Ham radio antenna mount options w/ tonneau cover, not hood mounted

Mag mount on the roof. Or jerry rig a NMO plate to your prinsu like me. I've got another project in the making that will use a similar plan as well.

 

I'm with @Doc's Rig Fab your own. I don't know much about the HAM antenna, but this is my bracket for my CB antenna. Works with my tonneau too. Go easy on my hammer and vise skills lol.

 

Finally got around to routing my antenna coax in my 2018 DCSB today. I’m posting pics w explanations here so others can see what I did. Not that it was done correctly but it works well for me and seems like a good place for routing it if you want your antenna in the bed.

First fold the seats down and remove the two-piece plastic covers behind the seats (there are three 10mm hex head screws on each side). Then it snaps out. Just remember that one side overlaps the other.

Then I folded up the sound deadening fabric that was lining the back wall of the cab just to get it out of the way. Held it up by clamping it to the coat hangar thingies.


The found the access hole (has a black plug). It’s in the middle.



The hole is a little too small for a PL-259 to fit through so I reamed it out just a bit.



Once reamed out, the PL-259 fits right through.



Added a grommet I had in the garage (I never throw anything away).



Pull the PL-259 through the hole (easy access from underneath the truck)


Add grommit


For now, using a piece of scrap metal I had laying around as a base for a mag mount. It’s not too pretty but I’m hoping that it will work.



Planning to change our the mag mount base for one of those corner braces.

Have not yet had time to test it but will post results when I do. Open to suggestions if you have any. Thanks.

 

I had great success with the Breedlove stake hole mounts. Don't have it on my new Tacoma though. I am thinking of just mounting through a drilled hole on my future Diamondback bed cover. I had excellent success with my Comet SBB-1 antenna. I would reach repeaters 50+ miles away in Charlotte area without issue. Again not ideal location but really worked well.

Here is my mounting on my old Ford. Will video the new build when done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E06V24T1usg&t=4s

 

Did you have to add any additional grounding cable or is the Rago mount sufficient?

 

I would like to know about the grounding as well! Do you have any info to report back on this issue please?

 

I ground off some of the powder coat on the mount around the connecter and that has seemed to work just fine.

 

Oh great! Thanks for getting back to me. I did that as well. I also took the powder coating off the three mounting holes and I scored the mounting bolt washers to try and get some ground that way too. I see a lot of people running a ground wire but I am going to try my SWR without and then if I need to add a ground I will.

 

Yeah I'm going through this now.. Trying to install a Dual band Ant via the Rago mount.. and Can't seem to find a "Firm" Answer ANYWHERE on the Net... So i will Try it this way.. and Hope its works.. Worse Case? I will have to run Braid flat Cables... Let me know How it works Out?? and I will do the Same.. thanks.. (Oh and i have a Diamond back, and was actually thinking of mounting a NMO mount in the Center Brace.. (Just for the "Ground Plane' thing..) This Whole "grounding the Antenna thing has me Going nuts trying to get answers.. This was as close As I've Come...Thanks again..

 

I sure will give you an update! I am doing the install Sunday. From what Rago says a local CB shop helped them design the mount so it should be good to go. I also took a dremel to the bottom of where the antenna mounts, and around the tree mounting holes. I looked into the threaded holes where the mount connects to the truck and it will be metal to metal contact between the truck, mount, and mounting washer/bolts. I also scored the coating on the mounting bolt washers to help. I hope this makes sense lol. I should have taken pics. If not I do have a braided ground cable on standby. Either way I will hit you back with the SWR when I am done. Fingers crossed!!

 

Hey what's up dude. I got some bad news. I am not going to be able to get an answer to you. I started to run the coax this morning and got cold feet. I have found especially here on the west coast CB is dying. Almost everyone one/club has a CB and a VHF/UHF frequency to run on. Since I just just got a new ICOM HAM radio I am going to send all my CB gear back to Amazon. I just see the radio sitting there and not being used. The HAM will get use daily on and off road. For the mount I am going with a Diamond NMO hood mount. From what I have found no additional ground will be necessary. Good luck to you on your radio install adventure!

 

Well I Actually Was talking about HAM... and am going to Ground the Rago Mount and The Antenna.. It might not work as Well But I'm not ready to give up on the Rego Mount... If it doesn't work?? well then i will have to look at Alternative Spots to Mount an Antenna.. But thanks

 

LOL oh ok you are going HAM too!! I ended up getting the

$87 Diamond K400CNMO Trunk/Hatchback Mount With 2-Axis Adjustment, NMO Base and 6 Foot Coax

Diamond K400CNMO mount and it will go on my passenger side hood. That way it is a short run of coax through the firewall the radio. Not that running cable to the rear is bad but I just feel like the set up I have chosen will work best for me. I will be removing a bit of paint under the hood so when I bit down with the K400 mounting screws they get a good ground to the vehicle. The research I have done shows that grounding with VHF/UHF is not all that important but with HF it defiantly is! If I am seeing to high SWR's or my radio is not happy I will add a bonding strap in the engine bay. This is getting hooked up Sunday so I will get back with you and post some pics.

 

So How did it turn out??

 

It is perfect! I just added some dielectric grease to where I scraped the paint off for the NMO mount to the hood. I am hoping that keeps from rusting. I also added a Tram rubber grommet between the antenna base and the mount to make it watertight. It is all very solid where the radio is installed in the cab and the antenna to the mount/hood.

I also had to figure out the power situation because I have a few sets of Baja Designs squad lights and now the 50W radio. I went with Overlandequipt and their mounting bracket, BlueSea breaker and fuse block. This was a complete set they sell with all the wires included. Now I only have one connection to the battery and everything else runs through the fuse block. It all works great no breaker trippin or fuse blowing so far! It is not
sexy but it works well.

The radio itself I mounted next to my right leg in the cab. I ran the power and coax around under the seat, along the door jam, and through the firewall. Of course this part was a pain in the ass as always! The firewall is evil for sure. I also mounted an external ICOM speaker on the passenger side.

NOW the part you probably wanted to know the most and well done if you have read through all my blabbing. The ICOM IC-2730A works very well with the Comet SSB5 antenna. Keep in mind this antenna is somewhat a no ground plan antenna according to Comet's website. I have had about a dozen QSO's so far and each and every time the people I am talking to say the signal is very clear and sounds great! The radio does get a bit warm but not bad so I need to check SWR but I am not too worried about that. It is not like I am running HF. I even talked to a guy from Canada. He of course was using DMR but it was cool to be able to do that. All mounting is with various types of RAM mounts and on my dash is the ExpeditionEssentials rail system which I can connect my phone, handheld mic, and ipad for the Gaia maps.


Again not pretty but it works very well! The only issue I have run into is with transmitting at night and having the aftermarket LED lights on. I was on a net a few nights ago and when I flipped on the headlights which have Beamtech LED lamps in them the RX would totally disappear. So I reinstalled the OEM halogen lamps and it works fine. So for what it is worth do not use cheapo LED bulbs in your lights because the HAM radio setup does not like it!
I am taking a trip today up to Santa Barbara in SoCal and I will be using this radio to hit repeaters up the California coast and I plan to link into the Papa repeater system and possibly talk to someone in LA or San Diego. I will talk as must as I can but my gf will probably give me dirty looks. Today is out hangout day lol. So it looks to me like if you follow what I did or close to it you will have a system that works well! If you have any specific questions please feel free to hit me up. 73's for now.

 

I'm Curious What the Coil of Wire is around the head unit mount in the cup holder?? is it the head unit (Extra Cable?) I'm almost sure you can get a Shorter cable from the Maker of the Radio??.. I've decided that I'm going to Still try the Rago Antenna Mount, I Cleaned the Paint off where the Bolts hold it attached to the bed, and Hooked a NMO antenna mount there.. and Found that I have a good ground, (Now I am going to Ground the Diamondback to the Bed, (A flat ground Cable to a Bed rail Screw and To the Clamps (Both sides)that Hold the Diamondback cover on Should do it... (I figured the worst that Can happen is my SWR's are through the Roof... in which Case i Will drill a 3/8 hole in the Center Piece of the cover And Attach the Antenna mount there (that should leave me a Great Ground plain.. (Always i Was shooting the breeze with a Guy up in Seattle the Other day (I'm in NY) Via a Repeater of course Via my Anytone 778uv (which I'm using as a base and Will be putting this one in the truck) as soon as my Yaseu ft 400 comes.. I'll let you know how the Antenna Mount Works.. (KD2VAH in case i catch you on the Band)

Again not pretty but it works very well! The only issue I have run into is with transmitting at night and having the aftermarket LED lights on. I was on a net a few nights ago and when I flipped on the headlights which have Beamtech LED lamps in them the RX would totally disappear. So I reinstalled the OEM halogen lamps and it works fine. So for what it is worth do not use cheapo LED bulbs in your lights because the HAM radio setup does not like it!
I am taking a trip today up to Santa Barbara in SoCal and I will be using this radio to hit repeaters up the California coast and I plan to link into the Papa repeater system and possibly talk to someone in LA or San Diego. I will talk as must as I can but my gf will probably give me dirty looks. Today is out hangout day lol. So it looks to me like if you follow what I did or close to it you will have a system that works well! If you have any specific questions please feel free to hit me up. 73's for now.[/QUOTE]

 

If the Rago Mount doesn't work, I will end up Doing Something Similar to this Guys Hook up https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/ham-radio-install.32973/page-3

 

[/QUOTE]

That looks great on the DB cover! LOL I think you'll get a good enough ground plan with that.
Yes the cable wrapped around the RAM mount base is the extra head unit cable. I will get around to purchasing a shorter one at some point. I know it kinda looks like hell right now. I was able to QSO a guy in San Diego from Above Santa Barbara today about 230 miles on the Papa analog repeater system. I've only used Fusion a few times but unfortunately not too many repeaters with that function out where I live. I need to get a hotspot so I can start chatting all over the country and the world.
I am glad the Rago mount is working well for you! I may still use it at some point and put an HF antenna upfront when I pass General. It was actually suggested to me to purchase an Anytone 778 a few days ago to get into more DMR work. I would kinda like to get more into Fusion or DStar as Dstar is popular where I live. The new Icom Id-52 looks promising. Do you have an SWR meter to test that and power?
I am KN6MGA Make Great Again nice to meet you.

 

That looks great on the DB cover! LOL I think you'll get a good enough ground plan with that.
Yes the cable wrapped around the RAM mount base is the extra head unit cable. I will get around to purchasing a shorter one at some point. I know it kinda looks like hell right now. I was able to QSO a guy in San Diego from Above Santa Barbara today about 230 miles on the Papa analog repeater system. I've only used Fusion a few times but unfortunately not too many repeaters with that function out where I live. I need to get a hotspot so I can start chatting all over the country and the world.
I am glad the Rago mount is working well for you! I may still use it at some point and put an HF antenna upfront when I pass General. It was actually suggested to me to purchase an Anytone 778 a few days ago to get into more DMR work. I would kinda like to get more into Fusion or DStar as Dstar is popular where I live. The new Icom Id-52 looks promising. Do you have an SWR meter to test that and power?
I am KN6MGA Make Great Again nice to meet you.[/QUOTE]
I am Moving the Anytone out to the Mobile.. I have a Yaesu ft-400 xdr coming (that's going in the house for the base).. I took my HT (hand held) out and Hooked it up to the Antenna to get a general idea.. and the SWR'S were great.. TOO good.. So I'm a Tad Suspicious But I'll let you know after the Anytone goes in..And If i have to I will use the bed cover for the Antenna Mount.. It looks pretty good In the Jeep Guys Pictures.. But So does the Rago Mount to be honest... I'll keep you updated Jim KdVAH

 

I am Moving the Anytone out to the Mobile.. I have a Yaesu ft-400 xdr coming (that's going in the house for the base).. I took my HT (hand held) out and Hooked it up to the Antenna to get a general idea.. and the SWR'S were great.. TOO good.. So I'm a Tad Suspicious But I'll let you know after the Anytone goes in..And If i have to I will use the bed cover for the Antenna Mount.. It looks pretty good In the Jeep Guys Pictures.. But So does the Rago Mount to be honest... I'll keep you updated Jim KdVAH[/QUOTE]

Thank you sir I would appreciate updates. I am sooo jelly of the FT400 I really like that radio! I just reserved an ICOM ID-52A when it comes out so I can get into D-Star and I purchased an Alinco DJ-MD5TGP last night. The Alinco is a Japanese radio but probably made in China and is dual band and DMR. Many repeaters out my way are DMR so I wanted a radio that has direct access. Good luck on your build I look forward to your updates.