Hood mount

Status
Not open for further replies.

blackcloud08

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jan 31, 2016
Messages
91
Location
NC
Can someone guide me to a good quality hood mount antenna for my uniden bcd536?
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,618
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
Larsen NMO-150/450/800 is a popular model for scanner listeners.
As the name suggests, it works well on VHF High, UHF and 800MHz bands, although it will perform outside those.
About the only place this antenna won't work well is VHF Low, which usually requires a much longer antenna.

As for the mount…
Use an NMO mount, just make sure you seal the underside. Most NMO mounts are designed to mount through the roof where the cable connection is inside the dry interior of the vehicle. RTV type sealer, "liquid electrical tape" etc. are good options. Using these mounts unprotected on the outside of the vehicle will cause cable issues in the long term. Use name brand stuff if you can get it, Larsen, Laird, etc. Stay away from the low end Chinese stuff, like Browning, Tram, any name you cannot pronounce.

And the bracket…
Larsen TMB-34B is a good option, although there are others, including some "vehicle specific" models.
 

blackcloud08

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jan 31, 2016
Messages
91
Location
NC
Larsen NMO-150/450/800 is a popular model for scanner listeners.
As the name suggests, it works well on VHF High, UHF and 800MHz bands, although it will perform outside those.
About the only place this antenna won't work well is VHF Low, which usually requires a much longer antenna.

As for the mount…
Use an NMO mount, just make sure you seal the underside. Most NMO mounts are designed to mount through the roof where the cable connection is inside the dry interior of the vehicle. RTV type sealer, "liquid electrical tape" etc. are good options. Using these mounts unprotected on the outside of the vehicle will cause cable issues in the long term. Use name brand stuff if you can get it, Larsen, Laird, etc. Stay away from the low end Chinese stuff, like Browning, Tram, any name you cannot pronounce.

And the bracket…
Larsen TMB-34B is a good option, although there are others, including some "vehicle specific" models.

Awesome! Where can I get this stuff and it be decent priced with good customer service?
 

madrabbitt

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
743
Location
NM
Depending on vehicle, there are some vehicle specific brackets that accept a standard NMO.

What type of vehicle is it?

Also, starting to see some "sealed" NMO mounts on the market. I've tried a few, but cant attest to their long term quality yet.
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,618
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
Depending on vehicle, there are some vehicle specific brackets that accept a standard NMO.

What type of vehicle is it?

Also, starting to see some "sealed" NMO mounts on the market. I've tried a few, but cant attest to their long term quality yet.

The NMO-HF mounts are a little better than the standard NMO's, but still not designed for exterior mounting where the under side is exposed.
However, I've done it on a UTV. I used marine grade heat shrink around where the coax enters the mount to help seal it it up a bit better. Will have to see how it lasts in the long term.
 

madrabbitt

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
743
Location
NM
The NMO-HF mounts are a little better than the standard NMO's, but still not designed for exterior mounting where the under side is exposed.
However, I've done it on a UTV. I used marine grade heat shrink around where the coax enters the mount to help seal it it up a bit better. Will have to see how it lasts in the long term.

No, i mean actually sealed. Let me go get a picture of the one i just put on an agency silverado, since its sitting outside this station.

I've seen two types. Either cable attatched, or units that are sealed but terminate to a FME jack.
 

madrabbitt

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
743
Location
NM
heres two examples, while i wait for the pictures to load.
s-l500.jpg

s-l400.jpg
 

madrabbitt

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
743
Location
NM
top one im seeing on ebay. not sure who makes them, but Im running a thick mount version of the FME socket one on the top of a fiberglass camper shell (with an appropriate ground plane on the underside)

bottom one is a new part number from tram/browning BR1015 according to our vendor sheet, but i have older ones that are labeled BR1258. Enclosed NMO with cable.
Also BR 367 for VHF-UHF and BR 368 for up to 6ghz (removeable pin) are listed as the shielded NMO versions.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top