New York State Police Mobile Antennas

[lafd55]

I am wondering as to what type of permanent mount the NYSP uses. I have a NYSP Tahoe and plan on using the existing mount but dont know what it is... Any help? Pictures if you need them...

[kb2vxa]

Pictures might help, there's no guarantee every car has the same antenna or the same mount.

[lafd55]

[fineshot1]

Looks like a NMO 1/4 wave cap on a NMO mount and a 3/8 x 24 thread sticking up through the NMO cap hole.

Never seen anything like that - very weird.

If you take a large monkey wrench and screw off the black cap you will probably find the true
NMO mount underneath.

[Dewey]

It reminds me of the black plastic adapter that Antenna Specialists sold to adapt their 3/4" NMO antennas to the 3/8" snap in mounts. The difference is the Antenna Specialists adapters had a small metal "plug" in the center where the coax center conductor would be wrapped around. I could almost see the small metal center plug (removable) being replaced by that large threaded assembly sticking up in the photo, but that's using my imagination.

Dewey

[ab2ms]

Yes, that looks like an Antenna Specialists mount (ASP mount) which works great for the old radshack magmount 2M antennas after the base rots out, but those mounts are rare now.

[Wyandotte]

Originally Posted by fineshot1

Looks like a NMO 1/4 wave cap on a NMO mount and a 3/8 x 24 thread sticking up through the NMO cap hole.

Never seen anything like that - very weird.

If you take a large monkey wrench and screw off the black cap you will probably find the true
NMO mount underneath.

That's a NMO mount. If you take it off and flip it over, you'll see the other end of the threaded bolt you see is holding a contact on to the inside of the plastic cap, and the contact touches the standard NMO mount on the vehicle. Like others have said, it's Antenna Specialist. I used to do installs for remote control cranes, the equipment came with that antenna mounted to a stainless steel plate.

[kb2vxa]

That's exactly what it is, a one of a kind old ASP mount than nothing else fits on, corroded and useless too. Wyandotte, if that were the case NMO adapter kits would not have been needed and if you installed them you would know that.

[lafd55]

I will unscrew it Wednesday and further work on it. I will post pictures of what i find if any interested, also the coax cable was just cut off under the plastic molding by the rear seat. Seeing it is a retired NYSP Tahoe I have other plugged holes to work with as well for antennas ideas.

[kb2vxa]

Just be careful or you may be left with a hole to plug. What I'd rather is you obtain a proper mount, preferably the common NMO and install it, then you can tell us what you found with no real damage done. If you mess up the old mount no matter, in the end you're going to toss it anyway being it's next to useless. If you want to use an ASP antenna, like I said they had NMO adapter kits and many you'll find kicking around have already been adapted, all you'll need is the chrome plated ferrule part of the kit and they're around too.

[Chauffeur6]

Looks more like an LM style 5/16" x 24 than any type of NMO mount. The slot at the top of the stud is a dead giveaway, it's used to keep the assembly from twisting as the plastic retainer is tightened. I have one of these, and the whip attaches directly to that stud. Chances are, if you spin that black plastic retainer off, the whole assembly will drop right through the hole. These mounts generally used a 3/8" hole, although there is a plastic spacer that allows them to fit in a standard 3/4" hole as well.

Either way, it's a piece of junk and the best you can do is remove it, check that the hole is 3/4" otherwise drill it out, then buy yourself a proper Motorola/NMO mount with new coax attached, and a decent antenna to go along with it.

[Wyandotte]

Originally Posted by Wyandotte

That's a NMO mount. If you take it off and flip it over, you'll see the other end of the threaded bolt you see is holding a contact on to the inside of the plastic cap, and the contact touches the standard NMO mount on the vehicle. Like others have said, it's Antenna Specialist.

WEll, I'm quoting myself to say I was wrong.
That wasn't the base I thought it was, once I looked at the "exploded view" pix. I have seen that mount before. I took one like that off a Buick that had a Erickson 800 mhz radio in it. (South Oakland County Michigan Water Department).
I think MaCom bought Erickson, or something like that. The car was a '96, so the install was a dozen years ago. I do remember that a NMO went right in the existing hole, like the hole was drilled for it.
(I think I'm spelling Erickson wrong, but I don't remember the right spelling).

[lafd55]

Ok here are the pics of removing the cap. Fortunately it didn't fall through, it is too small for a 3/4 inch hole so would have to drill. Noticed as well that there are 2 other antenna holes in the roof that would not accommodate a NMO.... I will eventually re-drill and install 2 NMO mounts for antennas at a later date, no money no antennas. Here are the pics of what I did today. Unless that is a 3/4 inch hole with a spacer, if it is then what a brain fart on my part.

[Chauffeur6]

Yup, the exact same mount I said it was. It does look like a 3/4" hole with the spacer in place as I mentioned, you shouldn't have to drill it out any. Of course all you have to do is lay a ruler across the hole to check it...

[lafd55]

im pretty lazy, but I think I could manage that.... That hole was easy to get to because it is right over the rear over head light, but the one in the middle is going to be tough trying to get to.