Where to mount antenna...Round 2

[Tiffster]

Well I had mounted my 4.5' Firestik II in the same location as Handlebars did:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=652737&a=6411629&p=27696397&Sequence=0

Well during last weekends trail ride I guess I hit one tree too many and the screws ripped out. So now I need to mount the antenna someplace else. Any suggestions? I now have a Tomken rear bumper so that may be an option. Just need some ideas before I go out and by a magnet based antenna.

[satan]

Classic Question ! (I still have a Wilson Mag mount for sale...)

The radio tech in me (yes, for a few years late 70's through the 80's) advocates the center of the roof thing. A good 24" super-flexible antenna on a respectible mount would dominate from that vantagepoint. Larson makes some extremely nice base-loaded antennas for similar applicatioins (like what CSP runs for their low-band stuff). you'd probably ave to take it off for garages and carports (so your radio wouldn't be always available).


The 4xDriver says away from the corners (supporting the center as well), but goes on to say not necessarily in the center of the roof for real wheeling.

The center of the roof is pretty much THE place, but a 2' antenna up there will smack into damn near everything (great fun at McDonnalds as the fluorescent tubes in the drive-thru shatter sprinkling the rear of your ride! BTDT) .

You're gonna have ta compromise. The rear tire carrier/bumper would be fine ONLY IF you mount at one of the corners AND the length and construction of your antenna puts the primary radiation way up in free air. That makes your antenna a hazard to people near-by while wheeling (whip it good) and prone to catching on stuff (again!). If you're going with the fuel can mounts you could put a shorter antenna on the top-middle of the carrier (again the radiating portion would need to clear the roof line and tire and all - gotta love having a steel hatch!).

You could use a short and flexible antenna mounted where your AM/FM one is now and buy a coupling box so your AM/FM could use the CB antenna (do not get one of those all-in one deals -- garanteed to piss you off - they compromise EVERYTHING - you'll want a CB antenna that may do other things, not something that may work as a CB antenna).

Front bumper (REDNECK) is an option - antenna doesn't have to be too tall to get over the adjacent metal (REDNECK) -- maybe if you go that way you could run our spare up there and get a confederate flag as well! (REDNECK). Mounting a 108" steel whip would just add so much....

So you're kinda jacked...

I may be going with the fender mount (like the AM/FM thing or same thing, other side - pseudo porquepine look) for both of mine...

... or there are some very effective through-the-glass mounting systems (like cell-phone antennas) where the whip is 17" to 24" tall (depending on manufacture)... the performance of those isn't the best, but you could slip one of those onto the back hatch glass, front windshield (euro-bug), or one of the fixed side plates pretty easily (you'd need to hack your tint). The performance is nothing like running a K40, Wilson or 4' Firestik, but the thin design makes those seem kind of attractive to me for a 'normal' close-in CB installation.

sadly, my radio eqpt doesn't play well with the through-the-glass things, though they may be a viable option for you.

[XJOutcast]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by satan
[B]Classic Question ! (I still have a Wilson Mag mount for sale...)

Heres my 38" base loaded whip....great Rx & Tx. I don't need a twenty mile range for wheelin' but I do get about 3-8 miles depending on terrain and weather. No trail related problems yet either.

[Tiffster]

No worries!!! I figured out the mounting problem and fixed it. It is now very sturdy and in the old location as in the picture above. Will post more on what I did to fix it later, but the reception is great!!!!!!

[satan]

best mount ever = where it already is!

[Tiffster]

OK, here is what I am going to do to fix the mount permanently:

While in Buena Vista over the weekend I stopped at a Tru-Value hardware store to gets some bolts for a quick trail fix on the mount. While rummaging around looking for the right bolts I came across the inserts they use for hollow wall applications (you stick the metal sleeve in the hole and the screw then mushrooms the sleeve to create a solid backing).

Seeing this gave me the idea that if I could get 3 of those into the holes I already drilled for the mount it would act like a nut on the back of the bolts. I found some of the inserts that will fit in the holes already drilled and go one step better than what I found in BV, these go through the mount and then into the hole so it sandwiches the mount between the two edges of the sleeve and forms a nice solid attachment,

Works great. Damn I am proud of myself :D

[BIGoffroad]

now I have a Wilson 1000 or 100...I don't know

[Tiffster]

So what happened to the rack???

[BIGoffroad]

to Craig

[Boogeyman]

best mount ever = where it already is!


Well I'm going i slightly different route. I bought some SS plate at Ace for $2. I'm cutting out 2 replacement plates that will fit over & under the weaker metal and Rivit into place. Then run 2 bolts as the retainers for the antenna mount