Motorcycle antenna question

[rescuelt]

Should I use a base loaded low band antenna on the grounded radio box, or a ball mount whip?

[akardam]

I don't recall offhand brand/make/model of the lowband whips CHP uses on their motors, but I believe it's mounted on a metal crossbar just aft of the radio box. I would assume some type of base-loaded little-or-no-ground-plane antenna, but I'm not sure.

These are the only decent shots of the antenna mounting solution on the CHP BMW's I could find:

http://www.autospies.com/images/users/S ... otor_2.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/119/2743 ... b2.jpg?v=0
http://images105.fotki.com/v437/photos/ ... 1161736756

[kg6ziu]

What band are you using and what motorcycle will you be mounting this on?

Phil

[WCHija]

What kind of radio box are you using?

[kg6ziu]

I mounted my radio in the trunk of the BMW that I had, and mounted the control head to a fairing brace by the triple clamp. On the antenna end of things, I took a spare whip and made a 1/2-wave counterpoise which was fastened to the antenna mount.

Phil

[WCHija]

Whelen makes a ground plane that sticks inside the MBR series radio box. I thought BMW had something similar. It is basically a thin piece of aluminum with adhesive on one side that allows you to stick it up inder the lid of the box. Perhaps something like that would help.

[ka8ypy]

Should I use a base loaded low band antenna on the grounded radio box, or a ball mount whip?

If you have a good ground plane inside the box (i.e. has metal insides of the fiberglass box) then use the ball mount. If no metal in the box, then use the base loaded antenna.

Dan
Slick Top Solutions
KA8YPY