Shortest 2-meter 70 cm mobile Antenna?

[RIPPER238]

Love monitoring these bands but my GMRS ghost antenna (or mini Midland) just doesn't hack it and the few i have seen that can do 2m & 70cm aren't rated well. My garage really only has enough clearance for a ghost antenna so maybe there is another option that's super short? 

I would rather not have to fold or remove since i do have a CA-2X4SR when i don't need my garage.  

[WRYZ926]

I can definitely recommend the Comet SBB-1 NMO antenna for 2m and 70cm.It is only 16" long. I am height restricted myself and the Comet SBB1 just clears my 7 foot garage doors in the center of the roof on my 2023 Ford Escape. Another good option is the Comet SBB-2 which is 18" long.

I tested my SBB-1 on GMRS and the SWWR was 1.8 at 467.600, so it is usable for GMRS.

[RIPPER238]

43 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I can definitely recommend the Comet SBB-1 NMO antenna for 2m and 70cm.It is only 16" long. I am height restricted myself and the Comet SBB1 just clears my 7 foot garage doors in the center of the roof on my 2023 Ford Escape. Another good option is the Comet SBB-2 which is 18" long.

I tested my SBB-1 on GMRS and the SWWR was 1.8 at 467.600, so it is usable for GMRS.

Thank you. But even 16" will be too tall. lol

I have about 6" at most. Its the tough part about having a truck and mag mount NMO. 

 

[WRYZ926]

You might not find any dual band antennas that fits your needs then. The shortest dual band I could find is the COMPACtenna Model 2M/440 Dual-Band NMO Mobile Antennas 2M/440 which is 7" tall. 

I have no idea how well those work since I have no experience with them.

[RIPPER238]

I may just have to go with the Comet SBB-1 NMO and a lip mount for my hatch. Not ideal, but i'm sure it will be better than a GMRS antenna. 

[WRQC527]

3 hours ago, RIPPER238 said:

Love monitoring these bands but my GMRS ghost antenna (or mini Midland) just doesn't hack it and the few i have seen that can do 2m & 70cm aren't rated well. My garage really only has enough clearance for a ghost antenna so maybe there is another option that's super short? 

I would rather not have to fold or remove since i do have a CA-2X4SR when i don't need my garage.  

 

There is this option, which for some people might be a solution. This one happens to be a BNC-style, but they are also made for SMA-mount HT antennas. the idea is to put your HT's dual-band rubber duck antenna on the mount and attach it to the roof. I've never tried one, so I can't comment on how well they work, but it would certainly fit your requirement of "super-short" and "dual-band 2m/70cm".

https://www.amazon.com/Anteenna-TW-35B-Magnetic-Mount-Female/dp/B07H8GNG33/ref=asc_df_B07H8GNG33?mcid=ab23b401e2ad3497b1bacdfeb7124d0c&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693297383718&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11318577053321875493&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9198055&hvtargid=pla-2069911870245&psc=1

[WRTC928]

There are some similar to the Ghost, but purportedly dual-band: here, here,and here. I have no idea if they're any good. They're really inexpensive compared to the Ghost, which may indicate a lower quality, but maybe not. If you try one, I'd be interested to find out how it works.

[WRYZ926]

21 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

There are some similar to the Ghost, but purportedly dual-band: here, here,and here. I have no idea if they're any good. They're really inexpensive compared to the Ghost, which may indicate a lower quality, but maybe not. If you try one, I'd be interested to find out how it works.

I can say that the Bingfu definitely has less than stellar real world reviews from people that have tried them. I would say the other two are probably no better.

[WSAA254]

You may have some challenges.  I use the compactenna scan-III for gmrs, and swr results for 2 meter is not great but acceptable.   Another user mentioned the compactenna dual band for 2M and 440.  Its a little shorter (7 inch).   The scan-III is 9 inches.   Best of luck...

[tcp2525]

Use an antenna with a spring. My Midland MXTA26 for GMRS has one built in and the Larsen 2/70B has the optional spring. Going in low clearance parking garages is no longer an issue other than the noise of them scraping the concrete ceiling. This is on an F150. As for ghost antennas, if you have an insatiable craving to endure poor performance and generate heat, definitely use one. As he old hotrod saying goes, there's no replacement for displacement. Same with using the proper antenna compared to a compromised one.

[WRTC928]

On 12/21/2024 at 12:50 PM, tcp2525 said:

Use an antenna with a spring. My Midland MXTA26 for GMRS has one built in and the Larsen 2/70B has the optional spring. Going in low clearance parking garages is no longer an issue other than the noise of them scraping the concrete ceiling. This is on an F150. As for ghost antennas, if you have an insatiable craving to endure poor performance and generate heat, definitely use one. As he old hotrod saying goes, there's no replacement for displacement. Same with using the proper antenna compared to a compromised one.

I never really had an issue with the Midland Ghost Antenna. It performed about as well as other mag-mounts IME. I only replaced it because I got a ham license and swapped it for a dual-band antenna. Unfortunately, I can't find a dual-band antenna similar to the Ghost with good reviews.

[Hoppyjr]

I never really had an issue with the Midland Ghost Antenna. It performed about as well as other mag-mounts IME. I only replaced it because I got a ham license and swapped it for a dual-band antenna. Unfortunately, I can't find a dual-band antenna similar to the Ghost with good reviews.

I’ve done a good bit of research on this too, looking for a dual-band short “ghost” style antenna. My search resulted in nothing of value.

The Compactenna is about the only semi-short option, but the preferred mounting location at the edge of roof/hood makes it less desirable for my center roof mounted NMO mount.

I ended up with the Larsen Tri-band Whip Antenna, (NMO150/450/758). It’s designed for public safety use, with a spring included. It’s less than 18” tall.

https://www.arcantenna.com/products/pulse-larsen-nmo150-450-758-tri-band-antenna?srsltid=AfmBOopxJXUZ53aeHao9Li0Orm88usGPErzdN4XUbKID_h-Q8yxXwUpV

[WRXB215]

@Hoppyjr you may have helped me decide where to spend my Christmas money. I really would like to switch from a mag-mount to NMO. Also would like a NanoVNA. Decisions, decisions. 

[dosw]

There's this one from DX Engineering: COMPACtenna Model 2m/440 Dual-Band NMO Mobile

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/can-2m-440?seid=dxese1

[RIPPER238]

1 hour ago, dosw said:

There's this one from DX Engineering: COMPACtenna Model 2m/440 Dual-Band NMO Mobile

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/can-2m-440?seid=dxese1

A bit pricey, but if it works well its a solution. My center mounted mag mount is ideal for placement so i would like to stick with it. 

 

[wayoverthere]

On 12/15/2024 at 12:15 PM, RIPPER238 said:

I may just have to go with the Comet SBB-1 NMO and a lip mount for my hatch. Not ideal, but i'm sure it will be better than a GMRS antenna. 

I was happy with the sbb-1 on the roof as well; it easily cleared the work parking garage 7' clearance, supposedly) on my old compact truck mag mounted on the roof. I ended up going to a fender mount to be able to run an antenna with some gain, and switched to the sbb-5, which still cleared everything.

On the new truck (full size 4x4), even the sbb-1 wasn't short enough on the roof, so I'm running another fender mount. Sbb-5 didn't like that location on this truck, but the ca-2x4sr is happy, so that's what I'm running for now. It does scrape slightly in the parking garage, but nothing major.

[Hoppyjr]

A bit pricey, but if it works well its a solution. My center mounted mag mount is ideal for placement so i would like to stick with it. 
 

As I understand it, the Compactenna is intended to be mounted near the edge of hood or roof for best performance. That would suggest center roof isn’t the ideal location for this specific antenna.

[RIPPER238]

1 hour ago, Hoppyjr said:

As I understand it, the Compactenna is intended to be mounted near the edge of hood or roof for best performance. That would suggest center roof isn’t the ideal location for this specific antenna.

Thanks, good to know. I was contemplating doing this for a longer antenna if i couldn't go with something short anyway.