Seeking Larsen NMO2/70B experience

[dosw]

I'm wondering if anyone has used the Larson NMO2/70B, and if they have an antenna scan from it mounted in a hood-edge location.

It's supposed to be 1/2 wave at 2m, colinear in 70cm. I'm looking to see SWR curves that cover amateur 2m, 70cm, and GMRS.

 

My Comet CA2X4SR isn't going to do it because of my mount location. Its SWR gets out of hand in weird ways.

...and the antenna in the picture is a Laird/TE B4505CN, which is a great match in GMRS, and even extends into upper 70cm alright, but has an unusable SWR in 2m.

 

If there are other options to consider I'm curious to hear.

[tcp2525]

17 minutes ago, dosw said:

Thank you, I'll check them out. I've looked into the SBB-5 but couldn't tell if it's NGP or not. Its product sheet says something like non-radial, but the CA2X4SR says the same on its product sheet, and definitely needs a ground plane.

The need for a ground plane are overrated. Here's a pic of the NMO2/70B on my new 2025 Goldwing, which is mounted in the right rear. As you can see there's no ground plane and the performance is equal to the NMO2/70B on the roof of my truck. You couldn't tell the difference in a double-blind test. I can hold a repeater in Baltimore all the way to down to the Patuxent river bridge in Southern Maryland with both vehicles. If there's an antenna any better than the Larsen I haven't found it.

[tcp2525]

39 minutes ago, dosw said:

I'm wondering if anyone has used the Larson NMO2/70B, and if they have an antenna scan from it mounted in a hood-edge location.

It's supposed to be 1/2 wave at 2m, colinear in 70cm. I'm looking to see SWR curves that cover amateur 2m, 70cm, and GMRS.

 

My Comet CA2X4SR isn't going to do it because of my mount location. Its SWR gets out of hand in weird ways.

...and the antenna in the picture is a Laird/TE B4505CN, which is a great match in GMRS, and even extends into upper 70cm alright, but has an unusable SWR in 2m.

 

If there are other options to consider I'm curious to hear.

The NMO2/70B is the only antenna I will ever use. Both my motorcycles and truck have them and they are excellent performers. I had one trunk lip mounted on the front hood of my Lincoln and it performed great eventhough some people said it should not. I  would recommend this antenna if you want the best long range communications oj any vehicle. Oh, and SWR is under 2.1:1 on GMRS.

[dosw]

2 hours ago, tcp2525 said:

The NMO2/70B is the only antenna I will ever use. Both my motorcycles and truck have them and they are excellent performers. I had one trunk lip mounted on the front hood of my Lincoln and it performed great eventhough some people said it should not. I  would recommend this antenna if you want the best long range communications oj any vehicle. Oh, and SWR is under 2.1:1 on GMRS.

Thanks so much!

[Jaay]

54 minutes ago, dosw said:

Thanks so much!

They Are solid antennas, although there are Better models out there for the 2m/70cm bands.

[dosw]

15 minutes ago, Jaay said:

They Are solid antennas, although there are Better models out there for the 2m/70cm bands.

Open to suggestions. The criteria:

• 2m, 70cm, GMRS.
• Acceptable SWR with a lip-mount with its inadequate ground plane (pictured in my original post).
• Mobile
• NMO mount

I have the following, already:

• Laird/TE B4505CN - GMRS only, no ground plane required. Works great in that application. 5dBi gain.
• MXTA26 - GMRS only, prefers a decent ground plane to achieve reasonable SWR. 6dBi gain.
• MXTA25 (ghost) - GMRS only, ground plane preferred to achieve <2.4SWR. 3dBi gain.
• HYS-1T - GMRS only, 3dBi gain, ground plane required for reasonable SWR.
• Comet CA2X4SR-NMO - 2m, 70cm, GMRS. Fantastic with a good ground plane. Poor SWR with an inferior ground plane.

I don't mind buying the right thing for my application. The Larson NMO2/70B seems to check the boxes, but if there's something better I'm overlooking please let me know.

[Jaay]

13 minutes ago, dosw said:

Open to suggestions. The criteria:

• 2m, 70cm, GMRS.
• Acceptable SWR with a lip-mount with its inadequate ground plane (pictured in my original post).
• Mobile
• NMO mount

I have the following, already:

• Laird/TE B4505CN - GMRS only, no ground plane required. Works great in that application. 5dBi gain.
• MXTA26 - GMRS only, prefers a decent ground plane to achieve reasonable SWR. 6dBi gain.
• MXTA25 (ghost) - GMRS only, ground plane preferred to achieve <2.4SWR. 3dBi gain.
• HYS-1T - GMRS only, 3dBi gain, ground plane required for reasonable SWR.
• Comet CA2X4SR-NMO - 2m, 70cm, GMRS. Fantastic with a good ground plane. Poor SWR with an inferior ground plane.

I don't mind buying the right thing for my application. The Larson NMO2/70B seems to check the boxes, but if there's something better I'm overlooking please let me know.

The Comet SBB-5 are Excellent for mobile and even base use, and are ground independent. 

Also the Diamond SG-7900 as well with much more gain, and ground independent, but requires a permanent mount, or a 5" Magnet.

[dosw]

Just now, Jaay said:

The Comet SBB-5 are Excellent for mobile and even base use, and are ground independent. 

Also the Diamond SG-7900 as well with much more gain, and ground independent, but requires a permanent mount, or a 5" Magnet.

Thank you, I'll check them out. I've looked into the SBB-5 but couldn't tell if it's NGP or not. Its product sheet says something like non-radial, but the CA2X4SR says the same on its product sheet, and definitely needs a ground plane.

[Jaay]

1 minute ago, dosw said:

Thank you, I'll check them out. I've looked into the SBB-5 but couldn't tell if it's NGP or not. Its product sheet says something like non-radial, but the CA2X4SR says the same on its product sheet, and definitely needs a ground plane.

I use the 2X4 with no ground plane and it's Consistently 1.2 -1.4.1 on 2m/ Murs/70cm/ and Gmrs and even covers 222mhz. @1.5.1 swr although it's not really intended for that band. The previous antennas are no ground plane, but seem to perform better with one.

[OffRoaderX]

4 minutes ago, tcp2525 said:

The need for a ground plane are overrated

This is correct.. The antenna on both my Jeeps is mounted on the rear tailgate where all of the "experts" have decreed it "will not work!!!1" because the lack of a perfect ground plane..

It is true the antennas would likely perform better with a good ground plane but both antennas have an SWR of around 2, and I regularly talk with people dozens of miles away, and was able to hit a repeater 93 miles away.  

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

This is correct.. The antenna on both my Jeeps is mounted on the rear tailgate where all of the "experts" have decreed it "will not work!!!1" because the lack of a perfect ground plane..

It is true the antennas would likely perform better with a good ground plane but both antennas have an SWR of around 2, and I regularly talk with people dozens of miles away, and was able to hit a repeater 93 miles away.  

i had similar experience with a cowel mounted Midland antenna on my JK, which i dearly miss