Magnetic or NMO Mount Antenna
 

Given the report of a member here denting their roof while cleaning or waxing it...

Has anyone successfully used a magnetic mount antenna on the GK without damaging the roof?

I may as well as while I'm here... has anyone drilled or Greenlee punched the roof for a 3/4" NMO mount? Did you use a backing plate for additional strength?

Thanks!

A lot of depends upon how much antenna you intend to hang on the NMO mount and where the hole is punched.

Thanks, George. It would probably be a 14" one, and with the sunroof, have to be mounted almost all the way back.

The more I've thought about it, I'll probably go with a 20" mag mount. That's what I have to use with a 6' 10" truck and a 7' 0" garage door. :)

If you can go with it on a new car, a NMO mount will always operate better that a mag mount. 14" is a strange length. If that is a simple 1/4 wave, the wind resistance will be minimal. That length works out to be around 200 mhz. I assume that you are using a shortened antenna for some lower frequency or a gain antenna for some higher frequency. Depending on the style it may present some additional wind resistance. If necessary you could always cut yourself a doubler out of some scrap aluminum or steel and stick it on the inside of the roof.

Thanks, Cyd. The 13.8" would be this one.

This is the mag mount I'll probably use.

My daughter had that diamond antenna at one time. After it broke from hitting things, we went to the comet SBB-1NMO They are about the same on performance but the top is like a rubber duck. When we I occasionally hit a overhead obstruction, it takes it a lot better. I just barely hit the parking garage overheat signs at the casino where she works with my Blazer. She never hits it with her Honda Fit.

Comet SBB-1 and SBB-1NMO Mobile Antenna

I have always dreaded drilling a hole in a new vehicle but I get over it. I keep cars long enough that having a hole plug there when I sell it never makes a difference to the new owner.

It is all up to you but for performance reasons I would stay away from mag mounts.

I do use a 2m/440 mag mount on my APRS radio but that radio moves a lot between vehicles. Tomorrow I'm moving it from my pick up to my motor home in anticipation of going on a trip next month.

Thanks for the reviews of the antennas, Cyd. Good to hear from someone who has experience with both.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do for radio with the Fit. Maybe just an HT with a mag mount. The IC-208H mobile in the truck doesn't get used as much as I thought it would.