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My Roof Top Antenna Farm
- Thread starter JustinWHT
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2007
- Messages
- 6,087
@JustinWHT, just curious how many radios you have?
JustinWHT
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2022
- Messages
- 225
50 w 2 m primary, 20 w 10 m, 20 w tri-band.(backup and cross band monitoring), 5 w 2 m/70 cm repeater, scanner.
Him: There isn't enough room inside. Can't anything go the roof?
Me: IDK, how tight can you hold on?
JustinWHT
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2022
- Messages
- 225
Back in the '70s a radio shop said my Chevy 4WD one-ton, eight-foot bed crew cab looked like a Russian gun boat.
SWBell IMTS VHF mobile phone
RCC VHF mobile phone
37 MHz low-band oil field radio
VHF 60 watt oil field radio
UHF Micor for four-channel repeater network
UHF Motorola HT220 Converta-Comm antenna
Twin Trucker side mirror CB antennas
My truck had dual-pitch torque converter with toggle switch labeled Launch and Cruse, and belt-driven supercharger.
Nice to see someone with NMO mounts in the roof to be honest. My employer is getting scared of this, but then I have a fellow co-worker that needs more training on NMO hole drilling (also need some new bits that corporate says are "too expensive"), but doing it right is one of the arguments to have the right tools.
Glad to see that antenna farm spaced out a bit too, often see clusters of antennas (ARFF trucks) too close to one another, or AM aviation radio antenna right next to a similar band antenna for a much higher powered radio.
On my own rigs, I have always been limited to three antennas: AM/FM radio (stereo receiver), then VHF and UHF commercial band transceivers. But, once GPS caught on, and XM radio, and 800 MHz.....well, I try not to look like a whacker at least.
Glad to see that antenna farm spaced out a bit too, often see clusters of antennas (ARFF trucks) too close to one another, or AM aviation radio antenna right next to a similar band antenna for a much higher powered radio.
On my own rigs, I have always been limited to three antennas: AM/FM radio (stereo receiver), then VHF and UHF commercial band transceivers. But, once GPS caught on, and XM radio, and 800 MHz.....well, I try not to look like a whacker at least.
I only have three antennas on my Honda Accord (a 4th and 5th) for occasional road trips. Once, with the complete set of antennas attached, a young gent at a service (let's just say 'gas' station) said 'What's all that stuff for? You talkin to aliens or something?'
My reply was "Yep. They're here you know. Had coffee with a couple of them this morning."
I'm wondering of all the RF in my life has baked my brain or something.
My reply was "Yep. They're here you know. Had coffee with a couple of them this morning."
I'm wondering of all the RF in my life has baked my brain or something.
JustinWHT
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2022
- Messages
- 225
What PACNWDude said:
Nice to see someone with NMO mounts in the roof to be honest. My employer is getting scared of this, but then I have a fellow co-worker that needs more training on NMO hole drilling (also need some new bits that corporate says are "too expensive") ...
First...construct your own hole saw.
Laird 3/4" diameter hole saws are price $75-$95, one outlet for $165.
Walmart set of 4 for $8.
Harbor Freight and Northern Tool set of 8 for $5.
However the 3/16" dia arbor bit is longer than the metal roof and inside roof liner space. If the arbor depth isn't adjustable here's a solution:
Take a 3/16" drill bit, tape strip of tape 1/4'" from tip, drill hole to depth of tape. This is your pilot hole.
Take 3/16" bolt longer that arbor bit, cut off threaded end, insert threadless bolt (cut to to length such that bolt extends only 1/4'" beyond hole saw blade), insert bolt into hole saw arbor.
Wrap tape around hole saw 1/4" from cutting blade.
Now you have a hole saw with arbor center bit that won't reach roof liner.
Drill hole 1/4" deep using threadless bolt as centering guide.
Gather your new tool and keep in plastic bag for next antenna mount hole.
Next plan you antenna placements, with expectation you'll want to add more antennas. [Guilty]
First separate antennas by wavelength used by 3/8 wavelength. My 2m whips have 28" separation from other antennas, my 70 cm antennas use 10"
Second for adequate ground planes, at least quarter wavelength from sides of roof, and front and rear of roof.
From the sides, and front and rear for 2m that's 19"; and for 70 cm that's 10"
Nice to see someone with NMO mounts in the roof to be honest. My employer is getting scared of this, but then I have a fellow co-worker that needs more training on NMO hole drilling (also need some new bits that corporate says are "too expensive") ...
First...construct your own hole saw.
Laird 3/4" diameter hole saws are price $75-$95, one outlet for $165.
Walmart set of 4 for $8.
Harbor Freight and Northern Tool set of 8 for $5.
However the 3/16" dia arbor bit is longer than the metal roof and inside roof liner space. If the arbor depth isn't adjustable here's a solution:
Take a 3/16" drill bit, tape strip of tape 1/4'" from tip, drill hole to depth of tape. This is your pilot hole.
Take 3/16" bolt longer that arbor bit, cut off threaded end, insert threadless bolt (cut to to length such that bolt extends only 1/4'" beyond hole saw blade), insert bolt into hole saw arbor.
Wrap tape around hole saw 1/4" from cutting blade.
Now you have a hole saw with arbor center bit that won't reach roof liner.
Drill hole 1/4" deep using threadless bolt as centering guide.
Gather your new tool and keep in plastic bag for next antenna mount hole.
Next plan you antenna placements, with expectation you'll want to add more antennas. [Guilty]
First separate antennas by wavelength used by 3/8 wavelength. My 2m whips have 28" separation from other antennas, my 70 cm antennas use 10"
Second for adequate ground planes, at least quarter wavelength from sides of roof, and front and rear of roof.
From the sides, and front and rear for 2m that's 19"; and for 70 cm that's 10"
Guilty
Gas station attendant asked if I was some sort of NASA rescue team.
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