Clean VHF/CB radio installs

The only one right now

I just notched and filed the edge enough to fit the wires.
I don't have a pic of how I actually routed the wires. Sorry

 

I'm wondering if it's it because there's basically no ground plane for the antenna with that mount.
Ground plane, not a ground.....ideally for best swr you want an antenna mounted wight in the middle of a metal roof.

 

Yeah. Some of these antenna mounts look pretty iffy. Some antennas require a ground plane and some don't. I.E. a 5/8 wave antenna requires the ground plane and a 1/2 wave wouldn't. I think a 1/4 wave does but my antenna theory is a little rusty.

 

It could be the antenna. However, I'd try improving the ground plane first and double check the feedline and connectors. Remove the antenna from the mount and the center pin should show as electrically open from the coax shield at the radio.

Make sure the mount has a good electrical connection to the hood. Use a multi-meter to test continuity. If that doesn't help, try adding some ground strap to tie the hood to the fenders. If that doesn't help, then look at the antenna.

Most antenna's should approximate a 1/4 wave, by using inductive loading. you can make a real 1/4 wave by cutting 102" of wire. Just about any gauge should work. I'd probably try to be close to 12ga-ish. Put a ring terminal on one end and use a 3/8-24 bolt to thread into the antenna mount with the ring terminal. Try to get the 102" wire as vertical as possible. Now you have a true (half ass temporary) 1/4 wave. Test SWR. If it's really high, you know it's still a ground problem, or feedline problem, or connector problem, not a defective antenna. If SWR is low, then it's possibly a bad antenna.

You can talk on the 102" wire if you want. It won't hurt the radio and is probably more effective then any other antenna.

 

Too bad it's in the front otherwise you could out on one of these...

 

How’$ that working out for you. Cook your rig yet?

 

https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-008573

 

Pretty cool. I'd try this in the bed if I didn't have a tonneau cover. I'm waiting for Meso's third brake light design with the NMO mount.

 

Already installed
https://i.imgur.com/9Xj9F04.gifv

 

NICE

 

Nice! I picked up the rack mount version and plan to install this weekend or next. Any comments on your experience or the quality. Does the activation switch have a momentary on/off or is it on=up or something? Vid is great!

 

The switch is goofy, its a up and a down arrow, pushing either one just switches the polarity. I cooked my switch though while trying to hardwire it. I accidentally reversed the wires and it burned out one of the micro switches.

So if you try to hardwire, check and double check your polarity before you install it. You can double check the polarity by taking the switch apart, the polarity is noted on the board inside.

I emailed the company, but never got a response about getting a new switch, so I have to either fix mine, or make a new one.


Overall I feel the unit is very well made, I think the switch and the wiring for it are very lacking. They use cheap wire going to the unit.

To ground it, there are 4 screws on the underside that allow you to rotate it around. I used these 4 screws to ground, I ran a cable from each screw to my grounding point.

 

I have the exact same set-up (F5021 and an old Motorola speaker) which i am planning to install this weekend. Does the location that you have it in interfere with the seat? or your leg? Thanks.

 

My right leg rests against the radio as I drive. It's somewhat annoying but I'm used to it. In its most forward position the seat would hit the radio but I'm 6'2" so the seat is never in that position. A detachable face radio would be very nice but I like the f5021 enough to put up with the annoyances.

 

Thank you. I am kind of stuck (wrong word - because i do like the rig) with that radio as well. Just tryng to figure out my options. Much appreciated.

 

I'm still learning about HAMs and I can't determine if this is a bad idea or not. I haven't seen anybody doing this which makes me think that there is some reason why this won't work well.....

Can I mount a HAM antenna to a roof rack using a bracket?

I was thinking something using these parts

$24 Browning WSPBR1015 Enclosed Nmo 3/4 Hole Mount,Black

https://smile.amazon.com/Browning-W...XJHE2ZX5AS5&psc=1&refRID=NVCC3FD0ZXJHE2ZX5AS5



https://smile.amazon.com/L-Bracket-...W0J9Q9GWMK3&psc=1&refRID=H8GA22BBJW0J9Q9GWMK3

$25 TRAM 140MHz-170MHz + 430MHz-470MHz Dual Band NMO Antenna (1181)

https://smile.amazon.com/Tram-140MH...FDERF3476N1&psc=1&refRID=RS8D05C6WFDERF3476N1

 

Yep, that should work. You really wont know how it well it works until you are able to analyze the antenna using an SWR meter or even better an antenna analyzer. However VHF/UHF antennas and radios are fairly forgiving in terms of antenna placement. So if it were me I'd just mount it up and test it out on the air. Then try to find someone with an analyzer to help you REALLY check out the SWR curve.

 

It should work if the roof rack is metal and the bracket makes a connection between the base of the antenna and the rack. If the rack and/or bracket are painted, you'll need to remove some paint or add a strap.

 

Check the thickness of the bracket and the spec on that nmo mount. It might be fine but if not, They do make nmo’s That can clear thicker surfaces if you need it.

 

Dumb question:

How do I shield my radio Antenna from EMI?

I have mine mounted next to the ditch lights and when the lights are on, I get EMI.

Other than just turning the lights off or moving the antenna are there other options?