Jeep JK Ham Radio mount

[dboy]

Hello everyone, first post on the forum here, hope its a helpful one.

Needing to install my Radio into my Jeep and its lack of available space left me looking for a mount that was clean and kept the full size radio out of the way.
I found one that I liked here, CB/GPS/Radar Detector Mount | Strike Force Zebra , So I ordered it.

2 weeks and my order still shows "Order created". I've emailed a few times looking for an update and tracking number but haven't received anything. I was on the fence about just building my own but have a trip in a few weeks and need to get it mounted so I decided to suck it up and build my own. Doing 3d cad work/metal fabrication for a living and having a CNC Plasma table and press brake at work helped...

I also wanted to show my antenna install and get feedback on how well y'all think its going to work. I don't like that the tent is covering a bunch of it but the flat metal surface on the CVT Hybrid should help.

 

[M Rose]

First off welcome to the forums... please stop into the “New Members Forums” and drop an introduction.
I really like your mounting solution... nice and clean...

your antenna in the other hand.... do you have it bonded to the body? Or is NGP antenna? What is your SWR reading?

 

[dboy]

First off welcome to the forums... please stop into the “New Members Forums” and drop an introduction.
I really like your mounting solution... nice and clean...

your antenna in the other hand.... do you have it bonded to the body? Or is NGP antenna? What is your SWR reading?

Hey Mike, thanks for the reply.

This is the antenna - You are being redirected...

Its threaded directly to this style adapter - SUFBH-SUFBH: UHF Bulkhead Female to UHF Bulkhead Female Adaptor - Gold Pin

which is mounted through the hole in the Front Runner antenna mount.

Do I need to have a cable grounding it to the chassis somewhere?

Again, thanks for the help.

 

[M Rose]

Hey Mike, thanks for the reply.

This is the antenna - You are being redirected...

Its threaded directly to this style adapter - SUFBH-SUFBH: UHF Bulkhead Female to UHF Bulkhead Female Adaptor - Gold Pin

which is mounted through the hole in the Front Runner antenna mount.

Do I need to have a cable grounding it to the chassis somewhere?

Again, thanks for the help.

You need to do one of two things... either run a strap to a bolt that holds the top on (that attaches to the body or frame), or you need to add metal to the under side of the top and connect the said wire to that... run the wire from the FrontRunner antenna mount to where ever your ground is.

 

[dboy]

You need to do one of two things... either run a strap to a bolt that holds the top on (that attaches to the body or frame), or you need to add metal to the under side of the top and connect the said wire to that... run the wire from the FrontRunner antenna mount to where ever your ground is.

Run a strap from where? The Antenna base?
Add metal to the underside of the top? how big? what's the metal plate attached to?

The rack is aluminum and probably the best "ground plane" on the vehicle and its also connected through the fiberglass top to the roll cage.

I made the mistake of watching a few videos about mobile transceiver antenna grounding. Now I'm more confused than ever...

 

[M Rose]

Run a strap from where? The Antenna base?
Add metal to the underside of the top? how big? what's the metal plate attached to?

The rack is aluminum and probably the best "ground plane" on the vehicle and its also connected through the fiberglass top to the roll cage.

I made the mistake of watching a few videos about mobile transceiver antenna grounding. Now I'm more confused than ever...

So the roof rack mounts to the roll bar? If so, you are good... have you checked your SWRs?

your best ground plane is actually the hood... second best is the tub.

 

[El-Dracho]

Nice and clean installation! Well done! I like it anyway when the radio is mounted at the top front of the vehicle's headliner. My CB lives there also. Unfortunately, there is only space for one radio, so for the HAM I went for a blackbox/ detachable headunit solution...

 

[dboy]

So the roof rack mounts to the roll bar? If so, you are good... have you checked your SWRs?

your best ground plane is actually the hood... second best is the tub.

I don't have an SWR Meter

 

[M Rose]

I don't have an SWR Meter

Is your radio a Yaesu FT-2980?

 

[dboy]

Is your radio a Yaesu FT-2980?

Its a FT-1900R

I've attached the manual.

 

[M Rose]

Its a FT-1900R

I've attached the manual.

Nice, it’s very similar to the 2980... it’s just 35 watts less powerful. But uses the same UI that I’m familiar with... however it looks like all you have is an S-Meter and not an SWR meter built in. I would ask around your local ham community to see if any one can help you analyze your antenna system. Otherwise look into getting a NanoVNA or other antenna analyzer to make sure your SWRs are below 1.5:1. But honestly I think you are good... how is the receive for you?

 

[dboy]

Nice, it’s very similar to the 2980... it’s just 35 watts less powerful. But uses the same UI that I’m familiar with... however it looks like all you have is an S-Meter and not an SWR meter built in. I would ask around your local ham community to see if any one can help you analyze your antenna system. Otherwise look into getting a NanoVNA or other antenna analyzer to make sure your SWRs are below 1.5:1. But honestly I think you are good... how is the receive for you?

Haven't gotten to try it yet. I'll get power to it this weekend.

 

[Prerunner1982]

It's a halfwave antenna on 2m which means it's not ground dependent. Also if the mount had a good connection to the roof rack it should provide enough ground plane for 2m.

 

[dboy]

Just got it all powered and talked with my dad clear as day. He's about a 7mile straight shot with two large hills in between.