Mash5
Adventurer
I largely agree with Randy that most 2m stuff is not about having an optimal setup its more about keeping something in the air. There are however exceptions.
Here is what I do:
I drive a Jeep Cherokee with a big silly roof basket that affords easy mounting using a UHF style connection. For day to day use I find the SS-680sb a great combination of effective and robust. With 2.15 nominal gain it is good for the hill country I live in and it can do almost anything I need. The built in spring lets me slip under a low tree now and then without having to stop and wake up the boys who are waiting for the next play stop and want out as soon as I open my door. I have taken it off a time or two for a really low spot but I need to get out and check clearance for that anyway.
BUT I also carry the SBB-7 with it's much better 4.5 nominal gain. When I reach a mountain top this one comes out and I have found it can make a marked difference for long distance simplex as well as allowing me to reach repeaters that are further away. It also serves as a backup which gives me a warm fussy feeling. I have made several ~160 mile QSOs with this from a local peek down to Fresno. Course I routinely make ~80mile QSOs from that peek with a 5watt HT so a lot of it is the location. Some kind of portable beam is in the future.
I developed this plan after the one trip where I needed emergency comms happened to be on the same day I broke my first antenna. I ended up using a roll-up jpole on a sapling to get help.
I like the little HT antenna idea for keeping in touch when brush may be real bad. I may have to get one of those adapters to carry and I can just use the spring wire antenna off my HT if I find myself in that spot. I find using an HT inside the rig cumbersome but I keep one clipped to my seat that I take any time I step out to keep an ear on things.
For you guys that are talking about getting into a garage I got nothin' for ya. Even though there is a space for it, mine only goes in the garage if I'm working on it. She like it under the oak tree better. If I were in that boat I think I would try one of those motorized mounts.
Anyway that is what works for me. Mileage may vary...
73
KJ6EUO
Here is what I do:
I drive a Jeep Cherokee with a big silly roof basket that affords easy mounting using a UHF style connection. For day to day use I find the SS-680sb a great combination of effective and robust. With 2.15 nominal gain it is good for the hill country I live in and it can do almost anything I need. The built in spring lets me slip under a low tree now and then without having to stop and wake up the boys who are waiting for the next play stop and want out as soon as I open my door. I have taken it off a time or two for a really low spot but I need to get out and check clearance for that anyway.
BUT I also carry the SBB-7 with it's much better 4.5 nominal gain. When I reach a mountain top this one comes out and I have found it can make a marked difference for long distance simplex as well as allowing me to reach repeaters that are further away. It also serves as a backup which gives me a warm fussy feeling. I have made several ~160 mile QSOs with this from a local peek down to Fresno. Course I routinely make ~80mile QSOs from that peek with a 5watt HT so a lot of it is the location. Some kind of portable beam is in the future.
I developed this plan after the one trip where I needed emergency comms happened to be on the same day I broke my first antenna. I ended up using a roll-up jpole on a sapling to get help.
I like the little HT antenna idea for keeping in touch when brush may be real bad. I may have to get one of those adapters to carry and I can just use the spring wire antenna off my HT if I find myself in that spot. I find using an HT inside the rig cumbersome but I keep one clipped to my seat that I take any time I step out to keep an ear on things.
For you guys that are talking about getting into a garage I got nothin' for ya. Even though there is a space for it, mine only goes in the garage if I'm working on it. She like it under the oak tree better. If I were in that boat I think I would try one of those motorized mounts.
Anyway that is what works for me. Mileage may vary...
73
KJ6EUO