Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Thanks. That's an industrial strength GPS you have there.

 

Good question . I actually have no issues at all with the location of the antenna. To my surprise there is no rubbing at all.
I think it looks better in the rear . Lucky for me it worked out . The install guys did not feel it would , and said to bring it back if there was any issues .

 

First, you have to be a licensed HAM operator to use the 70CM (UHF) and the 2M (VHF) ham bands - FCC frowns on unlicensed use of any Amateur Radio freqs., they issue very large fines for illegal use of the airwaves. Also, GMRS channels (UHF freqs.) require a license to operate on as well. Here is a site to find VHF and UHF HAM repeaters in your area - http://www.rfsearch.com/repeaters/
Here is a site for GMRS info - https://bettersaferadio.com/gmrs-general-mobile-radio-service-band/

ALL Icom radio's are good - I think so.

 

yes we are aware of the licensed end of using the radio . Absolutely, the decision was safety . We listen, only talk on the open group frequencies we have . My understanding it’s a huge gray area with the law . Can not express enough , it’s for our safety , and we use it responsibility. I’ve been thanked for having the radio with the local logging truck drivers . I do appreciate you advising me , as it nice to know .

 

I am also in Canada , mind you we do have have strict laws on ham radios & on other types of frequencies. I live in a area that has lots of logging operations.
Vancouver Island BC . Out mid island up. It’s not uncommon at all for the locals to have a radio to travel the back roads .

 

Temporary location for my

$165 MXT275 MicroMobile GMRS Radio - 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone - Overland Caravanning Tractors - Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

MXT275 until I get a new antenna and can tap into a fuse. Which that will be temporary. I plan on installing a power panel in the truck so I can power a compressor and what not

I think I’ll either zip tie it under my seat or wedge it behind the hvac system like I’ve see. Others do. Then run a cat5 to a switch panel jack

 

I wasn't aware that you were in - that's a whole 'nother can of beans!

 

Well the law are pretty much the same in Canada as the USA . Just in Canada the punishments are usually lighter . Here everything is taxed heavily, or infraction against the law ,is usually heavily fined$$.
When you think Canada my American brother . Think we are taxed to death for anything fun ! Or huge fees to have fun . IE a yearly fee to have a radio for safety.
$75.00 in or around .

 

I got my radio (MTX275) and antenna mounted up last weekend. My question is, what is the purpose of the plastic spacer that goes between the top of the mount and the NMO base? With the thickness of my mount, I was not able to use it and just used a sort of thin foam washer. Will this cause issues?

Picture for reference, talking about the black plastic spacer (which I did not use).

 

That's not how an NMO mount works. The threaded stud is going to make contact with the bracket as is the silver colored piece. That's how you ground the shield on the cable. At least that's how it worked on the couple of hundred I've installed since the 1970s.

@Technique the spacer would only be needed if for some reason you couldn't get the base of the antenna to thread on because the stud sat to high. From you picture it looks like you don't need it, but the stud should sit just a bit higher than the nut that is threaded for the base..

Here is what the top should look like when it's installed.




The bottom of the large brass nut should contact the mounting bracket.

 

Your pictures aren't loading in for me. But you're saying I don't need it...while @j45p3r is saying I need it to electrically isolate it from the bracket...hmmm.

 

You don't need it. It's an adapter to go from 3/8" to fit the 5/8" hole in the Midland Roll bar bracket that the kit comes with. The OD of the 3/8" thread is made to contact the mount, the center pin is Isolated from that. The 1-1/2" Diameter piece that screws on has an o-ring on the bottom and is designed to seal against the mount. Just Google how NMO mounts work and your questions will be answered.

 

This...and also for those installing the Victory 4x4 mount, you don't need the plastic adapter for that mount either. The video by Victory on how to install it is not correct.

 

Pretty unhappy with Victory 4x4... I bought one of the NMO mounts they recommended for their hood bracket, and found out it wasn't actually compatible.

 

That mount appears to be made of Chinaesium. The center piece has to be ungrounded only the ring is ground, your piece underneath is upside down the rounded end is for any slope that might be part of the mounting.

 

Agree, he could get rid of that silver colored piece. Of course i'd toss it in with the other parts i'v accumulated over 40+ years of doing this stuff. Might come in handy some day.

 

Not Correct. I used the Midland supplied cable for a short time until I upgraded my system. The Stainless piece underneath has teeth on the top side to dig into any paint to get a good bond to the mount (so it's orientated correctly in the pic but not really needed) and that piece also touches the threaded center body so it will be grounded also. The Center Threaded body does not touch the center pin, that is separately isolated.

 

Not my picture, just pulled the picture from a youtube video from midland. I got everything else figured out how it goes, the only thing in question was if that black plastic spacer is needed or not because with the thick mounting bracket I am using, I wasn't able to use the spacer provided.

 

If you're talking about the aluminum bracket that mounts to the hood hinge, you need the PCTEL BMATM38 mount.

 

Yeah, but their website says to get the BMATM3, which doesn't work. And they didn't update their site after I told them about the problem.

I also wish their bracket had a couple of bends in it to raise the NMO end maybe 1/4"-1/2". So the antenna cable could clear the cowl.