This might beling in the antenna section, but lets see if it gets moved.
My Fire Dept has a Kawasaki Mule, and we have a motorola Maxtrac (42-50) installed in the utility pocket to the left of steering wheel. The antenna for this is of course a 31.3" whip with spring strain relief. It is mounted via NMO on angle bracket to the roll cage on top of the vehicle.
This vehicle is being used for off road-woods calls and used as a medical response vehicle for special events and the county fair.
Our issue is the antenna. Its too tall. I know that it is already a 1/4 wave, but hear me out.
I would like to use a Motorola helicoil antenna with the MX connection, or a similar antenna with similar properties. I know that the Motorola helicoil antenna is capable of handling 50 watts (per documentation). I would like to know if there is an adapter that will convert the NMO mount to the MX of the Motorola Helicoil. I would of course turn the output power of the radio down until I reach a tolerable SWR.
Perhaps there is a rubber duck that is capable of the same thing, with the ability to be permanently mounted to the roll cage of the Mule.
I know that the mobile radio is not intended to use portable antennas, but this is a unique situation. This vehicle would not be performing any long distance communications, it would mostly be used for fireground communications.
Any input would be great. Thanks!
My Fire Dept has a Kawasaki Mule, and we have a motorola Maxtrac (42-50) installed in the utility pocket to the left of steering wheel. The antenna for this is of course a 31.3" whip with spring strain relief. It is mounted via NMO on angle bracket to the roll cage on top of the vehicle.
This vehicle is being used for off road-woods calls and used as a medical response vehicle for special events and the county fair.
Our issue is the antenna. Its too tall. I know that it is already a 1/4 wave, but hear me out.
I would like to use a Motorola helicoil antenna with the MX connection, or a similar antenna with similar properties. I know that the Motorola helicoil antenna is capable of handling 50 watts (per documentation). I would like to know if there is an adapter that will convert the NMO mount to the MX of the Motorola Helicoil. I would of course turn the output power of the radio down until I reach a tolerable SWR.
Perhaps there is a rubber duck that is capable of the same thing, with the ability to be permanently mounted to the roll cage of the Mule.
I know that the mobile radio is not intended to use portable antennas, but this is a unique situation. This vehicle would not be performing any long distance communications, it would mostly be used for fireground communications.
Any input would be great. Thanks!