TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 09.07 DATE: February 15, 2009
SUBJECT: KEEP AN ANTENNA PAD HANDY
What is an antenna pad? It's a soft piece of cloth or other material for use in placing under your magnet mount antenna when using it on the roof of someone else's vehicle. This will protect the vehicles paint from scratches due to dust and dirt. You might say "mine antenna has a piece of plastic already on it". This may be the case, and may be OK when using it on your vehicle. But, many people are very particular about things being placed on their vehicle, and may not want you putting your antenna on it without some extra protection.
If you are participating in any special event, such as a Walk, Run, Bike Race, etc., you may be operating your Handheld Radio from someone else's vehicle. That vehicle may be a Police car, an Ambulance, or even one of the officials’ private vehicles, and rubber duckies just don't get it. Even so, before you place a magnetic mount antenna, or any piece of equipment, on a vehicle that doesn't belong to you, always ask them if it will be alright, and then show them you have an antenna pad to protect the paint from getting scratched.
The material you use should be soft but thin. Try different materials until you find the one that does the job best. Two things to remember, (1) You may have to use an outside magnetic mount antenna to provide the communications needed, and (2) If you don't make a good appearance, you and your communications group may not be asked to help again.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator