Truck Antenna Mounting Ideas?

[cruiseroutfit]

Finally getting around to mounting my 2M and CB radio gear on the new Tacoma. I am using a hood mount for the HAM, and am still undecided on the mount for the CB. My local ham guru (where I buy my gear) recommended that I put the 2M antenna on the drivers side, and the CB on the passenger side, a reasonable distance from the OEM AM/FM antenna. Ideas?

I found this pic: (from flyingwil's thread )

Looks like a similar setup, other than my CB would be on the pass. side and 2M on the drivers side?

The is the 2M hood mount I am using:

Has anyone seen a CB antenna that is nearly identical for use on the other side? I've seen the stainless steel units, but I want to keep them black. I could make one pretty easy, and have it powdercoated, but a pre-made option sure would be nice. Thoughts?

 

[ntsqd]

I want to say that I've seen a CB/10M antenna in the Radial/Larsen NMO mount line-up that had the same appearence as their 2M units. Those come either black base - chrome/SS mast, or black - black.

FWIW these use a 17-4 or 17-7 mast (or so I recall it saying) and they tend to develop a decent amount of verdigris-like corrosion here on the left coast.

 

[flyingwil]

Can't you just use two of the firestik mounts? I am leaning in that direction.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I forgot to update the thread... I ended up using a pair of the Larsen NMO fender mounts, and found a MaxRad antenna for use with the CB. There arn't too many NMO mount CB antennas, but MaxRad had one and my local ham shop stocked them

Worked out perfect! I've been very happy with the performance thusfar

 

[DaveInDenver]

There arn't too many NMO mount CB antennas, but MaxRad had one and my local ham shop stocked them

I have a Radiall-Larsen NMO27B, which Ham Radio Outlet had. I trimmed the whip too much, so I need to add a spring or replace the whip, though.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I hate NMO mounts. I have fixed more of those then any other antenna ever. I use to install car phones (I figure about 6,000 over the years) and I avoided those like the plague. None of the connectors are worth a flip. They all make just a bad enough connection to make electrolytic corrosion a given. Especially the one with the spring loaded pin. Those would corrode in the barrel that the pin is retained in and you couldn't see it. Put a SVWR meter on it and it would be in the toilet. Wiggle the antenna and it would come back up take it app art see nothing wrong put it back on it would be fine for a week and come back in the shop for bad reception.

When I went to Antenna Specialists mount my repairs became non existent for that sort of problem. The Base has a fixed pin the sticks up and sleeves into the antenna base. A lot more surface area to make the connection and a lot tighter tolerances as well. No Spring loaded stuff.

http://www.cell-phone-accessories.com/asseranspecc.html has a diagram on the left.

Unfortunately not as common for Ham and CB antennas.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I generally don't have any issue with NMO, but fer sure N-type and TNC connectors are better choices for microwaves. The NMO is definitely much better when mounted like intended, thought a hole in sheet metal. Never had a ton of luck keeping the bottom side sealed on an open mount and end up just resorting to lots of silicone. Anyway, the NMO connector was never really meant for higher then UHF jobs (and neither was the PL-259 for that matter). We live with them for convenience and plainly just habit, though. It's actually pretty amazing we can get any kind of impedance match across them above ham UHF bands.

 

[97kurt]

I've never had an issue with NMO's but I agree finding a CB antenna for them is a pain. NMO is really meant for a dedicated roof mount.

Here is an idea, dont mount the CB and make all your buddies get 2m radios

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

pictures please

 

[ntsqd]

I've never had an issue with NMO's but I agree finding a CB antenna for them is a pain. NMO is really meant for a dedicated roof mount.

Here is an idea, dont mount the CB and make all your buddies get 2m radios

SECOND!