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GMRS antenna mount

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by tmangini2, Apr 16, 2022.

Page 5 of 6
  1. Apr 24, 2022 at 11:07 AM
    #81
    tmangini2

    #81
    tmangini2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nice man. I went with CNS over the CN for the spring so I don’t destroy it when I forget to take it off going in my garage
     
    tmangini2, Apr 24, 2022
    #81
    c_walters[QUOTED] likes this.
  2. Apr 24, 2022 at 11:19 AM
    #82
    Technique

    #82
    Technique Well-Known Member

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    What are you using to measure the SWR? I have a meter for my old CB setup, but I imagine its not the same one for GMRS?
     
    Technique, Apr 24, 2022
    #82
  3. Apr 24, 2022 at 11:26 AM
    #83
    tmangini2

    #83
    tmangini2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I just bought a swr meter on Amazon so not sure about cb vs GMRS. I cut off about this much. About 3/4 of an inch and I was dead on.

    4C6834A8-BD1A-4620-947D-A5379C0B3228.jpg
     
    tmangini2, Apr 24, 2022
    #83
  4. Apr 24, 2022 at 2:24 PM
    #84
    Technique

    #84
    Technique Well-Known Member

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    Can you link the meter you use? :anonymous:
     
    Technique, Apr 24, 2022
    #84
  5. Apr 24, 2022 at 2:33 PM
    #85
    tmangini2

    #85
    tmangini2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    This is the one I got.
    $58 Mcbazel Surecom SW-102 Digital VHF/UHF 125-525Mhz Antenna Power & SWR Meter
    https://www.amazon.com/Mcbazel-Surecom-Digital-125-525Mhz-Antenna/dp/B01D86IKIQ?crid=31ECUG101PP9B&keywords=swr+meter&qid=1650835930&sprefix=swr+meter%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-2-spons

    but also had to buy this cause I didn’t have the right adapters to connect to the radio. FYI
    $8 Superbat UHF Male PL-259 to UHF Male PL-259 Low Loss Digital Coax UHF Jumper Cable (12" RG58) for HAM & CB Radio,Antenna Analyzer,Dummy Load,SWR Meter
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07H584XTK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image
     
    tmangini2, Apr 24, 2022
    #85
    Technique[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Apr 24, 2022 at 2:42 PM
    #86
    Technique

    #86
    Technique Well-Known Member

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    Added it to the shopping list on Amazon :rofl:. I'll probably purchase it one of these days.
     
    Technique, Apr 24, 2022
    #86
  7. Apr 24, 2022 at 2:49 PM
    #87
    eurowner

    #87
    eurowner Duke Sky

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    The link to the Rago mount, powder coated stainless steel, is in my post which you replied to.
     
    eurowner, Apr 24, 2022
    #87
  8. Apr 24, 2022 at 2:53 PM
    #88
    maineah

    #88
    maineah Well-Known Member

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    A vehicle is not a ground plane not matter where you mount it.
     
    maineah, Apr 24, 2022
    #88
  9. Apr 24, 2022 at 3:43 PM
    #89
    Doc62

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    Doc62 Well-Known Member

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    Is it Friday already?
     
    Doc62, Apr 24, 2022
    #89
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  10. Apr 24, 2022 at 4:40 PM
    #90
    tacovagon

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    tacovagon Well-Known Member

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    The roof certainly is!
     
    tacovagon, Apr 24, 2022
    #90
    tmangini2[OP] likes this.
  11. Apr 24, 2022 at 4:48 PM
    #91
    HisDad

    #91
    HisDad Well-Known Member

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    Then all those diagrams showing how antenna placement effects radiation patterns when mounted on vehicles are inaccurate, I guess.

     
    HisDad, Apr 24, 2022
    #91
  12. Apr 24, 2022 at 4:53 PM
    #92
    GarlicFarts

    #92
    GarlicFarts Bertolli Roberto

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    I'ma use these, NMO, whip, and a 50W radio. GMRS radio of course - would NEVER break the law and use a regular radio :spy:

    Ditch Light Mounting Brackets Extensions
    Cali Raised LED Ditch Light Mounting Brackets Extension Kit (Brackets Only)
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088QTX9N6?_encoding=UTF8

    Probably need to file some coating. But for raw stock, coating cost, etc you're about break even getting these chinesium brackets.

    Compromises. It'll be a lower mount and not using the roofs but I got a roof rack so - kind of a best I can do sort of thing.

    If it can rx and tx 3-4 miles LOS I'm good.
     
    GarlicFarts, Apr 24, 2022
    #92
    tmangini2[OP] likes this.
  13. Apr 24, 2022 at 4:56 PM
    #93
    tmangini2

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    tmangini2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Roof or hood = ground plane.
     
    tmangini2, Apr 24, 2022
    #93
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  14. Apr 24, 2022 at 4:57 PM
    #94
    tmangini2

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    tmangini2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    yeah I’m sure you’ll be good. Worst case just get a no ground plane antenna if it sucks that bad.
     
    tmangini2, Apr 24, 2022
    #94
    GarlicFarts[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Apr 24, 2022 at 5:03 PM
    #95
    tacovagon

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    tacovagon Well-Known Member

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    Exactly, when the antenna is correctly connected to them.
     
    tacovagon, Apr 24, 2022
    #95
    tmangini2[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  16. Apr 24, 2022 at 5:04 PM
    #96
    GarlicFarts

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    GarlicFarts Bertolli Roberto

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    Yeah. I'm thinking bracket - bracket - hood will be enough. I'll have two antennas. Stubby guy day to day and if it goes far enough. Whip if it doesn't. Starting the chode since I'll have one regardless for day to day driving instead of the whip on there all time.
     
    GarlicFarts, Apr 24, 2022
    #96
    tmangini2[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  17. Apr 24, 2022 at 5:15 PM
    #97
    tacovagon

    #97
    tacovagon Well-Known Member

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    Here is an idea that might work for some of you guys. Glass mount 1/2 wave might be able to mount on back window if the glass doesn't have the wrong coating. I used one for VHF and it was great.
    Larsen Glass mount.
     
    tacovagon, Apr 24, 2022
    #97
  18. Apr 26, 2022 at 1:01 PM
    #98
    GrundleJuice

    #98
    GrundleJuice Well-Known Member

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    The F are you blabbering about?
     
    GrundleJuice, Apr 26, 2022
    #98
    golfindia and tmangini2[OP] like this.
  19. Apr 26, 2022 at 7:08 PM
    #99
    tmangini2

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    tmangini2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    quick question for any coax experts out there: Currently running 20ft of rg58 in my truck. seems to work ok. Thinking of relocating the antenna to the front corner. that will drastically shorten the cable length down to 4ft.
    Based on some online calculators it looks like at 20ft i'm losing 2.1db and 7.5w. At 4ft i would be losing 0.4db and 2w. A difference of 1.5db and 5.5w.
    My question: Is this difference worth it? Will it be noticeable with all else remaining the same (radio / antenna combo)?
     
    tmangini2, Apr 26, 2022
    #99
  20. May 2, 2022 at 9:07 AM
    #100
    tmangini2

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    tmangini2 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    One another note: I decided to change my cable out. I was running about 20ft if the rg58 that came with my Nmo mount. I switched to lmr400 to run from my radio all the way back to the mount. I connected to about 12” of the rg58 to connect the Nmo mount. Man what a difference the cable made. Based on some online calculators I gained back about 5 watts of power from the cable loss
     
    tmangini2, May 2, 2022
    #100
    Technique likes this.
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