Mag mount

[jazzboypro]

Hello all,

I was given a mag mount this weekend but there is no whip on it. I don't see a model number on the mag mount so i don't know if it was an amateur antenna or a CB antenna.

The mag mount seems in good condition, there is about 15 feet of RG58/U that comes out of it. I was thinking of putting a whip on it and use it as an antenna for my SDS100. I have a metal vent on my roof that is quite big and i think it would provide a good ground plane. I don't like the RG58/U but i dont think i can replace it. Of course i will have to add a considerable length of coax to reach my operating position. Since it will be for receive only do you think it's worth a try ?

Thanks

73
VA2FCS

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I was given a mag mount this weekend but there is no whip on it. I don't see a model number on the mag mount so i don't know if it was an amateur antenna or a CB antenna.

Can you post a picture? Maybe someone can identify?

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah, we'd need some way to identify the mount.

Some mag mounts might have a coil in the base, so simply attaching a whip will get complicated if you want it to be resonate at any frequency.

 

[jazzboypro]

Thanks, i'll try to take a picture after work and post it here.

 

[CanesFan95]

For the coax, you could snip the RG-58 to like a 2-foot pigtail, then put a connector on it like an N connector. Then build another longer cable with better coax (LMR-240 or LMR-400) and do a barrel connector. Then use rubber sealing tape followed by electrical tape for rain protection.

 

[iMONITOR]

That roof vent is likely to be aluminum, not steel.

 

[jazzboypro]

That roof vent is likely to be aluminum, not steel.

I went on the roof and put the mag mount on it and it sticks very well, it's definitely not aluminum or at least not completely made out of aluminum. The person who gave the mag mount to me called me back and told me it was from a CB antenna so i guess i won't be using it anyways.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

A picture would still help. If it is a standard NMO mag mount you have an endless variety of options you can screw on it.

 

[jtwalker]

A picture would still help. If it is a standard NMO mag mount you have an endless variety of options you can screw on it.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[jazzboypro]

Here is the picture. The guy called me back. He was looking at some pictures and he thinks the antenna is a K30. If it is the case, it is a CD antenna.

 

[jtwalker]

Hard to tell from the picture, does the antenna unscrew from the mount? It may be a CB antenna (which as you say, will likely be useless for general scanning purposes), but I thought you were asking about using the mag mount ... ?

 

[jazzboypro]

Hard to tell from the picture, does the antenna unscrew from the mount? It may be a CB antenna (which as you say, will likely be useless for general scanning purposes), but I thought you were asking about using the mag mount ... ?

No it does not unscrew. Unless I'm not using the correct term, the picture is showing a mag mount no ? I wanted to put a whip on it ans use it as a scanner antenna. I looked at picture of the K30 and it is very likely what i have.

 

[mmckenna]

No, that won't unscrew from the base.

You could stick a random length whip in there and it would do -something- but unlikely it would do it well anywhere you really wanted it. The base coil is going to make it look like a much longer antenna than the whip.

But, as we know, even a paper clip can act as an antenna. So, stick a whip in it and try it out. It might be 'good enough' for what you need, and will likely work better than the stock antenna inside the house.

 

[iMONITOR]

Why not sell the antenna to someone with a CB radio. Then use the money plus a few bucks for an antenna better suited for your scanner.

 

[jazzboypro]

No, that won't unscrew from the base.

You could stick a random length whip in there and it would do -something- but unlikely it would do it well anywhere you really wanted it. The base coil is going to make it look like a much longer antenna than the whip.

But, as we know, even a paper clip can act as an antenna. So, stick a whip in it and try it out. It might be 'good enough' for what you need, and will likely work better than the stock antenna inside the house.

The fact that it is a CB antenna makes it less interesting for sure. I might try to put a whip on it but i won't waist too much time on it, i have more urgent antenna projects to deal with starting with the installation on a dual band comet GP-3, i also have a discone to install (D-130N) and i would like to try my youloop antenna outside. The scanner will wait.

 

[mmckenna]

The fact that it is a CB antenna makes it less interesting for sure. I might try to put a whip on it but i won't waist too much time on it, i have more urgent antenna projects to deal with starting with the installation on a dual band comet GP-3, i also have a discone to install (D-130N) and i would like to try my youloop antenna outside. The scanner will wait.

There ya go. Better antennas for the job.

Without the whip, the magnetic mount CB antenna will have little value to most people.

 

[jazzboypro]

Why not sell the antenna to someone with a CB radio. Then use the money plus a few bucks for an antenna better suited for your scanner.

Don't even know if CB is still popular around here. I looked on the web and a brand new K30 antenna is 45 bucks. Like i've said i'm not spending time on this at the moment.