Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Looking back on my original post here, for the Victory mount, I chose the:

$26 Pctel A/S - 3/4" Hole Thick Roof Mount Antenna
PCTEL.

And purchased a

$43 USA Made PL-259 Improved Double Shielded RG-58u for FireStik Antenna K-8A 18-Foot Single CB/Ham Coax Cable

PL259 connector from my local electronics store to go through the firewall . I had the same problem ordering the wrong NMO mount, but easily returned to Amazon.

But, now I'm looking at not installing the Cobra 75, but instead getting a new

$89 President Thomas FCC AM/FM CB Radio

FM band CB radio, so I might need to consider my mounting options.

 

Does that cable have a stranded or solid center conductor?

 

I used the

$30 Midland MXTA24 Low Profile Antenna Cable with NMO Connector – CB Antenna Cable Extension – 6 Meters (19 ft) with Removable UHF Connection

Midland MXTA24 Low Profile Antenna Cable and it worked on the Victory hood mount without issue. (For GMRS, but still NMO)

The Victory mount on the other hand, I bent a little to make the takeoff stand up straight--annoying they are not pre-bent.

 

It would be nice if they bent that so that it was level, but for me it's not a deal breaker. At least not enough for me to try to bend it on my own.

 

Lmfao! “Chinaesium”

 

"RG58/U has a solid center conductor of 20 AWG bare copper."

 

Other than the 2 common stories the FCC HAS NEVER gone out tracked people down. Sad HAMS

 

Some does, but from what I've seen not all. It seems that the difference between R58/U and R58/AU is that AU is aluminum and U is copper. Most of it these days has braided center conductors. Which at least for me are harder to solder than the solid stuff.

 

Confirmed, its solid.

 

The Sad Trombone story gives me a chuckle every time I think about it.

 

Just because I sort of lost the thread, is the the PC Tel thick surface mount you linked to on Amazon? If so, it's a better set up than the one I bought to redo my antenna set up.

Thanks.

 

The link in my post is from Amazon (7 available). They also have them at Walmart: PCTEL NMO mount

 

Thanks. For some reason the listing on Amazon just confused me. The Victory 4x4 mount is 3/16" thick so the PCTel antenna would seem to need the nylon spacer. Which is fine, especially as it wouldn't require drilling a larger hole in the Victory4x4 bracket and I have compatible nylon spacers.

 

The correct NMO mount for the Victory 4x4:

http://theantennafarm.com

MABT8 for the mount with coax
BMATM38 for the mount without coax

Amazonia:

$31 Laird Technologies - Thick Plate Mnt, No Conn

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007951OO0

 

Okay. I'm setting up these.

Ditch Light Mounting Brackets Extensions

Cali Raised LED Ditch Light Mounting Brackets Extension Kit (Brackets Only)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088QTX9N6?_encoding=UTF8

And a 25W dual band UHF VHF radio. With this I have two questions.

1. Antenna. I had a CB setup with a fire stick in the past and that thing was hefty. The antennas I see seem to be a bit more uhhhh dainty.
   $40 Bingfu Vehicle Mobile Ham Radio Antenna VHF UHF 136-174MHz 400-470MHz Car Truck Amateur Two Way Radio Antenna with Lip Mount Fixed Bracket PL259 Male 5m 16.5 feet RG58 Cable
   For example.
2. With the antenna is it the same idea for grounding etc? I can run some grounding straps, just curious if I need to scuff paint etc.
3. I see the mini stubby antennas too.
   $26 Bingfu Vehicle Mobile Ham Radio Antenna Dual Band VHF UHF 136-174MHz 400-470MHz NMO Mount Magnetic Base Low Profile Antenna PL259 Male Connector for Car Truck Amateur/Marine VHF Radio
   These things. How does the range differ? Or are they about the same range from each?

 

What part of the truck are you mounting the bracket to? If you are mounting to the metal, you might not need a ground strap. If you are mounting to something not metal, you'll likely need a ground plane.

I can't tell you much about the mini stubby as I've never used one. Remind me what band or bands you will be operating on.

 

100mhz and 400.

I have the ditch light brackets already, metal brackets to metal hood.

 

For those doing antenna installs, I found this video to be a good tutorial. I've done them before lots of times, but it was a good refresher.

https://youtu.be/ktQVwfo-s9w

You don't need an expensive crimper, but you do need a crimper.

Crimper

$19 KingBra 1PCS Squeezing Forceps, Ratchet Terminal Crimping Pliers,Coax RF/BNC Crimp Tools for RG58

https://www.amazon.com/KingBra-Coax...=coax+connector+crimping+pliers,aps,73&sr=8-5

That will do both the center pin and the outer crimping ring. Even though it says it works for RG58, it should work for other sizes as well.

 

I don't know how good the Bingfu antenna is, but generally they are all similar. The FireStick has a central fiberglass core with the antenna wrapped around it, IIRC. It's heavier and requires a sturdier mount.

If you're going metal to metal as long as you make sure you have good contact you shouldn't need to add a grounding braid.