Communication gear

[Kejtar]

Ham radio/CB antenna mounts: what do you guys use? My problem is that I hate mag mounts and I want to be able to fold it easily for pulling into the garage.

In any case I need to figure out 2 mounts: 1 for CB and one for 2m/70cm rig. Oh yeah, I don't have a standard roofrack so attaching to the roofrack directly is out of the question, but I could make a bracket for a mount.

[CanMan]

I like long, solid mounted whips. They bend easly, in a good way, and get perty good reception. I have a magenent one, and it sucks, always comes off going under low lying branches, ect. I should have a rear bumper mounted whip, (don't know how long yet) done in a few weeks.

The reason I will put it on the bumber is so it is still long, but the height of the bumper to the roof will take up some of the space so it won't get in the way. It will be on the side kinda so the hatch can still be opened.

Or you could mount it to the front bumper and tie the tip down to your roof somehow, so it is arched, that will also give good clearence.

[Kejtar]

I like long, solid mounted whips. They bend easly, in a good way, and get perty good reception. I have a magenent one, and it sucks, always comes off going under low lying branches, ect. I should have a rear bumper mounted whip, (don't know how long yet) done in a few weeks.

The reason I will put it on the bumber is so it is still long, but the height of the bumper to the roof will take up some of the space so it won't get in the way. It will be on the side kinda so the hatch can still be opened.

Or you could mount it to the front bumper and tie the tip down to your roof somehow, so it is arched, that will also give good clearence.

Bumper mount means it hides the antenna from half the world defeats the purpose of a good antenna due to lose propagation.

[CanMan]

Bumper mount means it hides the antenna from half the world defeats the purpose of a good antenna due to lose propagation.

Never thought of that. The front bumper maybe? Its more out in the open, or a bracket off the roof?

[creeperjeep]

Well for my rig i have 2m and 11m antennas mounted on motorola NMO mounts which are the standard for professional radio equipment.

Theyre mounted on the center of my roof and screw off easily when going in the garage or when the brush gets too thick.

Very good gain on those by the way

[w_howey]

There are fold over antenna mounts available. The name of the company slips my mind right now.

[WB9YZU]

Ham radio/CB antenna mounts: what do you guys use? My problem is that I hate mag mounts and I want to be able to fold it easily for pulling into the garage.

In any case I need to figure out 2 mounts: 1 for CB and one for 2m/70cm rig. Oh yeah, I don't have a standard roofrack so attaching to the roofrack directly is out of the question, but I could make a bracket for a mount.

My Cherokee has 2 NMO mounts, both home-made. One is mounted to the inner driver side fender lip and uses a Larson 5/8 wave bottom load for 11mtrs. The other is mounted between the hatch and body (to the body) on the drivers side corner for the 1/4 wave 2M and is just a short whip. Both locations seem to work.
The tough parts was where to mount the radios. I piggybacked them and mounted them on the side of the transmission tunnel.

The YJ has only a CB antenna right now. I put a doubler inside to stiffen the body just after the front drivers side fender and side mounted a Barjan stud type Aluminum Mirror mount. 3 of the 4 holes are being used for mounting, the other is used to feed the coax through.
This proved too light weight for the Fire Stick, so I took the lower 1/2 of a 20M antenna I got from Tower Electronics a few Hamfests ago and retuned it to 11M.
I spotted a tunable bottom load stud mount Barjan whip antenna at my local truck stop and I may try that instead because it is even more flexable.
11M radio is in the AM/FM radio slot since I didn't get one with it.
2M/440 duties are being done with Yaesu VX-5 HT

Every antenna install is a compomise of ease of installation, location and results.
The best place to put your antennas is the roof. But then I'm too lazy to pull the headliner :)

BTW: What do you folks use 2M for? I just use it to catch up on local repeater trafic to/from work, and sometimes the local weather net.

,Ron wb9yzu

[Kejtar]

BTW: What do you folks use 2M for? I just use it to catch up on local repeater trafic to/from work, and sometimes the local weather net.

Rescue operation: I called in a medivac for someone who fell out of sami on the 'con and was not too far away from kicking the bucket.

[creeperjeep]

im actually a freeband pirate,,,rrrrrrrr, and the 2m is the business band 2m,,,yes i know im lame but i like 2 meter clarity and i have a ton of loaner handhelds that work on the dot freqs (color dot, not dept of trans).
I like to talk inter-country on the 11meter freeband, ive gotten northern ireland from my big mobile antenna.

disclaimer; I suck and i know the rules dont be like me...

[CRASH]

We need a new thread with 2m and 11m amateur radio discussions.

With the young grunion, I want to be able to call our favourite helicopter service from anywhere. :D

[RichP]

Shakespere, tarheel, Comet, they are big in the boating industry..

[Kejtar]

Shakespere, tarheel, Comet, they are big in the boating industry..
I know who the manufacturers are ;) I'm looking for recomendation as to specific models that have been "field" (as in garage door) tested.

[WB9YZU]

................

[Timber]

RichP beat me to the boating mount bit, yet no mention of the fold-down ones. http://www.shakespeare-marine.com/antennas/mounts-liftnlay.htm My dad has this mount on one of his boats and it works great for getting into the garage.

[CharlesS]

Remi,

I understand that antenna mounts are a matter of preference, but explain to me what is wrong with using a magnetic mounted antenna....
I have used a Wilson 1000 magnetic mount on my XJ for 8 years.... In that time I can count how many times it came loose from the roof on 1 hand. Only when a large branch smacks the load coil will it move; otherwise the stainless steel whip just bends over and returns. The mount uses a 250lb pull magnet. The only way I can remove that magnet is by using the load coil as leverage... I want to see you remove the magnet mount without the coil attached...
Prior to storing the Jeep in my garage... I spend about 45 seconds unscrewing the Wilson 1000 and Larson 5/8 wave from their magnetic mounts.
With the Wilson 1000 I can talk several states or even into Canada on SSB and with the Larson 5/8 wave I have bounced a repeater while in Stoddard Valley and talked all the way to Escondido.... on 146.985.

Charles

[Jeffro600]

I use a Uniden PC78 Elite with a 4 foot fire stick thats mounted with a universal mount on my tire carrier. The top of the antenna extends a good 2.5 feet past my roof line and is good for a couple miles of reception at a minimum. Its been drug through the trees on multiple occasions and hasnt broken or gotten ripped off once.

Huge whip antennas just arent necessary on the trail and in most caravan situations. Just more to get snagged on by the trees IMO.

[Kejtar]

Remi,

I understand that antenna mounts are a matter of preference, but explain to me what is wrong with using a magnetic mounted antenna....

It scratches my paint ;) OK, jokes aside I just want a more permanent mount.

[ChuckstrPT]

Bumper mount means it hides the antenna from half the world defeats the purpose of a good antenna due to lose propagation.
Antenna mounting was just compromises to me. I'm with you. I want a permanent mount. I need to be able to get into the garage without jumping out of the truck to remove anything, as well as the occassional parking garage. I wanted good performance, but this was less of a priority. I've got two hatch mounts. Passenger side CB, driver's side dual band. You can mount them at any height along the hatch, and if you really need more, you could actually raise the mount all the way up to the top of the hatch, in the field with the little allen wrench I through in the glove box. I keep mine just below the garage door height. I also got a "no ground plane" CB antenna, recently installed. It seems to work, but not sure how well. I've not put a SWR meter on it. The set up is clean, and convenient, BUT there is a good portion of the antenna's that are shielded my the truck body. I compromised some performance in order to keep them on the truck. It's worked well so far! I can shoot you some pics if you want.
HTH
KG4PLH

[creeperjeep]

I still like the NMO mounts, i used to drive in the garage when my jeep fit and they would just bend over, but thats just my preference
matt
2XJ191

[WB9YZU]

2XJ191^^^ What is this?

[Kejtar]

^^^ What is this?
definately not a call sign

[DougG]

I've got a diamond no-ground-plane dual band antenna (NR770HNMOB) on the front drivers side fender, about 1/2 way down the hood. It fits into the garage, but only barely (about 2-3mm clearance). If I need more clearance, it's got a manual fold over built into the antenna, and I just lean it across the hood. It's gotten bent over prety well on the trail, and has always sprung back into shape. I even slammed it in the car door on one occasion when taking it off for a car wash and it sustained no damage.

When I need to do CB, I just put an old midland mag mount on the roof and stick the radio between the passengers seat an the transmission tunnel. The antenna occasionaly gets knocked off, but I don't run the CB enough to justify a more perminant mounting.

I'm considering doing an HF install with a Yaseu ft-857, but I haven't come up with an antenna mounting solution yet that I am realy happy with. I think I may end up with a new rear bumper with a spare tire mount, and put an antenna or two on that.

Doug
N4OSM

[creeperjeep]

^^^ What is this?
2 XJ 191
^ ^ ^
USA ORG userID

Its a freeband callsign
http://radio.xpam.de/cb/divs.html

http://server.com/WebApps/db-view.cgi?db=113010

I know its homogeigh but whatever, 11 meter is pretty big throughout the world, its not all about rednecks with huge linears on AM polluting the air, its more of a ham type deal with SSB,antenna building and all that jive

[viperbaron]

Try a boating or marine shop for ant bases that fold down.

[WB9YZU]

2 XJ 191
^ ^ ^
USA ORG userID

Its a freeband callsign
http://radio.xpam.de/cb/divs.html

http://server.com/WebApps/db-view.cgi?db=113010

I know its homogeigh but whatever, 11 meter is pretty big throughout the world, its not all about rednecks with huge linears on AM polluting the air, its more of a ham type deal with SSB,antenna building and all that jive

Just because you folks make up call signs does not make it legal. I can't understand why you just don't take a test and become a "Ham" then if you enjoy this sort of thing. You'd then be legal and not have to worry about posting confessions on public forums where your name and addy are on file.

[creeperjeep]

disclaimer; I suck and i know the rules dont be like me...
Right,,,,never said anything about it being legal....
Im in Kuwait, does the FCC want my info here?
Either way I was anticipating the HAM lecture

[WB9YZU]

Matt, I made the statement not to change you, but to point out to others that freebanding is not legal here.

I asked a valid question and reminded you that this is a public forum. Info here is available to anyone, and you have no idea who could be listening.

If you feel that was a lecture, don't even get me started on those ice holes who operate illegally on the Amateur bands or the Truck Stops which sell 10Meter rigs to Truckers.

[RichP]

Another handy mount is a gutter mount, Radio Shack used to make them but I have not seen any in a few years. They actually work very well, I had one I moved between mustangs years ago, even handled a car wash when it was layed flat. Might find one a yard or garagesale because I don't know if anybody makes them anymore.

[kd5dwy]

Not to get too involved here, but as with almost everything in life, antenna mounting is a game of trade-offs. The hands-down best place to mount from a safety and propagation standpoint is the center of the roof. This can be made acceptable for off-road use by using a fold-over antenna (I used a Diamond for years) or a short antenna (such as the Comet B10). The larger the antenna, the better the propagation and the more it gets in the way of branches.

I've seen people mount to the side of the rear bumper (out of the way of the hatchback), but this puts it in the way of branches coming down the side of the vehicle.

I've also seen poeple mount to the hatchback itself using the lip-mounts that are now available. This has a few challenges (running the coax) and also can also mess with propagation.

Probably the most common compromise is to mount on the fender lip along the hood. This lets you use a decent antenna and puts it where you can see things that would smack it. I would highly recommend limiting power in this position as 50W through a 3dB antenna will generate a 100W ERP signal (6dB would generate an ERP of 200W!). The glass windshield will not do much to shield the driver and passengers from this RF energy. Also, since this is right in line-of sight, it is particularly dangerous as the eyes are most susceptible to damage from RF energy in the frequency range we're discussing.

My recommendation would be to determine your reason for having the radio - communication between trail rigs will have different priorities than those trying to communicate to repeaters from the sticks. Remember safety, and always use the least amount of power required to communicate effectively.

On a side note - you will most likely be more successful on 2M than 70CM for mountainous terrain - as the frequency increases, so does the line-of-site nature of the signal. If you're in particularly hilly country and have the option of 6M, you may want to give it a try as it appears to be very good a hopping over hills.

[ChuckstrPT]

Probably the most common compromise is to mount on the fender lip along the hood. This lets you use a decent antenna and puts it where you can see things that would smack it. I would highly recommend limiting power in this position as 50W through a 3dB antenna will generate a 100W ERP signal (6dB would generate an ERP of 200W!). The glass windshield will not do much to shield the driver and passengers from this RF energy. Also, since this is right in line-of sight, it is particularly dangerous as the eyes are most susceptible to damage from RF energy in the frequency range we're discussing.

On a side note - you will most likely be more successful on 2M than 70CM for mountainous terrain - as the frequency increases, so does the line-of-site nature of the signal. If you're in particularly hilly country and have the option of 6M, you may want to give it a try as it appears to be very good a hopping over hills.
Hey, That is some great safety info that I bet most of us would never think of, even the other hams out there! Now, since I can't afford the dual band mobile rig I want, who makes a 2m/6m mobile radio?:sunshine: And my radio club is getting all into the Dstar digital stuff...needless to say, I can't afford that either!
Thanks for the input!
KG4PLH

[lazyxj]

Remi

Check the following site for my favorite source of antennas.
http://www.larsen-antennas.com/docfiles/ASB7/LowMidBand.pdf

I like NMO mounts. You can screw an angle mount to your roof rack and mount the following antennas to it. If you get real industrious, you can remove your roof liner and install the antennas directly through the roof.

LMTMB - NMO mount with lead in coax (2 needed)
NMO150B - 2-meter antenna and loading coil
NMO27B - 27-meter (CB) antenna and loading coil.

I have used these on my motor home and truck for many years. Larsen build high quality gear.