Hi, all.
My XYL and I just traded up from our old 18-foot travel trailer to a
drivable motor home. Just for the record, it's a 31-foot Holiday Rambler
Atlantis.
I'm in the process of getting workable ham antennas on the unit.
I have been working with, and getting a lot of help from a professional RV
service mechanic who works for the dealer where we bought the RV, and who
just happens to be a very knowledgeable ham.
MY HF screw-driver-type antenna is installed on the back left-hand side of
the RV, and seems like it will work just fine with the auto-tuner I use with
it.
My problem comes up with getting a good workable 2-meter and 440 antenna.
When we had the old travel trailer, I used an aluminum J-pole antenna on a
painter's pole, that probably stood a good 10 or 12 feet above the trailer,
in free space. And, it worked just fine.
I have tried mounting that same J-pole to the ladder of the RV, but my SWR's
are a bit questionable, probably due to RF coupling with the ladder and the
alluminum siding on the RV. At our local 2-meter repeater frequency, of
146.740 with a negative off-set, the SWR is about 1.6 to 1, but when I try
repeaters in the 147 MHZ range, my SWR goes up to about 2.2 to 1.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to how I might correct for this SWR
problem?
Or, should I be thinking of a totally different antenna arrangement for the
RV for 2 meters and 440?
If I should think of a different antenna arrangement, what might be
suggested?
I am now on a rather limited budget, especially since we bought the RV (HI!
HI!), but I could spend some money if I had to.
Any helpful suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thanks, and 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
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