Antenna question...

[PropellorHead]

I'm currently restoring an old open cab 1969 Crown fire engine. I have installed a VHF Syntor 9000x and a UHF Spectra.

Because of the open cab, antenna mounting locations are slim. On the captain's side (passenger side), I currently have a side mount low band whip for the Mocom I have installed, and I'd like to find some sort of side mount for the VHF & UHF antennas, to place them on the engineer's (drivers side).

I know that many depts. here on the west coast used side mounted VHF antennas, placed on like a 2-3 foot mast type thing...however, I'm having trouble googling for this type of thing. I've tried looking at Comtelco and stuff, but I can't seem to find any side mount VHF/UHF solutions....aside from the cheap CB/trucker type stuff. If anyone knows what I'm talking about and can suggest manufactures or links to look for i'd really appreciate it.

thanx in advance,

Louie

[Tom in D.C.]

What you're probably looking for is what we called a
coaxial antenna. It's a chrome tube about 3 feet tall
with a VHF (could be a UHF as well I guess) whip on
top. It's actually a dipole and the chrome tube part
serves as the "other" quarter wave of the halfwave
antenna. Because of its configuration it doesn't need
a ground plane and you can mount in on the side of
the cab, pump panel, or almost any other vertical location.
Antenna specialists used to make them, and while it
would probably take some digging to find one today I'm
sure someone still makes this type of unit.

[PropellorHead]

ya, your description sounds exactly what I'm talking about...


I did a search, and Antenna Specialists still sells this type of antenna, only it's not a side mount.

[HLA]

go to maxrad's site and you will find the antennaes that don't need a ground plane. http://www.maxrad.com/product_overview_ ... &styleid=8