• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

Roof Mounted Mobilr Antenna

Status
Not open for further replies.

oopie41091

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
13
Location
KY
I purchased an old chiefs SUV from a fire department. When I installed my mobile in the vehicle I had a magnetic mount antenna. Well I'm am upgrading my radio and antenna. I have a one inch hole in my roof from when the fd had it. I did drop the headliner and found the old coax cable with a nmo mount its 3/4" . How did they pull that off? I want to use that existing hole. What options do I have? Thanks.
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,163
Location
Texas
Are you sure it's a 1" hole?

If so you will have to run something like a Breedlove mount. If it's 7/8" (because occasionally upfitters fail to acquire the proper tool for the job) you can typically get it close enough to work.
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,615
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
You'd probably need to get creative with some sheet aluminum or stainless steel and make a big enough washer to plate to go over the hole. Seal it well, put a 3/4" hole in the center.

Or better yet, plug the 1" hole and make the correct sized hole.
 

oopie41091

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
13
Location
KY
I guess I will plug it and make a new hole. Any recommendations for an antenna for a kenwood tk-7180. The cable that is already ran is smaller than the pl-259. So it wont work with the 7180.
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,163
Location
Texas
I guess I will plug it and make a new hole. Any recommendations for an antenna for a kenwood tk-7180. The cable that is already ran is smaller than the pl-259. So it wont work with the 7180.



Probably a Mini-U, common to Motorola. Doesn’t really matter though if you are going with a new kit. Get a 1/4 VHF antenna centered to 146 MHz if you are specifically interested in 2m. You could run a 5/8 wave antenna as well but the bandwidth will be narrower.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,615
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
I guess I will plug it and make a new hole. Any recommendations for an antenna for a kenwood tk-7180. The cable that is already ran is smaller than the pl-259. So it wont work with the 7180.

Yeah, ditto on the 1/4 wave antenna. Wide bandwidth can be handy. They are lower profile, cheaper, and if you decide you need something else later on, you are not out a bunch of money.
 

oopie41091

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
13
Location
KY
I am in a rural setting with high hills and low valleys all around. I need maximum range.
 

oopie41091

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
13
Location
KY
Also my bandwidth is 151 to 156. I don't need much more for what I need it for and all of my frequencies are narrow band.
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,615
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
Roughly how long of an antenna do you suggest?

1/4 wavelength on your frequencies (151 to 156MHz) will be about 18 inches long.

You can purchase "pre-tuned" antennas that are usually right on.

https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-nmoqw152-723
This antenna is 152 to 162MHz.
They are broad banded enough that they will work fine outside that range. I'm running similar antennas on my personal and work vehicles. Putting these on an antenna analyzer shows a less than 1.5:1 SWR from 144MHz to up near 174MHz.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top