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Roof rack Antenna mount?
Topic Started: Monday, 22. June 2015, 23:44 (536 Views)
Mike 26CT1074
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29CT031 / 26CT1074

Hi guys,

Would you have any recommendations as to the best way to mount an Antenna onto the roofbars of my little Suzuki? I've posted a picture below to show the type of bars I mean...

Posted Image

I've only ever used magmounts and gutter mounts...so looking to keep a permanent fix on the car for an antenna.

Any ideas greatly received!
Thanks
Mike.
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flashg0rd0n
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108 Charlie Tango 127

Hi Mike,

I fitted a mount to the spare wheel holder of mine (got it off ebay), then stuck the antenna on that. I routed my RF cable through one of the bolt holes for the spare wheel mount, the cable runs through the door wiring grommet, then through the rear panelling and then under the carpet up to the dash mount where I have my radio installed. Nice and neat with no wires anywhere.

Give the guy a message, I'm sure he will make another up for you Click for LINK

I don't have a picture of my antenna mount on the Jimny handy, but I think I have one of my radio in the console.
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Attachments: radio.jpg (27.28 KB)
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Deleted User
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From what ive seen and heard ,i would avid mounting it on the bars.Saw a youtube vid,and he had all kinds of issues with it.moved it from the bars no problem ....................
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flashg0rd0n
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108 Charlie Tango 127

Here's a pic of my antenna. There's a bit of rust on the bottom, but that's because I used a cheap washer to compensate for the difference in hole diameter pre-drilled into the bracket.
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Mike 26CT1074
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29CT031 / 26CT1074

That looks alright that does, a friend of mine is pretty handy with a welder so might ask him to make me one :dance:
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flashg0rd0n
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108 Charlie Tango 127

Nice one. My friends tend to be a bit unreliable, so I just went out and got one of the internet.

I used RG58 cable for mine, works fine. But it might be worth investing in some RG8 mini for the job. Not sure what diameter the bolt hole is on the spare wheel carrier to pass it through though, haven't checked that yet.

I modified the DIN2 mount to fit both stereo and radio. Both fit in there nicely, but there's plenty of room in the centre of the Jimny to fit your radio.
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Mike 26CT1074
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29CT031 / 26CT1074

flashg0rd0n
Tuesday, 23. June 2015, 20:26
Nice one. My friends tend to be a bit unreliable, so I just went out and got one of the internet.

I used RG58 cable for mine, works fine. But it might be worth investing in some RG8 mini for the job. Not sure what diameter the bolt hole is on the spare wheel carrier to pass it through though, haven't checked that yet.

I modified the DIN2 mount to fit both stereo and radio. Both fit in there nicely, but there's plenty of room in the centre of the Jimny to fit your radio.
fantastic stuff. i've not yet actually had a look behind the wheel, but i'll have a nose tonight for sure :cheers:
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Mike 26CT1074
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29CT031 / 26CT1074

flashg0rd0n
Tuesday, 23. June 2015, 12:14
Here's a pic of my antenna. There's a bit of rust on the bottom, but that's because I used a cheap washer to compensate for the difference in hole diameter pre-drilled into the bracket.
I recently just got this mount on eBay, and attached a new 'snail' mount to it. Now for some reason, my modulator which was tuned fine on the old magmount is shockingly high in the red in fact on the SWR meter.

I've tried two rigs, and i've tried the on-board SWR meter on my president lincoln and both are giving the same reading.

I can't really 'tune' the modulator as it's one of those ones that has only one position to secure it with the 'grub' screw, and was pre-cut and tuned etc. Worked fine on a magmount and gutttermount - but doesn't like the snail mount.

Any ideas what I may have done wrong?!
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razor36
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Not read all the posts but don't think you should mount antennas on the roof rack
M0LSG
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Sam WD40
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26 Charlie Tango 747

Only way to explain this is EARTH EARTH EARTH ! Mag mounts are just passive earths will work but will at a compromise running you mount on the roof bars is ok as long as you got good grounding best way is to get out the old Black n Decker and wack a hole in your roof (if you got the nutts to that is just tell ya Mrs I said it's ok ! ) it won't de value your mota if it's 10y old or so ! I've put holes in 4-5y/o cars be for now even done to my new works mota and that's over £130,000 I'd just tell me bos to go bury his head

Or go for the safe option with the spear wheel mount but it will be very directional
As for snail mounts there are crap get a good quality 3/8th - so239(pl plug type)
Good luck let us know how ya get on !
[marq=Left]STOP READING MY CRAP GO GET SOME DX DONE ![/marq]

M0SRW
26-CT-747
IF YA NEIGHBOURS STILL TALK TO YOU GET A BIGGER ANTENNA !

Failure is not an option! BUT smashing it with a BIG hammer is :bash:

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SleepyDragon
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26 Charlie Tango 1094

flashg0rd0n
Tuesday, 23. June 2015, 00:13
Hi Mike,

I fitted a mount to the spare wheel holder of mine (got it off ebay), then stuck the antenna on that. I routed my RF cable through one of the bolt holes for the spare wheel mount, the cable runs through the door wiring grommet, then through the rear panelling and then under the carpet up to the dash mount where I have my radio installed. Nice and neat with no wires anywhere.

Give the guy a message, I'm sure he will make another up for you Click for LINK

I don't have a picture of my antenna mount on the Jimny handy, but I think I have one of my radio in the console.
That's a nice install
[marq=Proud to be running 100% legal, unmodified radios on standard power.]Proud to be running 100% legal, unmodified radios on standard power.[/marq]

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flashg0rd0n
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108 Charlie Tango 127

Thanks,

When I was installing it, I kept in mind that it had to be tidy and as non-invasive as possible. Absolutely no holes were drilled in the making of this install. Works pretty well and I haven't had any massive issues during the install apart from the SWR goes up a little in the damper weather, but I think I can remedy that be cleaning up some of the rust and fitting a dedicated earth connection to the body of the motor via the door hinge. I've also got some RG8 mini to use now, so will be replacing the current cabling at some point this summer.
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Mike 26CT1074
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29CT031 / 26CT1074

Looks like I need to earth it properly, I have the copper braid secured behind the mount touching the spare wheel bracket but its still sky high.
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Northern Crusader
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26 Charlie Tango 1760

You may have a good DC ground but you have no RF ground. The ground needs to start where the braid ends and its all about the metal directly below the antenna, not what is alongside it. For the purposes of a RF ground you've basically got one a couple of inches square.

Quote:
 

I have the copper braid secured behind the mount touching the spare wheel bracket but its still sky high.


It isn't doing anything at all for a RF ground. Vertical surfaces don't.

Just drill a hole. On a tall vehicle like yours you can get away with it far better when selling than you can with a low height car.

It might also be advisable to bond the tailgate to the body.

Read this:
http://k0bg.com/ground.html

Then this:
http://k0bg.com/bonding.html

If you do the whole of the install as per the "best practice" methods listed on Alan K0BGs website you'll have a mobile signal that'll be seriously good and rival, if not beat many base stations. I remember being parked up in the north of Nottingham and talking to another breaker a few years ago a few miles away near the M1 and him saying I was stronger than many of the locals even though I was only using 4W from my Maxcom into a Sirio 4000. The whole install was done as per K0BG's website - fixed mount in the middle of the roof, bonding done to tailgate and bonnet.
Edited by Northern Crusader, Saturday, 22. August 2015, 21:39.
26CT1760 / M0GVZ
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Mike 26CT1074
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29CT031 / 26CT1074

I think i'll give up on the mount altogether seeing that. I'm not drilling a hole, because I only use the radio occasionally now, as i've sold my homebase stuff.

I'll get a K40 or something similar.

Cheers for the info though, much appreciated.
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