Since aluminum is non magnetic, I would assume a mag-mount vertical would
not couple properly to a aluminum ground plane.

Thoughts ?
--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:09:53 -0700, "Caveat Lector"
wrote:

Thoughts ?

The antenna will probably fall over at 20-30 MPH if that's what you
mean.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Ha - indeed Richard -- no for home use.
Would the aluminum act as a proper ground plane ?
Like a steel sheet would.

--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !






"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:09:53 -0700, "Caveat Lector"
wrote:

Thoughts ?

The antenna will probably fall over at 20-30 MPH if that's what you
mean.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Aluminum works fine as a counterpoise.

However, The magnetic feature of the mag mount would most likely be
inoperative. Magnets don't like Aluminum!!

Caveat Lector wrote:
Since aluminum is non magnetic, I would assume a mag-mount vertical would
not couple properly to a aluminum ground plane.

Thoughts ?

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:57:19 -0700, "Caveat Lector"
wrote:

Ha - indeed Richard -- no for home use.
Would the aluminum act as a proper ground plane ?
Like a steel sheet would.

Hi OM,

Sure, to the same degree of your having enough metal to resonate it.
Sometimes even that doesn't matter.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Thanks folks
Someone posed the question to me and I thought I'd better check with the
experts.


--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !






"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:57:19 -0700, "Caveat Lector"
wrote:

Ha - indeed Richard -- no for home use.
Would the aluminum act as a proper ground plane ?
Like a steel sheet would.

Hi OM,

Sure, to the same degree of your having enough metal to resonate it.
Sometimes even that doesn't matter.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

"Caveat Lector" wrote in message
news:PYs%f.12664$bm6.7806@fed1read04...
Since aluminum is non magnetic, I would assume a mag-mount vertical would
not couple properly to a aluminum ground plane.

Thoughts ?
--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !
\

Not to worry. All-aluminum antennas are quite practical, as it is the
conductivity of the counterpoise/radials that makes it work. Also,
please consider the many vertical antennas working off buried
copper wires for their ground plane.

If you need magnetic properties on a large aluminum surface (roof?),
then cement a small sheet of steel to the aluminum with any handy
adhesive. NOT stainless, though; it's generally non-magnetic.

"Caveat Lector" wrote in message
news:PYs%f.12664$bm6.7806@fed1read04...
Since aluminum is non magnetic, I would assume a mag-mount vertical would
not couple properly to a aluminum ground plane.

Thoughts ?
--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !

I tried this on a 2M antenna and it didnt work so well. My theory was that
since the antenna was not firmly attached to the Al then the capacitve
coupling between the base of the antenna and the Al groundplane was off.
Fixed the problem by soldering radials to a coffee can lid and placing the
antenna on this.

" wrote in message
...

"Caveat Lector" wrote in message
news:PYs%f.12664$bm6.7806@fed1read04...
Since aluminum is non magnetic, I would assume a mag-mount vertical
would
not couple properly to a aluminum ground plane.

Thoughts ?
--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !

I tried this on a 2M antenna and it didnt work so well. My theory was that
since the antenna was not firmly attached to the Al then the capacitve
coupling between the base of the antenna and the Al groundplane was off.
Fixed the problem by soldering radials to a coffee can lid and placing the
antenna on this.



Aluminum is a decent conductor and as a result, it will work. Possibly, the
Lack of the magnetic attractive force was not pulling the magnet very close
or firmly to the plate. This could be helped by putting something on the
bottom of the aluminum / aluminium to get some force and closer spacing,
such as another magnet. You can also generate a lot of posts / re-posts on
the operating theory of mag mount antennas and what this capacitance does...
73, Steve, K9DCI
I tried to maintain a global flavour...

" wrote in message
...

"Caveat Lector" wrote in message
news:PYs%f.12664$bm6.7806@fed1read04...
Since aluminum is non magnetic, I would assume a mag-mount vertical
would
not couple properly to a aluminum ground plane.

Thoughts ?
--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !

I tried this on a 2M antenna and it didnt work so well. My theory was that
since the antenna was not firmly attached to the Al then the capacitve
coupling between the base of the antenna and the Al groundplane was off.
Fixed the problem by soldering radials to a coffee can lid and placing the
antenna on this.



I was able to make a magmount work OK with only a steel TV tray.

I decided I wanted an emergency 2M antenna, so I got a ladder and attached
the antenna whip from the high point inside my garage roof. The VSWR was
awful until I took an old TV tray up and -- *bonk* -- stuck it to the
dangling magmount base. Voila! Good VSWR. So, it doesn't take much. If
the coffee can lid is what works, then that's what you do!!