Stryker SR-655HPC+ antenna suggestions?

Well I actually ended up ordering a Firestik FS antenna that should be delivered tomorrow. It's a 5 foot long, longest one I could find on Amazon that wouldn't take weeks to come. I do have the bolt on the mirror antenna mount, I am not sure about the ground though. I bought more ground straps also that are 1/2 inch wide and shorter than the 1/8" and 15" long ones I had. I just know the antenna I did have (a knockoff looking Wilson type) was not working for me. But I also have those stupid side mounted cameras hanging off the mirrors that SFI has on it. So I have to get longer bolts and maybe little longer sleeves for the bolts so the mount sits the way it should and not all ####eyed. I also got a multimeter, I figure I can use that to help get to good solid ground connection. Just follow the trail to the frame? I am hoping it works that way anyway.

 

I did do this originally and that is how the SWR on the external SWR meter was at or above 4. On the radio, the SWR meter didn't move at all it just said "SWR HI" and would not transmit. I think it might have been because of the bolt for the bottom not being long enough to even tighten really. That is where I had the ground strap connected, from the bottom bolt on the mount to the inside of the door, but it was more like the door jamb than the hinge. But, I also didn't scrape any paint off the bolt of the door jamb either. I definitely need a longer bolt for the bottom to compensate for the little camera bracket that is in the way, I think.

 

I actually just got back home from going to the truck and installing the mount and a firestik 5 foot antenna. I think I messed my external SWR meter up or just wasn't using it correctly. I've got 2 little lights on the radio SWR meter on channel 1 and channel 40, but the other channels are between 1 and 2 lights on the meter, it's well below 1.5. SWR.

On channel 20 I was able to get from where I am (near Houston Texas) to someone who said he was in Flint Michigan.

At first I did the tuning with the cap off but when I put the cap back on the antenna I had to tune it some more removing and replacing the cap each time. I'll have to buy another SWR meter, I imagine.