THE DAKOTA MOBILE RADIO ANTENNAS

    I really enjoy tweaking mobile antennas.  I am always looking for the better mouse trap, thus I purchase, build and test lots of mobile antennas.  I also tend to break more than the occasional mobile antenna and I plan to discuss the whys along with potential solutions to this problem.  From the actual antenna to the mount, coax, proper grounding and connectors antennas of all types are one of my favorite things to tinker with.

 THE ANTENNAS ON THE DAKOTA

     

     On my 1993 Dakota the FT-7800 dual band radio sends and receives through a Comet SBB-7NMO 2 meter and 70 centimeter antenna.  This antenna is a 5/8 wave center load on 2 meters and has 4.5 dB of gain.  On 70 centimeters it is a three 5/8 wave and has 7.2 dB of gain.  The VSWR specs at 1.5:1 or less and will handle up to 70 watts.  The overall height is 55 inches and has a fold over feature. 

   I originally purchased this antenna for use on my 1997 Ram but its position on the drivers side had it at a height the was interfereing with getting under the awning of the drive through at the only fast food joint in town which serves vegetarian food.  Getting out almost daily to fold the antenna over just for a vegi-burger was driving me nuts.  On the shorter Dakota it gets through the window with inches to spare so antenna height on the drivers side has determined the antennas used on these two trucks.

     The antenna that is mounted on the glass is a Radio Shack scanner antenna that is attached to a Uniden Bearcat scanner.  The antenna on the passenger side is a carbon copy of the 1997 Rams equipment on the same side.  It is a 60 inch tall, 5/8 wave Wilson "Silver Load" that can be tuned for either 10 or 11 meters. 

THE DAKOTA TEXAS BUG CATCHER

   

     

COOL DXING NAVIGATION

CROWDERINC.COM NAVIGATION

ALL OF THE PHOTOS AND TEXT ON THIS SITE IS COPYRIGHTED.  NO PORTION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT.