Radio antenna mounting
Posted by RangerHikes@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 7 comments
situation :: I am installing a pro speed roof rack on my 23 VW Atlas. I have two NMO mounts that I planned to install in the roof while I had the headliner dropped to install the new roof rack. one will feed CB and one will feed GMRS.
My original plan was to put the antennas opposite sides of the factory "shark fin" antenna as the roof racks cross members stop just before the shark fin.
My concern is the antennas may be too close to each other and or have not enough metal towards the back for a good ground plane.
Should I mount them to the actual roof rack instead? or maybe leave one on the roof and put another further away on the rack ?
moonlighting_madcap@reddit
I have a Midland Ghost antenna mounted on the back right corner of my roof rack. I’ve been able to hit gmrs repeaters over 30 miles away while in the mountains with it. I have it mounted on one end of what is supposed to be a ditch light mount that has an additional hole for a NMO mount.
RangerHikes@reddit (OP)
Yeah I'm an absolute novice to GMRS - though I am licensed - and the more I research the more I understand why CB is going away in favor of GMRS. seems to be better and easier in every measurable way
IdRatherBeDriving@reddit
I mag mount on the center of the hood and drive around like a rhinoceros. I got tired of ripping NMOs out of my roof when I’d forget to take it down before pulling into the garage.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
Ham here. GMRS you could get away with a halfwave that wouldn't need a ground plane.
CB, there's no real way to get a decent ground plane short of going through sheetmetal, since you're dealing with base-loaded shortened antennas anyway.
RangerHikes@reddit (OP)
That's encouraging for GMRS. I hold a general license but am a total novice and have never transmitted on the ham bands. For CB I had imagined going with a 102 inch whip and then either dismounting the antenna or tying it down when not in use. I had done that before on a previous car when I had the 102 mounted to the bull bar. I found i could transmit very far but everything I received was static garbage - I think because of the lack of a ground plane since the bar was floating off the front fender
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
I had a 102" whip on a previous truck. I'll never do that again lol
RangerHikes@reddit (OP)
Yeah the front end didn't work for me. But with a roof mount I'm sure it'll work well, plus you can tie it down or just pop it off when you don't want the giant antenna up there