Aerial mounting location

balloch · 8th June 2009, 09:31 PM

I'm looking at installing a UHF in my Disco and I'm contemplating aerial mounting locations. I'm planning on mounting the aerial on the bullbar but there is already a mobile phone aerial on it. I have a bracket to fit to the bar and I have marked two spot on the bar where the bracket will fit without fouling the bonnet.

I would prefer to mount it where the blue line about 150-200mm away from the mobile aerial but I've read that having aerials close to each other can cause interference. I'd prefer it to be on the blue line as it's less in my line of sight but if I need the distance between the two I'll mount it on the red line.

Is interference likely to be an issue or should I mount it on the red line?

Thanks for any input
Balloch

**Grover-98** · 8th June 2009, 09:40 PM

A mate of mine has a UHF aerial and mobile aerial about 100mm apart and he has never complained nor have i ever noticed any interference so 200mm should be safe as houses in my book. But let others share

James.

**Graeme** · 9th June 2009, 05:54 AM

I don't like looking through aerials so have them mounted near the windscreen at the edge of the bonnet/mudguards.

**gwebb** · 9th June 2009, 06:25 AM

I have my two ariels mounted each side of the bullbar and, apart from the first hour or so, straight after putting them on, have never noticed either when driving. You soon get used to them up the front and you look straight through them.
The main reason I put them there is because I did'nt want to make any holes in guards and placing them on the roof sill was not an option because I would not fit into my car port with them on.

MickS · 9th June 2009, 06:48 AM

Nice D2 mate...

**BigJon** · 9th June 2009, 07:15 AM

Mount it on the left (passenger) side.

Don't be surprised if the reception isn't very good when you are trying to talk to someone behind you. The structure of the vehicle will block a lot of the signal, particularly if the aerial isn't a great one.

I recently upgraded my UHF aerial for that very reason. The new one is long enough to clear the roof and my transmission / reception is much better.

**p38arover** · 9th June 2009, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by gwebb

I have my two ariels mounted each side of the bullbar

Two of these?

**spudboy** · 9th June 2009, 08:01 AM

With UHF you want height. The higher the better. Get that by either having a short aerial mounted up on your gutter, or a much longer aerial on your bull bar.

Power is not transmitted from the top of the aerial but the bottom (think of a X-mas tree shape - that's the basic shape of the power radiation).

If you mount it on the bull bar, anyone behind you will only "see" the tip of the aerial above the roof-line, but hardly any power comes from the tip, so your reception will be greatly reduced.

Better to go for a short floppy on on a gutter mount. Doesn't look as cool, but you will notice the difference in the distance you can transmit.

**Sleepy** · 9th June 2009, 08:19 AM

Depends what you want to use it for.

If it just for convoy work (5 to 10km)use the bullbar. Ideally all antennas should be mounted well away from another but this isn't always possible.

If you want long distance (> 30km) comms (perhaps to reach a repeater that is in your area) you need to get a good antenna and mount it smack in the centre of the roof. Not always a good option for clearance.

Try the bullbar I think it would be fine for normal useage.

It'sNotWorthComplaining! · 9th June 2009, 08:58 AM

I done a bit of reading on various sites and they conclude that the Bull Bar is the Worst place any one can mount an aerial for maximum efficiency. Although all bull bar manufactures have a bracket to mount aerials.
You would probably be better off mounting it on a bracket attached to behind the spare wheel carrier and that would give you extra height to clear the roof and give better 360deg coverage. there have been some neat installations done this way. It depends on your needs.

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