‰  NOW 35 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM AUGUST 2012 QST  PAGE 64‰

ANTENNAS INSTALLED ON BIG TRUCKS HAVE A CLEAR ADVANTAGE OVER ANTENNAS ON
FOUR WHEELERS CARS BECAUSE TRUCKS HAVE A LARGER GROUND PLANE OR SO YOU
WOULD THINK.  TODAYS TRUCKS ARE DESIGNED FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY AND BETTER
AERODYNAMICS.  IN ORDER TO REDUCE WEIGHT AND INCREASE FUEL ECONOMY TRUCK
BODIES ARE MADE OF FIBERGLASS OR CARBON FIBER.  IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO RUN
AS MUCH AS 10 FEET OF 1 INCH BRAIDED WIRE FROM THE ANTENNA TO THE TRUCK
FRAME TO GET A SOLID BOND TO GROUND.  A GROUND IS IMPERATIVE FOR ANY MOBILE
ANTENNA WHETHER ON A BIG TRUCK OR THE FAMILY SEDAN.  JUST BECAUSE A BIG
TRUCK CAN ACCOMMODATE LARGE ANTENNAS DOESNT MEAN HE CAN INSTALL WHATEVER HE
WISHES.  DEPENDING ON WHERE A DRIVER TRAVELS THERE MAY BE PHYSICAL OR
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS THAT LIMIT ANTENNA CHOICES.  UNFORTUNATELY, SOME
DRIVERS HAVE TO DELIVER THEIR LOADS TO SOME UNSAVORY AREAS AND AN EXPENSIVE
LOOKING HAM RADIO ANTENNA CAN MAKE A TRUCK VERY ATTRACTIVE TO A CROOK.  I
MET DRIVER FRANK ARDIZZONE, K1MHV, WHEN HE WAS DELIVERING A TRAILER OF
GROCERIES TO A LOCAL SUPERMARKET.  FRANK ENJOYS HAM RADIO FROM HIS TRUCK
BUT HE ONLY OPERATES 2 METER FM AND 10 METER SSB.  HE SAYS THAT A TYPICAL
VHF ANTENNA HAS A LOW PROFILE AND A 10 METER ANTENNA DOESNT LOOK MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN A CB ANTENNA, SO THE THIEVES ARE NOT ATTRACTED TO HIS TRUCK.
ON A VISIT TO ARRL HEADQUARTERS IN NEWINGTON, CONNECTICUT, DRIVER JACK
‰  END OF 35 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ