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Antenna Mounting Plate

 
 
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Ltwt
Articulating


Joined: 04 Jan 2003
Odometer: 636
Location: West Midlands


1999 Land Rover Discovery

PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:03 am    Post subject: Antenna Mounting Plate Reply with quote

Hiya folks

So, I've got a Land Rover Discovery 2 (Mk1) and I'm UK based.

I don't want to drill many holes into the roof but would like to fit some antennas.

So, how about fitting a metal plate on top of the roofbars.

At the front there are two that run from above the mid passenger row of seats to the front.

What I had thought was to put a metal plate up there and secured to the edges of the roof bars.

I could then mount antenna sockets to it, and lowered so there is less height above the rack when there aren't the main antennas attached. Of course, I may then end up with a smaller more basic antenna and use the APRS feature more. But I'd use it for mounting the HF ATAS120 to it as well as the 2m/70cm antenna for ham/2 way use. I've also got a CB that needs to be added at some point and and I may even mount a LED beacon to it at some stage too. But it (the plate) would take the abuse, and not the roof.

What do you think? Would it be enough ground plane for the ATAS120 and also how far apart would i need to mount the antennas so they wouldn't interfere with each other?

Currently the Kenwood D710 I have is mounted in the boot, with the head on the dash and a magmount antenna. But the ATAS needs a decent ground and so can't be used as a magmount...

Suggestions please Wink
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RichardD
Marshall


Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Odometer: 22856
Location: State of Confusion



PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 8:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

For CB use I've seen everything from steel plates glued to the roof for magmounts to exactly what you suggest all to good effect

For Amateur Band, however, with the higher powers and better quality components I'd suggest something a little more solid although I know of several guys who use neat magmount set ups.

On my [brand new] 110 I decided, perhaps stupidly, to drill a hole on the left wingtop level with the radio aerial and even though I strengthened it from underneath the wing ended up cracking. I've now made a suitable checkerplate panel (which complements the OE one) with another similar shaped 3mm plate underneath all bolted in 4 places. I use a Diamond NR7700 whip antenna (although I have a springer one on order) with 3.5dB gain and I notice I get better reception and propagation compared with smaller setups.

I thought about other places for the antenna but this gave the easiest fitting and simplest cable run and known great result.

As with everything I suppose it is what kind of compromise you want.

__________________________________
Poking the Grim Reaper with a stick then running away. The devil made me do it but God said it was okay with him.
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Ltwt
Articulating


Joined: 04 Jan 2003
Odometer: 636
Location: West Midlands


1999 Land Rover Discovery

PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Richard.

I've been using a magmount for 2m/70cm so far, and a magmount for CB use. However, with my HF rig I was told it needed a good bonded connection to the body for the RF side of things. However, I was reluctant to drill holes in the roof and figured that if I was going to put one I might as well put all 3, or maybe more in.

A plate on the front roof bars, secured at the edges, with the cables properly secured but also set so I could remove the plate if required (probably wouldn't though), bonded to the roof under the antenna points would be fine for radio use. The metal plate would act as the ground plane and I'm not drilling into the already fragile D2 roof. It would be nice to stop scratching it with magnetic mountings too... Wink
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chrisvitarasport94
Off-Road Guru


Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Odometer: 1255
Location: South Devon



PostPosted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 5:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.4x4cb.com/index.cfm
__________________________________
'94 3dr s/top Sport, roof bars, roof lights, Calmini bumper, SuperwinchEP9, CB & handheld, GPS, fwh's, 8x15 alloys, 31x10.5x15 BFG MT K/M's, 2" body lift, skid plates, 2.5" susp lift, & hi-lift. Safari Snorkel. R Lockright
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