Considerations for installing the Ham Radio mobile antenna

Mobile communication antennas are available in different sizes and shapes. They are also designed to operate on multiple frequencies, generally divided into multiple communications services. Some of the communications services include commercial band, maritime mobile, civilian band (CB radio), etc. Regardless of the frequency or band of the antenna, there are several common considerations to consider when considering both the type and location of the mobile radio antenna suspension. review the major issues and discuss the options to consider.

Each type of antenna and support must have a good ground and a good ground plane. Although the need for this will vary depending on the frequency, it is desired to have a good ground and a ground plane for each frequency in practice. Many base station antennas use physical ground, enhanced by the use of radial ground wires or not, to help form a starting point for transmitted radio waves. In a car, the flat part of the top of a car forms a ground plane for a mobile antenna. The location of the antenna on the ground plane becomes important. A central location produces the rounder pattern. A location toward one direction produces an elongated pattern in the opposite direction with less efficiency in the direction of the antenna. While the center of a car roof can be an excellent location for mounting a mobile antenna, returning the coaxial cable to the radio can be difficult. An easier solution from the perspective of the coaxial cable may be the trunk. Many people choose a lip container in the trunk. A bracket in the middle of the roof requires drilling a hole in the vehicle, while a lip holder in the trunk uses mounting screws to secure the holder to the edge of the trunk.

Radiation of as much radio frequency energy as possible is a good thing and a problem. If the antenna is mounted in the center of the roof, the roof acts as a shield and prevents your body from being irradiated by the antenna as much as possible. If the antenna is mounted on the edge of the trunk, it will radiate radio frequency energy directly to the passengers in the car through the rear window of the car. The amount of radio frequency energy and the potential risk varies with the frequency and amount of energy used as well as the amount of time spent.

There are other options and a review of directories and blogs on the Internet can provide good quality images and a review of the pros and cons of many of them. Expect to find antennas mounted on the gutters, multiple sides and the center of the trunk, side panels of a vehicle, front bumpers, rear bumpers and even the bonnet. Remember that there is no 100% perfect solution and that the best solution for a particular person depends on the type of antenna, vehicle type, budget, technical capacity, time, patience, etc.

Regardless of the location and shape of the ground plane, a good radio frequency (RF) ground is needed. Consider this example: if the negative radio frequency energy cannot flow to the ground, the positive radio frequency cannot flow out of the radiating element of the antenna. I often tell new amateur radio operators that there are three things you need to know about mobile antenna devices: land, land and land.

Once you have determined the location of the build a quad antenna bracket and how to obtain a good radio frequency grounding (usually with a wide strap or mask, the radio frequency will flow along the outside of the metal as opposed to electricity), consider the TYPE of mobile antenna supports. Keep in mind that search engines and blogs are wonderful things to research about types and placement of antenna units. Every directory or site probably does not have every type of antenna holder imaginable. Also, remember that each antenna holder has its advantages and disadvantages. I will go through an example of two or three mounts and you probably have the idea.