I have a 2020 Ford Edge that I just brought home Friday. I plan to install at least one, maybe two, NMO mounts in the roof. I'm figuring on running the cables down the C pillar thinking that the side-curtain air bags end there.
Just Drill The Hole
- Thread starter k9wkj
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maybe move it further back
and drop it down inside the rear (C,D,E,F pick a letter) pillar and follow the trim and sill plates to the front
as popping the rear of the headliner is often easier than the side, and you can great access
That’s what I did for my cars roof mounted antenna. The cables ended up running parallel to my trunk mounted antenna lines.
There is ways around dropping the headliner!
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
The side curtain air bags are not really an issue. You just need to run the coax between the roof skin and the air bag. The air bag will deploy downward. I've done it on many vehicles, and it's not an issue.
Usually there is plenty of room around the pillars to run coax also.
Don't let airbags stop you from doing a proper install.
Usually there is plenty of room around the pillars to run coax also.
Don't let airbags stop you from doing a proper install.
That’s if you can see them. I was going to do that on my car but the liner is held in place with glue (no clips at all) and has such a steep pitch from the sides to the top, that there’s no way to see anything without destroying the liner.
Agree and most of the time I don't if its just a single NMO mount. My work truck has 6 NMO, 2 GPS and 2 GPS/WIFI antenna's. I wanted to be able to get the nuts on the GPS stuff and get all the cables to a certain location. I also realized my 25 years of doing this work at the shop was the reason I moved to other jobs....I definitely felt parts of my body after that was done.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Yeah, young persons work. I'm glad I don't have to do installs very often, but I sure do feel it later when I do.
Definitely! Young, flexible and with small hands.!
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Yeah, I don't have small hands, but I have the tools to make up for it.
And when I'm done with the install, my hands usually look like I stuck them in a running blender. Getting up inside the dashboard or other nether regions of the vehicle usually exposes you to sheet metal or other sharp edges. Mechanics gloves can really help, but sometimes get in the way.
And ideally for smaller people. I’m 5’ 8”, 265 and it’s damn near impossible for me to get into any space in my car.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
6'4". Small cars are out of the question. Doing installs in small pickups is hard enough. Full size pickups much easier. Transit buses/fire trucks are much much easier. The Ford's our PD use are pretty nice, as long as I don't have to get under the dash. Radio equipment on the Fords PI are on a slide out or pull up tray in the rear.
I thought about doing something like the tray or mounting stuff in my trunk but I can’t fit in there enough to mount anything.
Only thing I can say in any defense of my big triple magnet mounts system, if I want to experiment with SWR or other performance issues and car placement, I can always take my antennas and stick them anywhere on the car and change positions at will to make things work, or try out reflected power differences. I can put any antenna anywhere I want, any time I want.
Only other defense is the fact I can take my antennas from my vehicles and put them on any vehicle temporarily as needed. Switching cars, using a car as a temporary ground plane, ect., can be done universally. I don't have to drill more holes in other vehicles, I can pry the big triple mounts off and slam them on any steel vehicle as needed. This has actually come in very handy for my situation in the last two months.
I've got the tools and knowhow, I have the ability, I am tempted to start drilling holes in my beat up old car fleet. But there are still some advantages to running my monster magnet mounts that keep me from drilling the holes. And I have a feeling even if I do, the big boi magnets won't be decommissioned, but rather still kept around for experimental purpose.
Only other defense is the fact I can take my antennas from my vehicles and put them on any vehicle temporarily as needed. Switching cars, using a car as a temporary ground plane, ect., can be done universally. I don't have to drill more holes in other vehicles, I can pry the big triple mounts off and slam them on any steel vehicle as needed. This has actually come in very handy for my situation in the last two months.
I've got the tools and knowhow, I have the ability, I am tempted to start drilling holes in my beat up old car fleet. But there are still some advantages to running my monster magnet mounts that keep me from drilling the holes. And I have a feeling even if I do, the big boi magnets won't be decommissioned, but rather still kept around for experimental purpose.
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