87Warrior Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I am sure a few members here are licenced amateur radio operators. I am seeking advice in regards to placing a 2m/70cm antenna on a MJ. My requirements - Non invasive. I don't want an antenna blocking my view or interfering with the doors/hood function. - I am not drilling a hole in the roof for a NMO mount. - Must allow the occasional use of a fiberglass canopy. I am curious to know how others have overcome the limited mount options on the MJ and how they are working for you. I am currently sporting a Baofeng UV5R with a mag mount on the roof. It seems to work well, but I am looking to build something more permanent with a real transceiver in the cab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 As I am sure you're aware the best place for a VHF-UHF antenna is in the very middle of the roof. Anything else is a compromise. From what you've said the best, and it appears the only solution is a magnetic mount. Not only have I been a licensed ham since 1953 but also hold a FCC radio telephone 1st ticket. Ive been mounting antennas on vehicles for a "couple years" so I know what I'm talking about. One possible solution would be a bumper mount with a vertical ground plane. Ugly and inconvenient but effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 By a couple of years he means that half of the vehicles he mounted antennas on were hay-powered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Did you ever try installing a 7 element yaqi on the back of a horse collar? :rotf: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 I had a suspicion that you would be an experienced Ham, Jim! I do understand that the middle of the roof is the best location for a VHF/UHF antenna. I just don't have it in me to drill a 3/4" hole in to the roof of my '92. I am hoping to find a location that minimizes the compromises. It is my hope that this thread will yield a few options for me to try out on my '86 before tackling a permanent solution on my '92. Since this will be a game of compromises, I anticipate I will need to try a few different options to see which is the better performer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daking Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 I was wondering the same thing, but for C.B. Anti. From what I've read, center of vehicle mass is best. like roof, trunk or hood. I've read some articles where people are installing an Anti on a fiberglass boat, or wood home. They run a metal parallel to the base, I guess a wire or something. This provides a ground plane. i'm by no means an expert, quite far from it. With that said, and based on some of what I've read, it's important to have a good ground plane. Not sure if it NEEDs to be exactly center of the vehicle though. Example, same readings if the Anti is exactly center of roof, or if its on the edge. Again, I'm NOT sure of this, But that is how I made the decision on mounting mine. I decided it would be nearly the same if the anti was dead center, or off to the side. I was going to ask the same question as above a few months back. Here is where I mounted mine, Image Not Found The mount is on the inside of the roof mounted LED bar. Just a few inches below the roof line. I have 2 Anti, not used at same time. A short Fiberglass one, installed in this picture. And I have a 102" Whip with a 4" spring. Its TALL! The Whip Anti gets tied down to the bed when idle. Looks like a military tie down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rverjeeper Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Like Disorder says, the best place is the middle of the roof. Since you don't want to drill a hole, and you don't want to see an antenna in the rear view, a Mag Mount is your best option IMO. Run the coax thru the top of the rear window or devise another route. Like Disorder, I've been licensed a long time (since 1973) and have the FCC Commercial License. It was called the First Class license but now it's called the General Radiotelephone Operators License. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daking Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Oh, I forgot, I found a way to get the cable outside of the truck. I ran it out the cab vent, behind the doors. That way no new cab holes are needed. Also, on many MJ's there are holes on the floor broads. Rust holes, great place to bring in wires. :) (man, I'm just playing about that,,,,,,, most of the time the holes are too small for that) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 87Warrior, as long as you are experimenting - why not try replacing the existing am/fm radio antenna with the 2 meter band antenna? May not be too far off to use it for the am/fm radio anyway. Life is full of compromises, big and small - right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpdriver1 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 another ham (KD7LFO) here, I've seen some pretty beefy bumper mounts on military communications vans. On the wife's truck, I used a custom diy mount that fit under the hood at the back corner on the drivers side (she more than once threatened me with bodily harm if I punched a hole anywhere on the body).check Ham Radio Outlet or MFJ enterprises for ideas. Jim, I bow :bowdown: to your experience in the field --- I do have an old CB license (KIP 6970) from the 70's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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