NMO Mount Gasket

[PACNWDude]

+1 on the drilling the hole from the inside where the dome lights used to be. That's how I started.

I have also seen some horrible antenna mounts here in my area. Many public safety vehicles have their antennas mounted to fender mounts. With three antennas on each fender. Then the concept of cutting an antenna to the proper frequency is lost as well.

My personal installs are almost all NMO mounts, through the trunk or roof, using the gasket shown by the OP. (I do have two trunk lip mounts too on one vehicle though.)

That gasket was left off by one installer at a local company, and caused the headliner to collect a lot of Pacific Northwest rain in the past. Then we found out some end user would unscrew the antenna for car washes, and not tighten them up snug later. This added to the problems.

 

[Colton25]

Well I put one on each of my antennas and I've notice significant loss in signal, not sure if it's because it's keeping the antenna from making good contact or what.


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[Project25_MASTR]

Well I put one on each of my antennas and I've notice significant loss in signal, not sure if it's because it's keeping the antenna from making good contact or what.


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What's the antenna and NMO mount?

 

[Colton25]

It's a laird VHF antenna and just a regular 3/4" nmo mount


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[mmckenna]

Yeah, it sounds like the center pin is not making contact. This is one of the issues with gaskets, different antenna bases and how thick the surface is. I've had some antennas that will do this on my trucks and some that don't.
Sounds like a thinner gasket or a different antenna base style might be needed.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Most of the thick surface mounts have adjustable center pins. Some applications the chrome nut antennas aren't optimal antennas due to height differences. In those situations its better to either use and antenna with the spring loaded plunger or something along the lines of a Larsen NMO Q series mount.

 

[madrabbitt]

I recently found out that the phantoms have an adjustable height center section.

Had one that wasnt screwing down all the way. Took it off to look at it and realized the middle inside could be adjusted by turning.

 

[KJ6HCB]

Just came across this on ebay, $6.50 for 5 gaskets shipped.

5 Pcs NMO Antenna Mount to Antenna Gasket Protect from Moisture Rain | eBay

 

[mmckenna]

Just came across this on ebay, $6.50 for 5 gaskets shipped.

5 Pcs NMO Antenna Mount to Antenna Gasket Protect from Moisture Rain | eBay

Or 6 for $4.95:
http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/pctel-maxrad-mmgsk-5380.html
Lot of sources of these. Biggest issues I've found is that installers either won't bother to spend the extra $1.00 to do it right, or people just don't know they exist.

A properly installed NMO mount/antenna, coupled with a bit of basic maintenance, will easily outlast your vehicle. Far too many just install and forget, until it fails and takes out the radios finals with it.

 

[jeatock]

... Far too many just install and forget, until it fails and takes out the radios finals with it.

AMEN!