[Mobile-Portable] New car and considering new antenna setup!

[Zyg Skrobanski]

>Actually, the screwdriver antennas are center loaded rather than base 
>loaded if you understand how they work.

As mentioned, some of the screw drivers are base loaded and some are low
center loaded, none are top loaded.  The Comets and the Diamonds are top
loaded which is the tremendous advantage.  A top loaded configuration works
the best.

>Further, there have been 
>numerous shootouts on 75 meters and 40 meters with the same output power 
>comparing antennas like the Screwdriver and the Comet, the Comets lose 
>every time.

I haven't seen any reports of such shoot outs.  Though I suspect that an
honest comparison would show that the low cost Comet and Diamond antennas
to be a lot better than many would have otherwise thought!  

>Anyone who has ever tried both on the same mobile will 
>notice the difference quite readily.

How one mounts the antenna has a lot to do with it.  Most screw driver
installations are installed on the lower portion of the automobile, such as
a tow bracket, or bumper, which is certainly not an optimum location.  A
Comet or Diamond mounted at that position would certainly not work well,
but if the Comet/Diamond is installed up higher which is usually possible
with its low profile, then the results are quite spectacular.


--
Zyg AF4MP
Roswell GA USA