@Trom
I am actually using a mobile for a base.
I use an old Cobra 77x that I installed a power supply from an old camcorder on top of it.
It puts out about 19w at full modulation, and still only deadkeys at 4.25w.
I also have an old handheld, a 40 channel that puts out 5w.
No way that thing was safe to hold up to your head and use, lol.
I have an external mic for it, and hook it to other antennas like you do.
I built a full size (18 foot) center feed halfwave dipole and can talk 13 miles even if it is on the ground (bottom tip is about a foot from touching ground).
This is far from ideal, as that antenna would need to be about 36 feet above ground at the feedpoint for best results (0° take off angle).
Of course, being center feed makes this basically impossible.
But even on the ground, the feedpoint is still 9 feet up and it is super easy to tune, as I mounted a telescoping radio antenna onto the bottom tip.
I actually use television coax (RG-6QS, for satellite TV) for this and my base- at the lengths that I need it has less loss than if I used the 'proper' cable.
I can get 50 foot lengths with ends attached for $6 or so.
There is some math involved to find the right length of coax to offset the difference in resistance, but it seems to be worth it.