2m/70cm ham antenna Mount options

[wfo9]

Right now I have my antenna mounted on a tab style mount on my baja rack.

Works fine, but I have to constantly take it off for parking garages.. and my own garage.. and I know I'm going to forget at some point..... The ant does have a small spring built in.. but it can't take much abuse.

I mostly just keep it off and don't use the radio except on longer trips..

I'm looking for a mount option that is lower but still gets good reception....

I would like to keep the antenna that I have which uses a UHF SO-239 style mount if possible.

Options?

 

[LawnDart]

I would like to keep the antenna that I have which uses a UHF SO-239 style mount if possible.

Options?

Mine uses an NMO mount, and it's just barely higher than my GOBI rack. Before that I had a longer larsen and just took it off unless I thought I was gonna use it outside of town.

 

[Ol'Baditude]

Hood lip mount works VERY well. Check page 1 of my build thread.
I've run mine like this for quite a while and made very good use of it, both for hitting repeaters and working simplex. Does not require additional electrical grounding, just install and go.

The kit I'm running is the Comet CP-5NMO which comes with an RS-730 mount. They are made with UHF mount as well though.
The RS-720 lip mount has a smaller footprint and works just as well if you plan on running light antennas like the SBB5 or SBB1. For heavier stuff, I'd recommend the RS-730 or the RS-840.
For antennas, I'd highly recommend the SBB1 for off-roading and trail comms; it just can't be beat for durability and clearance. It works very well for hitting the repeaters around town as well.

Pic showing mount and SBB1

 

[e60ral]

I copied [MENTION=132734]MeefZah[/MENTION] 's setup, I have 5/8 CB on drivers side and 1/4 dual band on passenger side (5/8 if i need it in the back). The mounts are solid and i'm very happy with the look.

The NMO mount is:

Tram 1246 B NMO Black Stainless Trunk Mount 17ft RG 58 PL 259 NMO Cap by W5SWL | eBay


(photo credit to MeefZah, not mine but i'm using the same mounts)

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

You could get a CBI ditch bracket and run it on there.

I am using a trunk mount on the rear hatch. Keep two antennae in the car. A short flex for trails with low branches and the other is about 3 ft that is used for dessert stuff (longer distances need therefor it handles more power).

The RTT keeps me out of parking garages anyway.

 

[Orbital Debris]

I have the CP-5m mount as above, but my version is the SO-259. For normal day to day, I have a Comet SBB-2 attached, and it works very well hitting the local repeaters. With the mount at this level, it sticks up above the roof about a foot, and it clears my garage door which is 7ft. If I need more gain, I carry an SBB-5 in the car, stored in a 1 inch pvc pipe.

 

[Ol'Baditude]

I have the CP-5m mount as above, but my version is the SO-259. For normal day to day, I have a Comet SBB-2 attached, and it works very well hitting the local repeaters. With the mount at this level, it sticks up above the roof about a foot, and it clears my garage door which is 7ft. If I need more gain, I carry an SBB-5 in the car, stored in a 1 inch pvc pipe.

Yeah, I keep my Comet 2x4 in a 2" PVC tube, and my SBB-7 in an old 4piece Sage flyrod tube! Works like a charm!

 

[e60ral]

my install for reference

the 5/8 CB antenna on the right goes to a CB that i leave hanging behind the passenger seat, all it does is monitor CH19 during my commute. The faceplate for the IC-2730 is mounted with a custom aluminum bracket and i have a speaker behind the center console

 

[DannyLlama]

my install for reference

the 5/8 CB antenna on the right goes to a CB that i leave hanging behind the passenger seat, all it does is monitor CH19 during my commute. The faceplate for the IC-2730 is mounted with a custom aluminum bracket and i have a speaker behind the center console

Clean setup.. you said custom? Just making sure I read right

 

[e60ral]

I made brackets to hold the head unit. I cut and bent a couple piece of aluminum to match then drilled mounting holes and painted black. i used 2.6x8mm thumb screws (don't quote me on the size) and nylon bushings to attach the aluminum brackets to the back of the faceplate and actually attached that to the bottom of that cutout in the center console with heavy duty velcro. it's sturdy and doesn't wobble and i can easily remove it if i need to take out the head unit. The velcro and angle of the bracket are strong enough that i can pull the mic or push buttons and it doesn't move and so far i've had good luck for mounting other things that the heavy duty velcro can stand up to car temps without getting soft.

 

[wfo9]

Thanks guys. I just ordered a comet RS-720.

I already have a comet SS-460SB ant. That should take care of me for now. I may get a better gain and also a more durable ant in the future.

BTW. for some ham nerd stuff. Here is how I mounted my ICOM 2730A.

Still tweaking a few things and learning how to program the radio, but pretty happy with it so far.

 

[Jono.ful]

You could get a CBI ditch bracket and run it on there.

Or maybe even one of these?

 

[e60ral]

It's the same thing as the ditch bracket, you just get 1 instead of 2

I bought one thinking I would use it but didn't for a few reasons. The main reason is that you have to cut or melt the plastic trim piece that it conflicts with. I didn't like that solution and never saw it executed cleanly enough for my preference. It is also way heavier duty than you need for an antenna mount. The exception would be if you are running a fire stick or something on a heavy spring, but its a lot more than you need for a whip antenna. The final reason i didn't use that mount was that I decided I really wanted an NMO mount for the ease of changing or removing antennas. I have the NMO rain caps in my center console and in about 30 seconds I can have both antennas off and rain caps on and can even go through an automatic car wash, if I want to swap antennas its a lot easier with NMO mounts.

 

[wfo9]

It's the same thing as the ditch bracket, you just get 1 instead of 2

I bought one thinking I would use it but didn't for a few reasons. The main reason is that you have to cut or melt the plastic trim piece that it conflicts with. I didn't like that solution and never saw it executed cleanly enough for my preference. It is also way heavier duty than you need for an antenna mount. The exception would be if you are running a fire stick or something on a heavy spring, but its a lot more than you need for a whip antenna. The final reason i didn't use that mount was that I decided I really wanted an NMO mount for the ease of changing or removing antennas. I have the NMO rain caps in my center console and in about 30 seconds I can have both antennas off and rain caps on and can even go through an automatic car wash, if I want to swap antennas its a lot easier with NMO mounts.

Not an expert here.. but I don't see why the so-239 style ant would be any harder to remove/install than the NMO. I can see where the NMO is a little better for mounting to the actual sheet metal.... but if it is going on a bracket they are about the same things besides the need for a different size hole 5/8 so-239 vs 3/8 NMO... Using a step bit.. should be easy to drill any surface out. Just can't go back from NMO.

I do understand there are more ant options for NMO (or so they say)

 

[e60ral]

It just is, i'm not sure why (maybe radius and threads) but it is a lot easier to remove and no tools are required.

NMO is also more versatile (more mobile antenna options and you can get converters from NMO to whatever you want), is better for UHF, lower profile, etc...

 

[Ol'Baditude]

Thanks guys. I just ordered a comet RS-720.

BTW. for some ham nerd stuff. Here is how I mounted my ICOM 2730A.

Ok, that's friggin cool!
My FTM-400DR wouldn't fit in there, and the GPS would not work, but most of the other Yaesu models would.

 

[Ol'Baditude]

Not an expert here.. but I don't see why the so-239 style ant would be any harder to remove/install than the NMO. I can see where the NMO is a little better for mounting to the actual sheet metal.... but if it is going on a bracket they are about the same things besides the need for a different size hole 5/8 so-239 vs 3/8 NMO... Using a step bit.. should be easy to drill any surface out. Just can't go back from NMO.

I do understand there are more ant options for NMO (or so they say)

There are less threads on the NMO (vertically), which makes it quicker and somehow easier to screw on and off. I don't quite know how to describe it, but my old UHF mount antennas used to get stuck on all the time. The NMO's seem to hold on tight, but come off easy with a bit of extra hand torque.
Some say that the wider base gives a bit more surface area to spread the stress caused by the antenna bending; I'm not so sure that's much of an issue or a reason to buy one over the other, unless you are mounting to a hole in your sheet metal.

Also, as someone who builds my feedlines from scratch, I find that soldering a thin or thick surface mount NMO adapter on to the outboard side is simpler than UHF, and easier to weather seal.

 

[jrandom]

BTW. for some ham nerd stuff. Here is how I mounted my ICOM 2730A.

Best use I have seen to date for the sunglass holder :

If you didn't HAM you could put a Scangauge in there too.

 

[cartrouble]

I'll also point out that NMO connectors are more weather resistant than SO-239 (UHF) connectors.

 

[DannyLlama]

Ok, that's friggin cool!
My FTM-400DR wouldn't fit in there, and the GPS would not work, but most of the other Yaesu models would.

This is a good point...
So if I'm going with a HAM radio that supports APRS, would I need a separate antenna? At which point I will need three mounts. Ham, APRS and CB.

And why wouldn't the mount work with APRS/GPS?