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Thread: Automatic Tuning Antenna placement

  1. #1
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    Automatic Tuning Antenna placement

    My OKA has a CODAN NGT VR 2011 HF SSB Transceiver with an auto tune antenna. This is, like most on OKAs, mounted to the roo bar. Due to the cabover nature of the OKA the antenna is vulnerable to trees and scrub. I have bent the mount once already. So, how sensitive are these to location? I am mounting a spare wheel carrier at the rear. Can I put the antenna there without too much compromise?

    For those not familiar, the OKA is a kind of 4WD shoebox.

    Where it is now:
    IMG_2818.jpg
    ( I hate it when it does that)

    Where I want to put it:

    IMG_2865.jpg
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

  2. #2
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    Automatic Tuning Antenna placement

    Mine is on rear of Pajero also had it mounted to rear of D2
    Weld a plate if there’s room from bar rearward and leave enough cable if that swings away.
    Maybe off the rear of the studs and up
    I swapped to a Codan 3040 a lot lighter and lower .

  3. #3
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    John I used to install codan and Barrett HF's in a previous life and ideally they should be above and away from anything metallic especially the top half of the autotune section for best performance.
    You can buy or make a collapsible bracket that will allow the antenna to lay horizontally above the top of the bullbar when not in use and this is the best option.
    They don't usually work well on tyre carriers and especially not in front of behind the tyre as most tyres these days have steel belts and trying to use an antenna anywhere near a ring of steel suspended in mid air is not good ;-)))
    If you really want to mount it on the rear then making a telescopic bracket that can lower it below roof height when mobile and raising it above the roof when in use is the best solution.
    We gave up trying to use HF's in vehicles while mobile years ago when fuel injection and other electronics became the norm due to electrical interference.
    I know the Oka doesn't have any of that but solar controllers, DC to DC chargers and inverters never mind all the other electrics like LED lights in the house section also cause lots of interference.
    Peter

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by oka374 View Post
    We gave up trying to use HF's in vehicles while mobile years ago when fuel injection and other electronics became the norm due to electrical interference.
    I know the Oka doesn't have any of that but solar controllers, DC to DC chargers and inverters never mind all the other electrics like LED lights in the house section also cause lots of interference.
    Peter
    Thanks Peter. I guess I'll leave it as it is, with a folding bracket as you suggest. I would only ever use it in an emergency ( I don't natter over the radio ), and it seems that satellite coms have overtaken it for that. Even Starlink might be a viable option.
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by RobMichelle View Post
    Mine is on rear of Pajero also had it mounted to rear of D2
    Weld a plate if there’s room from bar rearward and leave enough cable if that swings away.
    Maybe off the rear of the studs and up
    I swapped to a Codan 3040 a lot lighter and lower .
    Thanks. Do you find that you use it much? I mean, I have it already installed, is it worth keeping?
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

  6. #6
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    When we went away for 3 months yes every night and most mornings, I suppose mainly for a quick chat usually only wife and I the club we with now is more social and we head off to some catch ups couple of times a year although floods and fuel has been an issue of late. At home with solar panels on house etc I don’t use it much as seeks to be to much interference. Il keep it as I have it but usage seems to be getting less.

  7. #7
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    We've had a HF radio in every 4wd vehicle since the early 80's, back then it was the only way of communicating and worked well through the RFDS bases.
    As time went on and mobile comms improved we also bought a satphone on the Iridium network.
    We still currently use the VKS network and have done so since the RFDS virtually stopped regular use.
    Twice in the last ten years we have had a major vehicle breakdown in a very remote location and have had to obtain assistance to return us and the vehicle to civilisation.
    Both times the satphone has proved to be next to useless in obtaining said assistance, despite carrying an extensive list of contact points for the area we were travelling in unless you have the right number for the local who can assist you are going to spend a lot of money making phone calls, many that will raise frustration to very high levels.
    The big problem is that contacting any govt or roadside assistance number that has a qeueing and automated answering system where the caller must select numbers or speak using voice commands DOES NOT work with a satphone, the systems cannot handle the delay and if eventually after multiple attempts you do get to speak to an real person they have no idea why you don't answer promptly and may hang up even though you explained initially that you are calling on a satphone.
    At the time of the second breakdown there was also a massive storm front crossing the continent which severely affected the satelite calls and caused lots of dropouts, while it also caused a lot of noise on the HF the radio was still the better choice for the conditions.
    So on both occasions we called the VKS base, explained our predicament and they organised the recovery and would call back over several days to ensure everything was progressing ok.
    In my esperience the only way to use a satphone is to have a responsible person on a direct line who is familiar with you and your mode of travel that you can ring and hand the problem over to and organise a solution.
    We no longer carry a satphone due to increasing costs and still use the HF and carry an epirb for life threatening situations.
    As Tins said Starlink might be a game changer especially as we're all addicted to our phones and the internet.

  8. #8
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    Yes I doubt il be without it. Can text use as phone and have a chat, our sat ph has sat idle in cupboard for a few years now. We are all different and our views vary but I like the idea of the HF radio.

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