Anyone see my Smart in QST magazine ??

[JoeyJet]

Added an ICOM D-STAR Amateur Radio to my 2008 SMART

Amateur Radio

[K4RWM]

I did. And it looks exactly like mine. Except for the antenna....I haven't quite figured out how I want to mount an antenna. The pattern will be garbage unless I use a 1/2 wave design.
73 de N6CR in Atlanta

[a2jack]

Originally Posted by K4RWM

I did. And it looks exactly like mine. Except for the antenna....I haven't quite figured out how I want to mount an antenna. The pattern will be garbage unless I use a 1/2 wave design.
73 de N6CR in Atlanta

Others are using the rear Tow Hook hole for a mount point.
.
What bands do you plan to operate on? Should work fine with a 5/8 wave on 2 meters/ 220/ 440. A2Jack

[K4RWM]

5/8 wave is ground dependent. 1/2 wave antenna is not. This does limit VHF options, particularly on the shorter antennas (the 70cm portion of dualbanders usually are 1/2 wave)....
73

[a2jack]

Originally Posted by K4RWM

5/8 wave is ground dependent. 1/2 wave antenna is not. This does limit VHF options, particularly on the shorter antennas (the 70cm portion of dualbanders usually are 1/2 wave)....
73

Indeed. That's why the tow hook mount is great as it is one of the few places on the car where a solid chassis ground can be found.

No mater what single element vertical antenna you install on a car, you must bring the ground plane of the chassis into play.

Engine noise may be a problem back there though. A2Jack.

Oops, this thread should not be here in Gen Dis.

[JoeyJet]

Only using 2 meter 440 analog and D-Star

[Cruising n Coasting]

Originally Posted by JoeyJet

Added an ICOM D-STAR Amateur Radio to my 2008 SMART

Amateur Radio

Dumb question for the rest of us. What is QST magazine?