Yes, I use to sell and maintain commercial repeater systems and radios. 
Back in the days when auto patches were cool, way before cell phones. 
As far as a quarter wave being as good as a longer antenna, say a 5/8, 
not so.  a 5/8 wave has 3 db gain as I recall. The only time we used a 
quarter wave was if the mobile was very close to the repeater and you 
wanted a higher angle of radiation.  I've forgotten a lot about this 
stuff though, although I still have and use my ifr service monitor for 
tuning up duplexers and such.
73
Butch Bussen
wa0vjr
open Node 3148
Las Vegas


On Tue, 9 Mar 2010, Pat Byrne wrote:

> And with a hole in the roof it is easier to get a reliable ground for
> the antenna end of the coax.  I think this is important for an RF
> free environment and quieter receive.  I believe you have a
> background in two-way Butch; am I correct?
> Thanks.
> Pat, K9JAuAt 10:09 AM 3/9/2010, you wrote:
>> I really don't understand why people don't want to drill a hole to mount
>> an antenna, but to each his own.  I figure as long as I own it, they'll
>> be an antenna there, and holes are easily plugged.  One in the middle
>> of the roof is by far the best of corse because of a good ground plane.
>>   Only reason I didn't drill a hole in our new Santa Fe was because the
>> thing has side air bags and I wasn't about to try and fish coax by those
>> things, so I wound up putting a luggage mount in the middle and used
>> little plastic clips held down with silicon seal to hold the coax in
>> place across the roof.
>>
>> 73
>> Butch Bussen
>> wa0vjr
>> open Node 3148
>> Las Vegas
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 9 Mar 2010, Mark wrote:
>>
>>> Hi John,
>>>     There is no luggage rack that I could see and because the back of the
>>> truck is more like a pickup than a SUV There is no trunk to mount too. I am
>>> thinking that the only thing that comes close is the hood.
>>>
>>> God bless,
>>> Mark
>>> Jesus Is Lord!
>>> Pendleton Redeemer
>>> http://pendletonepiscopal.org/
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 5:53 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Mounting Antenna On Honda Ridge Line
>>>
>>>
>>>> is there a luggage rack on the roof? that's always an option, trunk lip
>>>> mounts are also good.
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Mark" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 3:01 PM
>>>> Subject: Mounting Antenna On Honda Ridge Line
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi
>>>>>     My sister who is also a ham bought a Honda Ridge Line. She wants to =
>>>>> mount her 2 meter 5/8 wave on it. However, drilling holes or using =
>>>>> magnets are not options she likes to use. So, I am wondering how can a =
>>>>> person mount her antenna on this vehicle? Any suggestions are welcome.
>>>>>
>>>>> God bless,
>>>>> Mark
>>>>> Jesus Is Lord!
>>>>> Pendleton Redeemer
>>>>> http://pendletonepiscopal.org/
>>>
>>>
>
>