what is a good base antenna to get me started?

[Dipstick]

What is the cheapest base antenna you can get that does real good?

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

W-58 Omni-Directional Antenna - Palco Electronics

 

[Robb]

Workman M-400 Starduster - Palco Electronics
Cheaper - but not poor quality...

 

[Wire Weasel]

Cheap N' Good would be Antron99. It's a heavy duty straight stick, easy to assemble and put up, super low wind resistance. There's a million of them in use. They're around $45. Can't go wrong.

Good luck!

 

[Highlander_821]

All good suggestions. I suppose the cheapest would be making your own 1/2 wave dipole, or 1/4 wave ground plane.

But I had an A99 for years up at 50 feet with an RCI-2950, and worked the world with 25 watts. It seemed like about 1 out of every 3 guys I talked to were running more or less the same setup!

 

[Chop]

the a99 gets my vote, as well.

 

[Beetle]

As Vladimir said when he shot Stanislavsky:

"Die, Pole!"

 

[radiodawg259]

I would all so say the ANTRON 99 would be a real good starting antenna.They get out good and they receive well too.

 

[1342]

booty had it right w-5/8 is better than asstron 99 or the shitduster a clear winner.if your trying to save the 15 dollars you might as well make a 1/2 wave dipole and hang it vertical,i did and mine worked as good if not better than my asstron 99 with groundplanes.good luck.