

I have a '91 Chevy Astro. I have seen mounts for the hitch before 
but am very troubled by the positioning.
It would seem to me impossible that the proximity to the metal 
mass of the vehicle would not grossly distort the radiation pattern
and absorb a considerable percentage of the radiated signal.
I am thinking that I will mount in the upper rear of the van using
a bracket fastened under the top left corner of the door frame.
This gets the antenna up real high, causes the bulk of the metal 
mass of the vehicle to serve as a ground plane, and avoids any 
significant percentage of the radiated signal suffering absorption 
or distortion from the parallel proximity of the van. 
Am I thinking about this wisely?
My other thought is to just mount the thing on the roof using a 
3-magnet mount and a heavy duty fold-over adapter. When I 
have need to lower it the fold-over makes that simple, indeed 
I would keep it folded down except when in active use.
Yes, no, maybe? Recommended source of a fold-over adapter 
strong enough for a HF mobile antenna?
73, doc kd4e 
> Have you thought about how to mount the antenna on your minivan?
> My solution was to fabricate a plate that mounted IN the tow receiver. 
> The plate was triangular in shape .. rounded corners .. and I used a
> 3-magnet mount with the antenna in the center of the mount.
> Used Hustler antennas .. with my own version of 3-bands-on-one-mast.
> Worked like a charm!
> As for a mobile transceiver .. my preference would be the FT-100D.
> Your FT-706 would be my next choice, with the TS-50S a close third.
> Good luck .. and you'll find that you will have minimal noise problems 
> with the Dodge! [I now drive a Dodge Intrepid after two Dodge Caravans]
> 73
> Don - N8DE