Here's a really easy way to make a top-performing field / portable antenna that works great on 2 meters and above. (And, you could certainly use it as a permanent base-antenna, great for low-visibility HOA applications!)

 

Just take some sheet aluminum and cut a 12.5" square piece (I like 1/8" thick for rigidity).  Punch a 5/8" hole in the center. Then install an SO-239 bulkhead feed-through connector (either 2" or 3" long) in the hole, and you're done.  Mount your favorite PL259-mount whip on the connector, and you'll be surprised at the low VSWR.  The plate provides a perfect ground-plane match, even on 2 meters. 

 

6.25" is a quarter-wavelength on 440, so the plate acts like an infinite-number of radials on that band.  What is surprising is how well it works on 144 and 220 mHz!!

 

There are dozens of ways to mount this setup, from pipe-flanges to "L" brackets. The pictures show many options, like a camera tripod or on a fiberglass camper shell.  Just be sure it's securely fastened, as (just like radials) an "airborne" aluminum-plate can do serious bodily-injury!  

 

For many folks, this approach is easier than messing around with radials, and very likely offers better performance.  My favorite dual-band whip for this setup is the superb MFJ-1412 (pictured). 

 

As many already know, a good mobile antenna like the MFJ-1412 has the same gain as a Diamond X30 base antenna, but with less visibility and wind load.  AND, its only $28 at GigaParts (half the price of the identical Diamond 770).

Back to Antennas

Back to Home