What you need depends on what sort of range you expect.
From a stock, 4w radio.
1 to 3 miles, a 2 or 3 foot firestick or similar will do. The base loaded whips, in the range of around 3' tall, work ok, but I do not know which ones are better than others. Expect 3 to 5 miles with this.
Then the best ones are the K40, the Wilson 1000/5000 and Siro. There might be more but this class of antenna is typically around 5' tall, base loaded, and of a 5/8 wavelength. The general consensus is the Wilson works best, but not by much over a K40. K40 is not bad, I have one of the first K40's ever made, no trouble out of it from trees,etc.
then there is the 8 foot whip, spanks the squirrels out the trees. It needs no loading, as it is resonant of 1/4 wavelength of 27mhz. It is also has the most bandwidth, that is, the frequency range it is resonant at, but that is only important if you plan on using extra channels, or 10 meter hamband. In theory this is best, but in practice, its going to point sideways when you are driving 70mph down the interstate, flapping around, smacking trees, etc and that will translate into less range, but it is great when you are not moving. Personally I would go with the wilson 1000 or 5000, the difference in performance in most installations is negligible.
Where you mount the antenna is important as well. the other half of your antenna is your vehicle, put antenna in a corner and it gives makes it more directional. put it on the right side of the bumper and its gong to work better towards the front left.
best spot is right in the middle of the roof. the bumper is a poor place to put it, as the metal effects it in a bad way.
I think a wilson or k40 on the roof dogs a 102" whip mounted on the bumper.
I should write a book.
as for the handheld, your range is going to suck. under a mile with a small say 5 or 6" duck, i had one with an 18" duck that do several miles, and my radio shack handhelds, with the telescopic center loaded antennas would do almost the same as a mobile.
I do not know where to get any of this other than ebay. oh a google cobra HA-TA it works good too.
From a stock, 4w radio.
1 to 3 miles, a 2 or 3 foot firestick or similar will do. The base loaded whips, in the range of around 3' tall, work ok, but I do not know which ones are better than others. Expect 3 to 5 miles with this.
Then the best ones are the K40, the Wilson 1000/5000 and Siro. There might be more but this class of antenna is typically around 5' tall, base loaded, and of a 5/8 wavelength. The general consensus is the Wilson works best, but not by much over a K40. K40 is not bad, I have one of the first K40's ever made, no trouble out of it from trees,etc.
then there is the 8 foot whip, spanks the squirrels out the trees. It needs no loading, as it is resonant of 1/4 wavelength of 27mhz. It is also has the most bandwidth, that is, the frequency range it is resonant at, but that is only important if you plan on using extra channels, or 10 meter hamband. In theory this is best, but in practice, its going to point sideways when you are driving 70mph down the interstate, flapping around, smacking trees, etc and that will translate into less range, but it is great when you are not moving. Personally I would go with the wilson 1000 or 5000, the difference in performance in most installations is negligible.
Where you mount the antenna is important as well. the other half of your antenna is your vehicle, put antenna in a corner and it gives makes it more directional. put it on the right side of the bumper and its gong to work better towards the front left.
best spot is right in the middle of the roof. the bumper is a poor place to put it, as the metal effects it in a bad way.
I think a wilson or k40 on the roof dogs a 102" whip mounted on the bumper.
I should write a book.
as for the handheld, your range is going to suck. under a mile with a small say 5 or 6" duck, i had one with an 18" duck that do several miles, and my radio shack handhelds, with the telescopic center loaded antennas would do almost the same as a mobile.
I do not know where to get any of this other than ebay. oh a google cobra HA-TA it works good too.
