Antenna mount grounding

[CMARJEEP]

I have a Yaesu 7800 right now and just use a magnetic NMO mount with a 1/4 wave antenna. I want to do something a little more permanent. I want to use a mirror-type mount and attach it to the side of my Yakima Load Warrior roof rack. I'm assuming that the mount won't have very good ground because the rack is mounted on the bars with rubber.

Would using a ground strap attached from the mount to a screw that attaches the roof rack rails to the body of the Jeep work? Or is there a better way to do this?

 

[gary in ohio]

Keep in mind that a 2m ground plane needs to be 19" long. If you get good contact with the rack, there should be enough mass in the rack to offer a UHF/VHF plane. For added grounding a strap from the antenna mount to a rack mounting screw would also be a good option.

 

[1911]

If there are bolts that go through the rubber pads to mount the bars to the rack, you'll probably be OK but an extra ground strap never hurts either.

As far as ground plane goes, you should be fine with your proximity to the roof, but if a 5/8-wave doesn't tune up well then try a 1/2-wave, they're much more forgiving of ground plane.

 

[CMARJEEP]

Ok thanks guys. I'll run a grounding strap to a mounting bolt just to be safe.