Mounting of an HF radio antenna

[hans]

hi every one
need some help and ideas on where and how to mount a hf antenna on my 2002 110 defender
any suggestion will be a help
thanks

[oldyella 76]

Hans, I have two positions for my codan auto tune. One is on the righthand side of the bull bar at the level of the main beam. I use this position when I am not away and it is almost legal in Vic as you can't have anything that is more than 30mm in diam 15 degrees to the right and I think 45 degrees to the left and there is a certain height when viewed from the normal driving position. There is a Vicroads item on the rules in their standards section. I have had mine in this position since my 1992 in all defers and have never been challenged.
When I go bush I have another mount at the middle of the bull bar attached to the top pipe on my ARB bar where the cables will reach both mounts. I know by experience that the radio works a lot better on the top position than the lower position. Some say it is illegal in some states to have the antenna at the top position, however I was in North Q'land laast year and there were police cars with codan antennas on their bullbars at the front of the vehicle. If you want to pm me I will take a photo of mine and can scan the relevant Vicroads bulletin if it is no longer on their site.
Lindsay

[Bushie]

Another option is to mount it on a rear wheel carrier (if you have one), you just need to get it high enough so the whip is above the roof line.

ie

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/03/606.jpg

Martyn

[hans]

thank you for your reply,s
am going to make a antenna mount to fit my swing away rear wheel carrier
now that ive seen that it can be done
appreciate your time thanks again

[digger]

this is recent photo of work vehicle..

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1433.jpg

older one

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1434.jpg

[mfc]

you wont get away with bulbar mount unless in the emergency services, I think that vic is the only state that has clearly set down rules {vks 73hanbook has them or I can copy it}
the front is the best place but legaly dodgy , if you don't have an autotune yet consider a proper autotune and whip{it can tune wet string or fencing wire of any length} there used on boats and aircraft.
mine is mounted under the guard on drivers side with 2 m whip mounted 2 inches in front of the radio antenna.{theres picks in the tec section under installing an stg autotune . theres also a post by a ham member in this section doing the same thing with different brand tuner..
{just some alternative, better, and cheeper methods than codan/barrett offerings and compatable with all radios}
regards mark

[dromader driver]

I have used moonraker aerials on Squirrel helicopters with good effect. They are mounted horizontally under the belly with just the whip near the nose. Manual tuned and very good. Would be interested to see how they go mounted horizontally on a roof although I know it isn't optimum but the trees and birdstrikes won't get it.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The reason they are called Moonraker is because they are so tall they rake the moon.:)
Irrespective of the law I don't like them on the front bacause they are a risk to anything that may be struck by them, including roos & unfortunate pedestrians.
Far prefer them on the rear, like the tyre carrier.