Where's The Coax???

[INDY72]

Sheesh,.... now you need to trace the leads to see where they go...But most likely the U is the one you want... Now I wish I was there and could do a run with them to see where they go.. one has to go up to the NMO mount,.. the other prolly goes to a dead end or to a hidden ant somewhere.. or to what used to be a ant base, but is no longer there.

 

[mlevin]

What's the worse case scenario if I cut the wrong one.

 

[INDY72]

Seeing as niether one is connected to diddly LOL NADA.. all that means is that to connect to anything like a tv or commercial radio or etc,.. youll just have to solder or crimp on a connector.. LOL.

As to what happens when you hook the scanner to it.. well if your lead goes to nowheresville then the scanner's reception will suck. But if you get it hooked to the NMO's lead and get your whip up,.. then your set.

 

[AZScanner]

What's the worse case scenario if I cut the wrong one.

The van will explode.... :shock:

:lol: no just kidding!

I would do this: I'd get a second crimp on connector and cut 'em both. That way the worst case scenario would be you saying "hmmm.. wrong one" as you connect up the other one. Then cut the end off the bad one and you're golden.

-AZ

 

[INDY72]

LOL Azzzzzzzz

 

[loumaag]

Well you could always do a little continuity check before you cut. :lol:

 

[mlevin]

What's the worse case scenario if I cut the wrong one.

The van will explode.... :shock:

:lol: no just kidding!

I would do this: I'd get a second crimp on connector and cut 'em both. That way the worst case scenario would be you saying "hmmm.. wrong one" as you connect up the other one. Then cut the end off the bad one and you're golden.

-AZ

LOL, that was what I was going to do, but I wanted to make sure the van will still take me to Virginia tommoorow

 

[mlevin]

Sheesh,.... now you need to trace the leads to see where they go...But most likely the U is the one you want... Now I wish I was there and could do a run with them to see where they go.. one has to go up to the NMO mount,.. the other prolly goes to a dead end or to a hidden ant somewhere.. or to what used to be a ant base, but is no longer there.

Well you know milf, there's this really odd looking antenna on top of the roof, that I always though was for the compass/tempreture read out, but maybe it's for something else. Now I'm beginning to wonder. I'll try to get a picture of it when it's all done.

 

[INDY72]

Umm does it look like a wing???? If so its TV,.. or if its like a V split element its TV

 

[hulka]

If you have a "fluke meter" or some other type of multi meter just do a continuity check on the antenna leads to see if it is the right one or not. Beats having to put the BNC on more than once. If you don't I guess you will get really good at putting on BNC's then.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[hulka]

If you have a "fluke meter" or some other type of multi meter just do a continuity check on the antenna leads to see if it is the right one or not. Beats having to put the BNC on more than once. If you don't I guess you will get really good at putting on BNC's then.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mlevin]

Umm does it look like a wing???? If so its TV,.. or if its like a V split element its TV

No it's the oddest thing I've ever seen. It's really small, and black. I can't explain it anymore then that. I'll have to get a picture of it, but that won't be 'till later in the week.

 

[mlevin]

If you have a "fluke meter" or some other type of multi meter just do a continuity check on the antenna leads to see if it is the right one or not. Beats having to put the BNC on more than once. If you don't I guess you will get really good at putting on BNC's then.

Just my 2 cents.

No I don't have a meter, where would I buy one, and is it outrageuosly expensive?

 

[INDY72]

Radio Shack,.. or any good electronics, or hobby shops,.. And no a basic multi meter is not expensive,..

 

[N0ZQR]

Hey Melvin, where is that antenna mounted on the van, I'll bet what you have is a OnStar antenna, if it is mounted in the left frount conner of the roof.

Just a guess on my part!

Ron.

 

[mlevin]

Sucess!!!! After about a half hour of trying to get that little wire into that little hole, I finally got it, and I got the right wire too!!! To top that I did it in the parking lot of the food store, in VERY dim light. Yeah I'm showing off :lol: BTW, it was the RG58/U. The scanner works like a charm.

Ron, the car isn't equiped with On Star, and the antenna is located directly above the dome light, right behind the NMO mount.

{EDIT} I was just informed by my chiropracter that the reason my shoulder has been hurting all day is because of a sprain caused by crawling under the steering wheel. At least things aren't perfect. I get nervous when things go too smoothly :wink:

 

[hulka]

Just think how you would feel if you installed radios for a living!!!!

 

[ECPD279]

Well you know milf, there's this really odd looking antenna on top of the roof, that I always though was for the compass/tempreture read out, but maybe it's for something else. Now I'm beginning to wonder. I'll try to get a picture of it when it's all done.

If the odd looking antenna looks like a hockey puck or a little funny shaped dome more than a whip, it could be a data or GPS antenna. If it's the latter, and you have a GPS, you could have another perk from the previous owner. What kind of connector is on the other cable?

 

[nmfire10]

Chances are, whatever "extra" it was hooked up to was remomved. Most people don't just give away GPS and company data systems when they get rid of a vehicle.

 

[fourwd1]

Okay now what? I went to RS and got a crimp on BNC, went home and got to work. The problem is that when I pulled out the cable, it turns out there are two different cables. One is RG58A/U, and one is RG58/U. Which one do I use. I think the A/U is for a TV and I should use the /U. Also the /U says 50 ohms on it, so I'm pretty sure that's what I want to use, but I want to make sure before I cut anything.

PS, The RG58/U is much longer then the other cable, so I think I want to use this one.

The "A" in RG-58 A/U just means that the dielectric (the insulating material between the center conductor and braid) is a type of foam, as opposed the solid polyethelyene in the "non-A" cable. The "A" cable is a lower-loss version.