Mounting Antenna Inside Engine Compartment

[caterpillar16]

I have a friend who mounted a Laird Phantom antenna upside down inside the engine compartment on a newer Ford F-150. Frequency range is 450-470 on a conventional Mototrbo system. It is receiving any transmitting very well across our coverage area. I would like to hear opinions on whether to leave it alone or to relocate it. I was thinking this could cause some sort of RF interference, but the user is very particular about not drilling holes. I think he likes the “undercover” aspect of it.

 

[prcguy]

Why would you do this??? Stick it under the vehicle or behind a bumper, anything but inside the engine compartment.

 

[a417]

That may be the worst location I've heard of.

If he doesn't want to drill, c'est la vie.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Ya. I'd move it, Many other places to mount it besides in engine bay.

 

[WeldGuy]

It should be okay as long as he mounts the radio inside the gas tank with a really long mic cord.

 

[FFPM571]

For undercover applications we did this with the radio turned down low power.. the Engine bay is ripe with RF sensitive modules... Not a good idea..

 

[KevinC]

Too many electronics in the engine compartment. I’d really be concerned about RF interfering with the ABS.

Not to mention the antenna and/or coax probably can’t the high temperatures under the hood.

 

[mmckenna]

What the ****?

1. WHY?
2. WHY??????
3. Does no one read the guides that the vehicle manufacturers publish about how and where to mount radios and antennas?
4. What do they think that RF is going to do trapped inside the engine compartment, next to the computers, antilock brake modules, AIRBAGS?
5. What do they think is going to happen the first time they take their truck in for service at the Ford dealer?
6. Sure, it works, but if that works, they could easily just use a hand held inside the cab.
7. WHY???????????????????
8. Not sure the long term health of the antenna will be good surrounded by that much heat. (Florida?)
9. What the heck kind of problem do people have with mounting an antenna properly?
10. I can think of a LOT of better/safer places to mount the antenna than upside down under the hood next to the engine.
11. If you had not given the frequency range, I would have guessed this was some sort of amateur radio thing where they guys wife forbade him from drilling a hole in HER new truck.

Seriously, WTF? I'd LOVE to hear the reasoning behind this.

 

[a417]

<snip>

Seriously, WTF? I'd LOVE to hear the reasoning behind this.

, but the user is very particular about not drilling holes. I think he likes the “undercover” aspect of it.

...I'm just going to leave this right here...

 

[mmckenna]

...I'm just going to leave this right here...

Yeah, but, I still gotta know! Like, seriously…..

 

[mmckenna]

OK, wait, so private truck, doesn't want to drill holes, wants the mobile radio.

"It is receiving any transmitting very well across our coverage area"
OK, so probably a system that was designed for some pretty good level of portable coverage. Sounds like a mobile radio wasn't really necessary?

Or is "It is receiving any transmitting very well across our coverage area." codeword for "It's good enough for what I need, and I'm willing to deal with the drawbacks"?

40 watts UHF, inside the engine compartment. Powertrain management computers. Antilock brakes. All that wiring, CAN bus, etc. I can't help be feel like we have not heard the last of this.

 

[wtp]

did he drill a hole to mount it there ??

 

[creeperjeep]

did he drill a hole to mount it there ??

magmount on the trans pan

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I'm truly appalled & have nothing constructive to add to this conversation soo...

 

[rrpilot]

That's the strangest install I've ever heard of......There are a ton of places that specialize in covert antennas for 'undercover' cars......

 

[MTS2000des]

Mounting an antenna inside an engine compartment makes about as much sense as boobs on a bull.

 

[FFPM571]

Back in the day I mounted a few black 1/4 wave UHF and or 800 spikes behind the grille of a bunch of different vehicles... BEHIND the Grille as in open to the front... turned down to 20w It was mostly for close range surveillance This is when bag phones were big still so we stuck a PTT phone style handset on the radios mounted under the passenger seat

 

[12dbsinad]

If your friend mounts it directly to the engine itself it'll work better, tune better. I usually drill a 3/8 hole in the valve cover and install a thick mount, then drill another hole for the coax to exit and then silicone it up so it does not leak. It must be something about the aluminum engine heads that makes it have good tunage...

 

[a417]

I now want to know if he wraps the unused coax around the harmonic balancer to tune the antenna? those 17 feet need to go somewhere.

 

[R8000]

I have a friend who mounted a Laird Phantom antenna upside down inside the engine compartment

You need new friends.