what if you insulate the mast where you mount it to the ladder? I wouldn't 
think it's RF cupping up that high above it, but that might work the way I 
suggested.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:06 PM
Subject: 2-meter/440 antenna for an RV


> 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
>