Antenna recommendations?

[WRTC928]

I passed the Technician test Thursday and I'm just waiting for the FCC. I need a good dual-band antenna for the top of my small car. It needs to be NMO compatible so I can use the mag mount I already have and not more than about 2 feet tall. For now, I'm going to use it with a Baofeng AR-5RM while I ponder exactly what I want as a permanent installation. So, what do you recommend? 

[SteveShannon]

9 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I passed the Technician test Thursday and I'm just waiting for the FCC. I need a good dual-band antenna for the top of my small car. It needs to be NMO compatible so I can use the mag mount I already have and not more than about 2 feet tall. For now, I'm going to use it with a Baofeng AR-5RM while I ponder exactly what I want as a permanent installation. So, what do you recommend? 

congratulations! Take a look at the comet sbb-2:

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-sbb-2nmo
 

[WRYZ926]

Another good one that is 16" tall is the Comet SBB1 NMO. That is what I am running on my 2023 Ford Escape.

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-sbb-1nmo

It's hard to beat the SBB1 or SBB2 when it comes to short dual band antennas.

[WRQC527]

2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

It's hard to beat the SBB1 or SBB2 when it comes to short dual band antennas

The SBB2 is my favorite mobile dual band antenna. But after me snapping one off on the garage door and my wife snapping one off when she raised the tailgate of my van when I had the thing laid down, I didn't want to throw down for a third one. I run this one now, which has a spring. I've been happy with it. 

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dmn-az504sp?seid=dxese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh6jprOKWigMV5CpECB0VjS8uEAQYASABEgKQNfD_BwE

[SteveShannon]

8 minutes ago, WRQC527 said:

The SBB2 is my favorite mobile dual band antenna. But after me snapping one off on the garage door and my wife snapping one off when she raised the tailgate of my van when I had the thing laid down, I didn't want to throw down for a third one. I run this one now, which has a spring. I've been happy with it. 

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dmn-az504sp?seid=dxese1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh6jprOKWigMV5CpECB0VjS8uEAQYASABEgKQNfD_BwE

Unfortunately that one isn’t recommended for use with a mag mount. 

[WRQC527]

19 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Unfortunately that one isn’t recommended for use with a mag mount. 

True. I gave up on mag mounts in favor of lip mounts. Too many pinched coax and water leak problems and I'm no fan of coax draped across the roof. Ultimately a lip mount would be my recommendation. 

[WRTC928]

3 hours ago, WRQC527 said:

True. I gave up on mag mounts in favor of lip mounts. Too many pinched coax and water leak problems and I'm no fan of coax draped across the roof. Ultimately a lip mount would be my recommendation. 

I'm sure I'll eventually come up with something more permanent. Since I tend to drive my vehicles until they fall apart, I may have a hole drilled and a permanent NMO mount installed. Before I do that, however, I want to make final decisions about where I want the radio, etc.

[wayoverthere]

11 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Another good one that is 16" tall is the Comet SBB1 NMO. That is what I am running on my 2023 Ford Escape.

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-sbb-1nmo

It's hard to beat the SBB1 or SBB2 when it comes to short dual band antennas.

I've had good results with the SBB1 as well, on a mag mount. it was short enough to clear the parking structure at work, mag mounted on the roof of my compact truck; it does work best with some ground plane though.  with the new (full size) truck, im using a fender mount which just isn't enough for the SBB1, and it's no longer short enough on the roof,.  that fender mount is carrying a Comet 2x4SR, which is the only thing i found in my box of spares that was happy there.

i've also had good results with the 1/4 wave Signal Stalk from Signal Stuff.  I did not have good results with the 1/2 wave version, and some testing indicates a need for more tuning (which i haven't gotten around to yet)

[WRYZ926]

I wish that I could run my 2x4SR on my Ford Escape. They are definitely good multi band antennas. Mine is mag mounted on the center of an expanded metal rack on my SxS and does very well.

You are correct that the SBB1 needs a good ground plane. Mine is in the center of the roof on my Escape. It does well in that spot.