[Mobile-Portable] 706 MKIIG w/ AH4 Tuner/102 in. whip

[robert t]

I will add a mobile install which I like very much to
the thread on picking a mobile antenna.  The
components are:
1. 706 MKIIG, 2. Icom AH4 Tuner, 3. Larsen NMO 2/70
antenna, 4. 102 in. CB whip.
I have this exact install on 2 vehicles.  A full size
Ford E150 van where I have a Hustler ball mt. close to
the left rear corner about 16 in. down from roof line 
and a Cadillac Seville STS  on which I have a Lakeview
License Plate mount.  I use the Larsen NMO antenna for
2M/440 on both vehicles.  I get the 102 in CB whip
from Radio Shack for about $15.  So I have two of
these setups on two very different vehicles.  Both the
ball mount on the van and the license plate mt. on the
seville are very well grounded.  With this install I
can tune and talk to my hearts content on 6M-40M and
change bands on the fly with ease.  I don't claim this
to be a better or worse antenna than many others.  I
do
know that with either vehicle I get good signal
reports on all bands when I make contacts.  I also
know that because our local ham club every so often
has about 5 members with high quality field strength
metets that it is very competetive with both screw
drivers and monoband antennas on 6M-20M and good
enough on 40 M for 
me to talk on 40 all I could possibley want to.
It is actually superior on 6M because this is a true
half wave on 6M.  The club does this field strength
testing every quarter at one of our meetings for
anyone who wants to test their antennna and compare
it.
Of course both of the mounts will accept any one of
the complete set of Hustler resonators I have when I
need them.
POSITIVES:  Simple, no moving parts, inexpensive
antenna but you pay about $250 for the AH4 tuner which
you can also use with a whole line of Icom radios. 
Very rapid band change.  I can talk all I want on
6-40M
even though I may miss a few weak stations on 40.
NEGATVES:  Not everyone wants to drive around with a
102 in whip on their vehicle.  I have Hustler quick
disconnects on the whip and while driving the van if
need be I just quickly jump out and take it off, or I
use fishing line to pull it down and attach it to my
rear view mirror.  On the seville, which I drive the
least, I ususally only have the 102 in. whip mounted
while on a longer trip.  For short trips around town
etc, it is very easy to put it in the trunk in the
shape of a semicircle.  
The summmer of 2002 I took a trip from Los Angles to
North Dakota with the Seville, and I talked on every
band from 440 to 40M.  Even worked sporadic E on 6M.
I should also mention that I have complete set of
Hustler resonators that will fit in either mount
should I need them.  It satisfies my mobile ham needs
and then some.  I have state side and foreign DX
contacts on 6M-40M  This install is one of my
favorites as I have had several others also.

Robert  N6OI



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