Ham Radio / CB Antenna Installed

[Tavy]

Hi All,
I just completed my CB/ham radio antenna installation using an angle bracket bolted to the inner quarter panel just under the left tailight.
Check it out.

 

[ExplorerTom]

It's a combo antenna?

On my Explorer I started out with a CB. Then I got a handheld ham radio with an auxiliary antenna. Seems to work pretty well.

 

[Tavy]

Yeah i have done that too in the past using hardheld while off roading. It works well sometimes except when i am bouncing around on rough terrain. i figured a permanent mobile radio solution is better for me, no charging of handheld battery required, no fumbling of radio. i can take advantage of transmitting in high power 50watts on 2meter 25 wats on 440mhz for longer range if needed. its all about preference and convinience for me. i just turn the radio on dial in the freq and thats it the radio always there attached to the vehicle ready to be utilize when needed specially in an emergency as a backup comms incase no cell signal.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

I miss using the HAM radio. Been years since I talked. I can't remember if my license is still valid!

I should check

 

[gixer2000]

I miss using the HAM radio. Been years since I talked. I can't remember if my license is still valid!

I should check

I believe they expire after 10 years

 

[USMCBuckWild]

It is every 10 years, I got Tech when I was 15 and remember renewing it 1 time. Hopefully i didn't let it lapse!

Good install by the way!! I would make a brush "guard" or at least an angled piece of metal to help deter branches from catching on the antenae mount. Just a little piece of sheet metal about 45 degrees towards the front of the truck and secured with the body. Take it from a guy who lost a borrowed 2m/440 ant/mount and had to buy another one to replace it.

 

[Tocapet]

NEVER let your license expire. They were too hard to get and you never know when you might need it.

KC5PA since 1970

BTW, I wonder what his SWR rating is with it mounted down on the bumper like that. I used a 19" 1/4 wave antenna on the roof and got good results. over 50 miles direct with 10 watts on 2M.

 

[fuzzmanmatt]

My cb antenna, a K40, is mounted on the rear hatch, the ham antenna is a really nice Comet 2x4 folder, and that's mounted on the roof. I'll have to get some pictures, but that roof mounted antenna can cause problems when backing into the garage with it up... Thankfully the mount broke before it tore the sheet metal. I might have to duplicate what you've got if it works good!

 

[fuzzmanmatt]

The K40 isn't mounted, but here's what I've got.

 

[Tocapet]

You oughta get out pretty good with it on the roof like that. Especially with the 5/8.

 

[CAKD07]

I have my Diamond on a "L" bracket on the passenger side of the hood. Have the main radio unit in the console on the side with the control head just above the well in the console.

 

[Tocapet]

Sweet installation! All I have right now is a 2M/440 walkie-talkie. Used to have a 2 KW PEP setup back in the 70s

 

[ExplorerTom]

I just have a Baofeng handheld with a magnetic external antenna.

My CB mostly collects dust- but occasionally I need to use it on the trail if not everyone is a Ham.

 

[Tocapet]

I also have the Baofeng

 

[dougw181]

Nice install. I am studying for my Tech license and have been pondering an install in
my 12 EL. Where did you end up installing the radio? Not much room in these newer
vehicles for radios or any other aftermarket equipment.

 

[fuzzmanmatt]

I've got a TYT TH-9800, and the head is mounted on a satellite radio mount stuck on the dash, while the radio itself is up underneath the dash. There's a TON of unused space back behind everything on the 2007, the '12 shouldn't be much different.

It's about 40 miles from the lakeshore to the local repeater we use for Skywarn, and I know I come in loud and clear from that distance. Can't really go any further west, and I don't really go much further east very often, either!

The radio club around here offers a Ham In A Day class, totally worth it. You get a list of all the possible answers to the exam, get a couple hours to study it, ask questions to the Elmers giving the test, and then you take the test right there.

 

[CAKD07]

Couldn't take a picture in the dark garage. Here is how I mounted the radio unit in my console. It's a Yaesu FT-8800R dual-bander. The speaker is mounted on the drivers side between the seat and the pedals.

 

[lbv150]

Top of my '16 with wideband VHF 1/4 wave, 2 UHF cans, 7/800 can and cell modem antenna with GPS & Wifi.

 

[lbv150]

My '06 with HF antenna. Micom WIMA with 12' fiberglass whip bent over for NVIS.

 

[Barjrob1972]

I've got a Kalibur bracket coming in that looks like it will fit to the fender of my 2015 Expy so I can mount a CB antenna. I have the same setup on my JKURubi and even with just a 2' Firestik on a spring, can easily TX 3-5 miles using a Midland 75-822 and RX about 10 miles or so. A 3' works exponentially better but then I can't get into the garage w/o hitting so I just use the 2'. In the Expy, I have a Bearcat 990SSB but the Lil' Will on top just doesn't seem to get a good enough ground plane so I'm hoping the fender mount will work better. I can't get the SWR below about a 1.78 on 19 and 1 and 40 are way off. It's good enough for traffic reports on road trips.

Sometimes I run my 8000D HT on 146.520 using a mag mount but it's dead around me. GMRS seems to be more active and there are numerous repeaters plus, I've got my own 'family' repeater at the house so I really haven't considered getting licensed beyond GMRS.

In the future I'm considering mounting a rack on the Expy since it's our family vacation hauler/ road trip machine and installing 11 meter and 70 cm antennas on top. This seems to be the best way to do it w/o drilling holes and hopefully, will get a good ground plane. I don't think I could convince the Misses that holes in the roof are necessary.

I took my HT and mag mount with me to Utah and went up in the mountains. Scanning the GMRS/FRS channels, I could listen to the snowmobilers communicating back and forth on the box store bubble pack radios.