[2m] Re: [Antennas] mobile ants

[Mike McCarthy, W1NR]

Jonathan Thawley wrote:
> I have a weird question... I've seen this done on the "chicken band"
> but never ham radio...
>
> Could I run 2 5/8 wave mobile antennas on 2m and hook them up to my
> radio with a so-239 T adapter?
>
> What, if any improvement would this warrant over just 1 antenna?  Or
> would I risk blowing up the radio?
>
> Curiosity is just killin the cat today.. LOL
>
> Jonathan/KC8CPW
>
Well, most CB installations actually destroy the performance of the 
antenna system in general because they are not installed properly.  That 
said, the idea behind it is to provide gain and antenna pattern coverage 
up and down the road.  If spaced and phased correctly, the pattern is 
changed to provide maximum gain to the front and rear of the vehicle 
(broadside to the elements).  The idea is to increase coverage on the 
road that you are driving on.  Of course, that theory falls apart on 
winding roads or where you wish to make contacts with fixed stations 
that are at right angles to your vehicle.

Now as far as 2 meters is concerned, it is probably a very bad idea, 
since you really want omni-directional gain.  Phased collinear antennas 
will give you gain and lower your angle of radiation, increasing your 
overall coverage area.  There used to be a couple of manufacturers that 
had mobile antennas that used collinear elements.  I would look for ONE 
of these instead.

Mike, W1NR