Yes, one of those noobie questions and help posts

[Moleculo]

I would run the longest I can

Find out where your repeaters are located before choosing the antenna. If the repeaters in your area are located on tall buildings or hills, you will not gain much by using antennas longer than 1/4 wave. Happy_Hamer on this site has an interesting story about how he could not hold repeaters in downtown Chicago with his 5/8 wave antenna, but had no problem with a 1/4 wave. Most of the repeaters in downtown Chicago are on the top of the buildings.

1/4 wave antennas are cheeeeeaaaaap!

 

[Streetglideok]

Almost all of them in the area are on top of Cheyenne mountain, well above NORAD. Dont recall the elevation, but 10k feet I believe? Its to the SW of town. My apartment faces north however.

 

[Streetglideok]

Here is one idea I have seen for mounting an antenna. Icom in Liberty

I take it mounting up by the roof or on the roof would be better though, right?

 

[Moleculo]

Here is one idea I have seen for mounting an antenna. Icom in Liberty

I take it mounting up by the roof or on the roof would be better though, right?

Yes, up on the roof in the center is the best case scenario. If that's not practical for you though, put it wherever you can.

 

[Streetglideok]

One antenna I am seeing, a Comet SSB-1NMO, is a 1/4 wave for 2m, 1/2 for 440, and is really flexible. That looks like it may work for me. I could probably do a roof mount with that. Is there any real advantage to NMO mounts vs pl-259 style?

 

[Moleculo]

One antenna I am seeing, a Comet SSB-1NMO, is a 1/4 wave for 2m, 1/2 for 440, and is really flexible. That looks like it may work for me. I could probably do a roof mount with that. Is there any real advantage to NMO mounts vs pl-259 style?

The only advantage that I know of is that the NMO doesn't stick out as far (isn't as tall). I'm not sure what other advantages there might be.