Mounting Mobile Ham Radio Antenna?

[4runnin4mylife]

Hey guys (and gals),

I am getting ready to install my Yaesu FTM-400XDR Mobile Ham Radio into my T4R. I have everything figured out except where to mount the antenna. I see a lot of people have it on the hood and also a lot of people mount it on the back hatch. I just wanted to throw a quick poll up to see on where everyone thought it should go (hood or back hatch) and let me know why ya think its better one place or the other. Either looks, usefulness, etc. just let me know why ya chose what ya did!

Thanks to everyone in advance!

 

[fourwd1]

The hood is too close to the engine and ignition noise, but you'd have a fairly decent ground plane.
The back hatch isn't too good because you have almost no ground plane and they're usually not well grounded.
You probably know that the roof is the best place but don't want to drill a hole. Mag mounts work quite well.

 

[Airmapper]

On my Xterra I use a fender mounted tab up by the hood, it's performed well far as I can tell. It's not ideal but I wouldn't shy away from it if you need to avoid the roof. I run APRS and it's hit digi's over 100 miles (direct, no hops) away in favorable situations, so if it's decoding digital mode at that range, it's getting out pretty clean.

A ham guy I know with a 5th Gen (I don't think he's on this forum) went with the rear hatch on one of those trunk lip, adjustable to any angle (K500 or some such?) mounts.

As mentioned mag mounts are convenient and I've had decent results with a little 1/4 wave unit I generally use until I rig up something better. It's on my 3rd gen now while I decide where I want to put an antenna on it. I may just go for a taller mag mount, and I'm not even opposed to drilling a hole, just opposed to dropping the headliner.

 

[KidVermicious]

My opinion, if you're mounting it permanently and not going to put it on the roof, put it on the fender as far forward as possible. The cabin will still block some line of sight, but it'll block less the farther away your antenna is mounted.

I'm going with a mag mount on the roof though. That way I can move it from truck to truck and store it in the cab when it's not needed. CB/ham antennas are tweaker magnets.

 

[mccand]

No roof option in poll . . .

Mine's on the roof. The Diamond Mounts K550 attaches to the roof rails nicely