Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
I've already heard some difficulties coming from some Motorola shops…anyone done any installs or looking at doing installs?
As in?? what have you heard?
Has the aluminum Ford F-150 been delivered to dealers? Last week I saw a Bloomberg interview with Bill Ford, and I thought the video suggested the production line had just rolled off job #1. The F-150 is Ford's largest model seller; waiting for a bump in the next quarter's results.
Ground plane issues as well as worries about the roof's not being able to handle the stress of the NMO mount.
From what I've heard, shops are saying that the problems they are running into can be remedied with thick-metal NMO mounts and ground plane kits (to not only support the roof but to remedy ground plane problems).
Why would there be ground plane issues? Aluminum is more electrically conductive than steel. More on this later.Ground plane issues...
Given that Ford is using 6000-series aluminum for most of the body, some of the body parts are heat treated, and other body parts are actually using thicker aluminum than if they were steel (and they are still saving 700 lbs compared to a 2014 F-150) I'm not sure "stress" is an issue. The body isn't made out of the same aluminum that's used for soda and beer cans. According to Ford's engineers, the aluminum parts have better dent and ding resistance than equivalent steel parts....as well as worries about the roof's not being able to handle the stress of the NMO mount.
It would be interesting to know more about this.
Ford likely has an up-fitter guide that would cover this sort of stuff, they usually do. Considering hundreds of thousands of F-150's are in use by public works, public safety, utilities and service companies, there are going to be a -lot- of trucks with antennas installed on them, and I'm sure this has been well thought out.
I agree that the "gutter" is probably continuous from front to back on regular cabs. On the SCrews, and maybe the SCabs, that "gutter" is not continuous. There are breaks in it sufficient to install an NMO as mmckenna indicates. Anyway, given the metal forming stresses in that area, it's probably strong enough to deal with whatever an NMO mount might inflict.Let me clarify, I'm talking about the center "gutter" visible while looking at the roof. Not on the underside. More of a problem on regular cab pickups.
With Ford rolling out its new F-150 with an aluminum body a previous occasional problem is probably going to become more frequent. You see putting a standard NMO mount on an aluminum roof can cause premature failure of the mount attachment. The aluminum is slightly thicker and more brittle than steel and antennas tend to rip off easier. I have not had an issue with "pancake" broadband antennas used with modems -- some are bolt on and some use adhesive which negates the problem. In addition to the hardness problem I have also experienced heavy corrosion and electrolysis of the aluminum AND brass where the underside is either damp or wet where it was installed. As a workaround I have used thick-mount NMO mounts that only require a 3/8" hole and putting a large stainless steel washer on the underside to provide a more uniform grip. I emailed a couple of antenna manufacturers a couple of months ago and have yet to receive a reply as to availability of a modified NMO mobile mount that is aluminum safe.
BTW, has anybody dropped by the BatLabs forums to see if anyone over there has any experience with this? A number of experienced installers hang out there.