• 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.

Installing NMO Mounnt on 04 F150 with Sunroof

Status
Not open for further replies.

dgruber

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Messages
148
I was looking to install a VHF setup in my 04 F150. The only thing I am worried about is that my truck has a sunroof and I don't want to cut any wires while drilling. Dose anyone maybe have a diagram or someway for me to check for wires?
 

clbsquared

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2015
Messages
990
Location
Isle of Wight County
Are you going forward of the opening or behind it? Sometimes you can take the third brake light out and get a visual of what's in there. Removing the dome light and overhead console is another good viewpoint.

Sent from my HTC One A9 using Tapatalk
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,615
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
I don't. And in case you don't get any replies….

This is one of the reasons it is a good idea to pull down the headliner. Doing installs in sun roof equipped vehicles almost requires it, unless you have really good information that you can rely on.

I did an install on my wife's Escape with a sun roof. I had to pull half the headliner down and do a lot of measuring and checking before I felt comfortable drilling.

Other option is to go at the very rear of the cab, just above the center stop light. You can pull the center stop light out and visualize whats behind there.
 

dgruber

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Messages
148
Alright thanks for all the reply's! Sounds like I will just do it above the 3rd brake light since its the safest and easiest!
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,615
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
I have but I don't see one made for a 2004 F150. I see one for 2005-2008 F150's if that will work?

You are much better off mounting the antenna on the cab roof, even at the rear, than putting the antenna down on the fender.
If you were willing to drill and install a proper mount on the roof, stick with that plan. It's a better solution.
 

cmdrwill

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
3,984
Location
So Cali
Other option is to go at the very rear of the cab, just above the center stop light. You can pull the center stop light out and visualize whats behind there.

But then you do not have enough groundplane for a VHF antenna to work correctly. You need 19 inches in all directions.
 

OhSixTJ

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
267
But then you do not have enough groundplane for a VHF antenna to work correctly. You need 19 inches in all directions.



Well it's the same, if not better, than a fender mount. Plus easier and less likely to affect the sunroof.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

SteveC0625

Order of the Golden Dino since 1972
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
2,795
Location
Northville, NY (Fulton County)
But then you do not have enough groundplane for a VHF antenna to work correctly. You need 19 inches in all directions.
When I did the install on my truck, I was able to tape the mount to a long, thin piece of lath and reach over 19" forward through the CHMSL opening. I used a 3/8" NMO which was easier to push up through the hole and hold it in place while I screwed on the roof-side piece of the NMO.

Then it was a very easy matter to feed the coax down the B pillar from the CHMSL opening.

My truck is a Super Cab F-250 without the sun roof. I don't know how far to the rear the sun roof on the OP's truck extends when opened. If it's a Super Cab or Crew Cab, there may be enough space to get the mount forward enough on the roof for adequate ground plane.
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,615
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
But then you do not have enough groundplane for a VHF antenna to work correctly. You need 19 inches in all directions.

True.
However, same issue with the fender mounts. The additional drawback is that the cab is going to interfere, unless you space it far enough forward on the hood. However, it's still going to be physically lower than the roof mount.

I have mounted antennas like this on regular cab trucks. While not ideal, it does work and I had no issues getting the antenna SWR down low. The radiation pattern is no doubt funky, but again, same issue with the fender mounts.

Another benefit to mounting through the roof, as opposed to the bracket, is the underside of most NMO mounts are designed to be inside the vehicle, not outside and exposed to rain, road salts, oil, etc. Keeping the coax side of the NMO mount inside the dry vehicle will help it last a lot longer.
 

cmdrwill

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
3,984
Location
So Cali
True.
However, same issue with the fender mounts. The additional drawback is that the cab is going to interfere, unless you space it far enough forward on the hood. However, it's still going to be physically lower than the roof mount.

I have mounted antennas like this on regular cab trucks. While not ideal, it does work and I had no issues getting the antenna SWR down low. The radiation pattern is no doubt funky, but again, same issue with the fender mounts.

Another benefit to mounting through the roof, as opposed to the bracket, is the underside of most NMO mounts are designed to be inside the vehicle, not outside and exposed to rain, road salts, oil, etc. Keeping the coax side of the NMO mount inside the dry vehicle will help it last a lot longer.

True, Sir. Really "funky radiation pattern" for sure. One would want to get the NMO mount as far from the edge of the roof as possible.
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,164
Location
Texas
I have but I don't see one made for a 2004 F150. I see one for 2005-2008 F150's if that will work?

That entirely depends on whether or not it is an 04 Heritage (on the 97-03 chassis) or true 04 (on the 04-08 chassis).

However I'd agree with the others, better to mount on the roof over the thrid brake light. Put it as far forward as possible (that you can see). I'd recommend leaving the sunroof open while you do this.
 

OhSixTJ

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
267
I'd recommend leaving the sunroof open while you do this.



Yes! This way you'll instantly know if you drilled too far forward! Hahaha

All kidding aside, I'm in the same pickle. Need a VHF and 4g/LTE antenna on a sun-roof equipped f250. Might do the VHF as far forward and center as possible and do the 4g off to the side.

51992df6d71a8e54ed4e379881a546da.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top