New Ham needs dual band antenna help!

[Loco-Nomad]

I bought a dual band glass mount antenna for my truck. I was picking up 2m but nothing on 70 cm. When I try to call "CQ" I get no response on 2 m all day. I bought an SWR meter and it is way off the charts so I figure it's the new glass mount antenna I bought. It's a "no name" off ebay and I sent a message to the seller. Started looking at antennas like Diamond and so forth since you get what you pay for . What does NMO mean? Can anyone suggest a good dual band mobile antenna? Any help for the Newbie is much appreciated....

 

[Rallyroo]

What frequency where you calling CQ on? Try calling on a repeater where you will have a higher chance of getting a response than on simplex.

NMO is an type of antenna mount. Which looks like this:

How I chose my antenna:
-I based it on the maximum length I can install on my vehicle while still being able to fit into the garage. I didn't want to have to get out of my vehicle each time to deal with flip-down antennas.
-Diamond, Comet, Larson, they're all good choices.

Glass mount antennas are not that great. I recommend going with a lip mount.

 

[bj70_guy]

I've been happy with my Larsen NMO 2/70.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

I have a Diamond NR770HBNMO 2m/70cm antenna on a Diamond K400CNMO mount. The antenna is about 1m in length and folds over for low clearance areas, and the mount is very stout. I like the NMO mounts, but that's just me. High quality, name brand setups (ie Diamond, Larsen, etc) definitely cost more (I think I paid around $135 for my antenna & mount), but the term "buy once, cry once" applies here.

With regards to your calling CQ, there's of course your out of wack antenna, but also depending on where you're at, the local hams may use a frequency other than 146.520 for simplex, and I'd say that the majority are monitoring repeaters. Also, hams around my area don't talk much- it could be the same around your area. You might look into going to a local club meeting to introduce yourself and learn about the local bands and what they're used for.

 

[MisterTinkle]

I've only had my license and mobile radio for about 2 months, so I very little experience with different mounts or antennas. However, I have a Diamond NR-770HBNMO antenna ( http://www.diamond-ant.jp/ama2/eng_ama_2_1_5.asp ) and a Comet CP-5NMO lip mount ( http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=9&childID=14 ) that I mounted on my driver side hood lip. Seems to work great for me; I can transmit/receive on 2M and 70cm. I think the bundle was about $130.

My antenna is just a couple inches too long to fit under the garage without hitting. It does fold, but I'm lazy. So I am 'experimenting' and testing durability to see if it can handle the abuse of just driving into the garage!

I was interested in glass mount, but I read that they are not as reliable as 'traditional' mounts. NMO is a type of connector. There are others, but since I'm a amateur newbie I don't know the advantages of the different types.

 

[gary in ohio]

I bought a dual band glass mount antenna for my truck. I was picking up 2m but nothing on 70 cm. When I try to call "CQ" I get no response on 2 m all day. I bought an SWR meter and it is way off the charts so I figure it's the new glass mount antenna I bought. It's a "no name" off ebay and I sent a message to the seller. Started looking at antennas like Diamond and so forth since you get what you pay for . What does NMO mean? Can anyone suggest a good dual band mobile antenna? Any help for the Newbie is much appreciated....

Glass mount antenna's are notoriously bad antennas. Keep in mind most antennas need some tuning out of the box. If you cant tune it you will need to replace it. As other have noted the diamond or the larson is a good option.

As for calling CQ, Its seldom done on VHF and UHF. If you do it would be done on the calling frequencies 146.52 mhz for 2m or 446.00 mhzfor 70cm. If you want to chat try a local repeater. 70cm is not overly busy in Ohio and I doubt anyone is listening to 446mhz. You may find someone on 52.

For 2m repeaters check out http://www.qsl.net/kb8ssh/map.html You can also search for Ohio coordinated repeaters at http://www.oarc.com/dbase.shtml

 

[BigJimCruising]

I have used several brands of the through the glass antennas over the years and they can be pretty tricky to get setup right. Go back through the entire installation again and look for the little things that can go wrong.

Check the mounting instructions, I seem to remember one of them requiring the inside and outside mounts to line up a certain way, others didn't.

Also check for a matching screw on both mounts, you might need to tune the mounts along with tuning the antenna.

Check the little things that we all know can never go wrong like pinched coax or bad connector at the radio.

Put your radio on scan and take a little time to find a working repeater or a couple hams talking so you can try and contact someone. I think that once you find out what's wrong and fix it you'll have an easy time of contacting someone. Good luck!

 

[MisterTinkle]

If the folks you're hearing that aren't responding are already using a repeater and you haven't programmed in the PL tones and the other codes, they're never gonna hear you cause you're not tripping the repeater that they're using.

I would bet it's a combination of an out of adjustment antenna and a radio not set up properly.

Good point. It took me awhile to find a good list of repeaters and PL/DCS/CTSS codes before I was able to make a contact. Learning how to setup my radio to auto-scan for codes was helpful.

One final note, as sad as it may sound, calling CQ on a local 2m or 70cm band isn't really the way things are done and you may very well be getting out but the locals simply aren't replying cause they think you're a newbie and not worth their time. Hate to write that but it's the truth. There are a lot of snobs and otherwise rude folks who won't stoop down and communicate with anyone not doing things the "proper" way in the Ham world. Happily they are very much in the minority.

That would be a very disappointing experience. I've been lucky, and everybody I've contacted has been supportive and friendly. But I guess there are always snobs and elitists.

 

[Loco-Nomad]

Thanks for all the responses. Great information from EVERYONE! I did kinda figure that I might be getting "ignored" when I was trying to call. I plan to meet up with the local Ham radio club but I havent yet since I am moving out of town.

On repeater or 2m what is the normal "procedure" then if you don't call CQ? Just your call sign and wait for a response? Thanks again, newbies like me need schooled so we don't sound like fools on the air. oops, too late!

 

[Rallyroo]

Well, here's are a couple of ways to try to get a response on a repeater:

1. Radio Check Method
"This is <insert callsign here>, can anyone give me a radio check?"

2. Using the Noob Card
"This is <insert callsign here>, I just got my ticket recently and I'd like to make my first contact. Anyone on frequency this evening?"

3. Monitoring or Listening Method (but you'll only get a response if someone wanted to talk)
"<insert callsign here> is monitoring."

or

"<insert callsign here> is listening."

 

[Rallyroo]

If you knew someone, like say for example, me...

You'd give out my callsign followed by your callsign in the format of

<their callsign> <your callsign>

The most basic way:

KE6VFA <insert your callsign>

Other variations you'll hear on the radio:

KE6VFA this is <insert your callsign>
or
KE6VFA KE6VFA this is <insert your callsign>
or
KE6VFA this is <insert your callsign> calling

 

[Borrego60]

antenna

I suggest you buy the best antenna you can afford.All my stuff is motorola which is made by A/S. If you have one radio you can get a dual band antenna and suffer a small amount of performance. Or as I do I tend to stick to one band VHF, If I know I will be changing bands I will carry that band of antenna and change it when needed. Remember buy a cheap antenna and never be heard from again. God I like that saying. Just food for thought.

 

[gary in ohio]

Well, here's are a couple of ways to try to get a response on a repeater:

1. Radio Check Method
"This is <insert callsign here>, can anyone give me a radio check?"

2. Using the Noob Card
"This is <insert callsign here>, I just got my ticket recently and I'd like to make my first contact. Anyone on frequency this evening?"

3. Monitoring or Listening Method (but you'll only get a response if someone wanted to talk)
"<insert callsign here> is monitoring."

or

"<insert callsign here> is listening."

Skip the radio check, thats for CB. the others are ok. Simply
callsign listening on xxxx frequncy will usually do it.

 

[Rallyroo]

Skip the radio check, thats for CB. the others are ok. Simply
callsign listening on xxxx frequncy will usually do it.

Then how would one you figure out if they were getting a good signal into a repeater?

 

[gary in ohio]

Then how would one you figure out if they were getting a good signal into a repeater?

Once you contact someone on the repeater you can ask how well your getting into the repeater. Its ok for a "signal report" thats very ham oriented, but a "radio check" is very CBish. Nothing wrong with either.

You can also wait for a club net or similar on the air event and ask then.

You can wait till you here someone sign on or finish a conversation and then
call them.

and just toss you own call out.... "kcxabc listening 146.76 anyone around"
and see who comes back.