Magnetic antenna somewhere other than the roof?

[decker1]

I received a Ham radio antenna for Christmas. It looks about 4 ft long and had a magnetic base. Although it would sit nicely on my gobi, I'm not digging a 4f antenna on my roof. Anyone have any better places to put it? Perhaps near the back similar to a door jam mount so that it doesn't make my truck look like I am talking to aliens

 

[e60ral]

i'm mounting mind on the hood bracket 5th Gen Antenna Bracket | CBI Offroad Fab

and you could always get a 1/4 wave antenna if you don't want a 4ft antenna

 

[raycie]

Asaspades93 was going to start fabbing a reverse light/antenna mount which would be attached behind the truck on either side.

 

[BobsTrail]

The antenna uses the mounting surface as a ground plane. The center of the roof may be the best location for signal strength for transmit and receive. Not sure if it's enough to matter. I prefer a stainless whip type, it bends when it hits a tree branch or an underpass.

 

[Ryan1975]

Are you committed to that antenna or are you looking for other recommendations?

This is what I just bought for my install. I'm using a K400 mount for the front fender with a rubber duck qtr length antenna that should withstand moderate slaps from occasional branches:

 

[e60ral]

a lot of people have rust issues with the k400 mount, be careful

 

[LawnDart]

Are you committed to that antenna or are you looking for other recommendations?

This is what I just bought for my install. I'm using a K400 mount for the front fender with a rubber duck qtr length antenna that should withstand moderate slaps from occasional branches:

How does the speaker setup work for this? The 400DR has no speaker in the head unit. I'm dabbling with HAM setups eventually, but unfortunately despite how awesome the YAESU looks I don't want to have to take apart my head unit to act as a speaker.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Be careful with the B10NMO antenna from Comet, I've had 3 of them over the past 15+ years and they are solid, but will break at the base's loaded stub area if hit hard enough from a branch, especially if you're using a really stiff mount for it.

They are great antennas, but not nearly as indestructible as one would think when they feel how heavy and solid they feel in one's hand!

Oh yeah, do NOT run more power through them than what they show for max power, and make damned sure you set the SWR correctly for both bands! Had 1.6 for SWR once, and at 50 watts output, it fried the ceramic cap inside the housing and ruined the antenna!

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Oh yeah, back to the OP's question! 4 foot HAM antenna? HF? VHF? UHF? Multi-band?

Best place is always in the middle of the roof, no matter what band its for, antennas work best with a ground plane centered beneath them.

You can get away with an edge mounted antenna, but you will notice your antenna becomes a bit more directional, and the side where most of your ground plane is at becomes attenuated in signal.

Having said that, you could make one of the easiest temp mounts ever, just get a 2" steel receiver for your trailer hitch mount, don't put a ball on it, mount it upside down so the flat part is facing up, and stick your mag mount right to that! It will work, and I assume that antenna is capable of being tuned, so set it up and get the SWR down as low as you can.

Other than that, check with the other posters about the other mounts they were talking about.

 

[Sig_Fan_55]

i'm mounting mind on the hood bracket 5th Gen Antenna Bracket | CBI Offroad Fab



and you could always get a 1/4 wave antenna if you don't want a 4ft antenna

I have been searching for an antenna mount that I like for 2 weeks and I think you just found it for me! Thank you, finally I can get this project going.

 

[Sig_Fan_55]

a lot of people have rust issues with the k400 mount, be careful

When I was looking at doing the K400 I thought about cutting a square of clear bra to put on the mounting surface before installing the mount. Just make sure you are getting a bit thicker one since it's probably going to be on there for a while.

 

[Ryan1975]

How does the speaker setup work for this? The 400DR has no speaker in the head unit. I'm dabbling with HAM setups eventually, but unfortunately despite how awesome the YAESU looks I don't want to have to take apart my head unit to act as a speaker.

I've got a external speaker that I used in my last setup that I'll reuse. It was screwed into the floor behind the center console on my '12.

 

[Ryan1975]

a lot of people have rust issues with the k400 mount, be careful

I was one of them. I'm going to try some sealant spray and not mount on the hatch but on the hood this time.

 

[e60ral]

What about using a mount that uses an existing bolt like the one I posted?

 

[decker1]

I am not committed. I like that module! Are you putting that in the dash wallet pocket like most people here do?

Are you committed to that antenna or are you looking for other recommendations?

This is what I just bought for my install. I'm using a K400 mount for the front fender with a rubber duck qtr length antenna that should withstand moderate slaps from occasional branches:

 

[decker1]

I like this look a lot better actually. Do you know if the magnetic bases for an antenna such as mine can be swapped to bolt on to the CBI mount? Also does that CBI mount play well with the CBI ditch bracket?

i'm mounting mind on the hood bracket 5th Gen Antenna Bracket | CBI Offroad Fab

and you could always get a 1/4 wave antenna if you don't want a 4ft antenna

 

[Ryan1975]

What about using a mount that uses an existing bolt like the one I posted?

I'm having a hard time visualizing what they are trying to do there?

 

[e60ral]

I like this look a lot better actually. Do you know if the magnetic bases for an antenna such as mine can be swapped to bolt on to the CBI mount? Also does that CBI mount play well with the CBI ditch bracket?

The CBI antenna mount is the CBI ditch bracket, so you can't use both

^ look here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/211850-haviks-built-thread-2.html#post2232709

I'd prefer something fender mounted so it doesn't tilt, but this doesn't require drilling any holes

 

[e60ral]

I like this look a lot better actually. Do you know if the magnetic bases for an antenna such as mine can be swapped to bolt on to the CBI mount? Also does that CBI mount play well with the CBI ditch bracket?

if the magnetic base is also a loading coil then it wouldn't work, but if its just a base you would just need to buy the correct size stud to use