Thread: Antenna mounting

i've seen a couple done .....
i know a guy in melbourne who will make up a bracket for it ...if you want his details pm me....happy to have him use my car as a template.

I am toying with the same idea, i have a replacement spare wheel carrier as mine lost one of the studs before i got it. any pics will be welcome.

regards,
Nick.

Ditto. I don't have a bullbar any more so the antenna is on a bracket that sticks out of the grille. To remove the grille requires dismantling the antenna.

The main unit for the CB is in the spare wheel well at the back with a cable that runs all the way to the front. It might be better with the antenna at the back.

Range may be affected, however.

Ron

There used to be a good guide to just this on Expedition Exchange's web site but it seems to be gone. Google Firestick antenna and Discovery, you might find something.

Thanks, that would be great if you could do that many thanks
Chris

Here's the link to Firestick, the EE link doesn't work and I can't find anything else on it. At least this gives some idea of the bracket etc.

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/discovery.htm

Originally Posted by p38arover

Ditto. I don't have a bullbar any more so the antenna is on a bracket that sticks out of the grille. To remove the grille requires dismantling the antenna.

The main unit for the CB is in the spare wheel well at the back with a cable that runs all the way to the front. It might be better with the antenna at the back.

Range may be affected, however.

Ron

The shorter you can get the antenna cable the better. This is because the coax cable is quite "lossy". So if you have your radio "brick" mounted in the back, having the antenna back there also makes sense.
Mounting the antenna on the back also keeps it away from all the "noise" generated in the engine bay. This is not so crucial for the FM UHF CB, but makes a big difference on HF SSB ( eg VKS737 ) or AM CB.
The simple antennas, with the black plastic base and whip, need a good "ground plane" to work properly. If you need to mount a UHF CB antenna anywhere other than the centre of roof , you should use an "independent ground plane" antenna. These are the ones you see with the shiny chrome or alloy tube about 30cm long and 2cm wide at the bottom, and the whip on top. Quite a few peopel make them - even Super Cheep have them. Make sure you get one for the UHF CB band.
If mounting on the back, as long as the whip section is above the roofline of the car, you'll find these work very well.
I'm quite amazed by some of the antenna mounting postions I've seen - down on the bumper and /or 3 inches away from other antennas. It's should be high as possible and unobstructed. I know in bush driving it's a compromise. I have mine mounted on the roof bar with one of those spring bases and have never lost it ( yet !)

I have an antenna bracket on the spare wheel carrier of my disco I.

The bracket was manufactured from 2 lengths of pipe/tube and flat bar.

The vertical pipe has 2 flat bar lugs welded to it and protruding to the left to suit the top and bottom bolts that mount the spare wheel carrier to the door.

A horizontal pipe is welded to the vertical pipe, about 100mm above the top bolt for the spare wheel carrier to form a tee shape.

The right end of the tee has a bracket on the end for the antenna. It extends far enough to clear the tyre. It is braced by a flat bar that is welded between the rh end of the horizontal pipe and the bottom of the vertical pipe.

The left end of the tee is bent to clear the rear screen wiper and tyre and extends across the the left side of the spare wheel carrier. A vertical flat bar welded to the end runs down to the spare wheel carrier which is drilled to suit a mounting bolt.