Antenna Location

[jetrinka]

Going to be installing a GMRS radio in my truck and want opinions on where to mount the antenna. I want to mount it on a fender mount but am torn on doing it on the passenger or driver side.

Passenger will look better I think but drivers makes more sense due to the box location on the drivers side and not snaking the wires up over the engine along the firewall exposing them to high voltage noise from the ignition system.

I do not want a roof mount.

Opinions?

 

[southern_yank]

Going to be installing a GMRS radio in my truck and want opinions on where to mount the antenna. I want to mount it on a fender mount but am torn on doing it on the passenger or driver side.

Passenger will look better I think but drivers makes more sense due to the box location on the drivers side and not snaking the wires up over the engine along the firewall exposing them to high voltage noise from the ignition system.

I do not want a roof mount.

Opinions?

I've got a mount for my 70cm/2m NMO that clamps to the to edge of my back door. Amazon special that actually works and holds up well. Zoom in and you'll see the antenna near the b pillar

Sent from my KB2007 using Tapatalk

 

[jetrinka]

Interesting. Had not seen that in my research. Any way you could post a picture of it with the door open?

 

[Fishnerd]

Thinking about doing the same, though im leaning more to the 3rd brake light mount. Curious to what others have done as well.

 

[jetrinka]

Thinking about doing the same, though im leaning more to the 3rd brake light mount. Curious to what others have done as well.
View attachment 23574

I saw that too but didn’t really like it for a few reasons.

1 - It looks terrible IMO

2 - Even though height is good for antennas I’m not sure I really need it. Not looking to talk to people miles away - just small groups a few miles apart in the mountains hunting and snow driving

3 - I don’t like the idea of running wires under the truck and then up the rear window to the mount.

 

[southern_yank]

Interesting. Had not seen that in my research. Any way you could post a picture of it with the door open?

I'll try to remember tomorrow. The wire actually runs nicely and stays tucked away. Nothing hanging out exposed when the door is open

Sent from my KB2007 using Tapatalk

 

[Fishnerd]

I saw that too but didn’t really like it for a few reasons.

1 - It looks terrible IMO

2 - Even though height is good for antennas I’m not sure I really need it. Not looking to talk to people miles away - just small groups a few miles apart in the mountains hunting and snow driving

3 - I don’t like the idea of running wires under the truck and then up the rear window to the mount.

I actually havent seen it mounted, only the stock photos. This will be my first foray into hardwired comms (been using handhelds this whole time). Im eager to learn

 

[Crusty old shellback]

If that's the bullet proof diesel one, which is the only one I've seen like that as they have a pattern on it, the wires run into the cab just like the light wires do. So everything is inside the cab. No holes to drill or anything to leak. Just have to take out the back seat and head liner and back wall liner.

Been looking at one for my VHF antenna for my kenwood radio I use for off road racing.
But they are pricey.
Got a buddy with a 3d printer trying to make me one out of composite material.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I saw that too but didn’t really like it for a few reasons.

1 - It looks terrible IMO

2 - Even though height is good for antennas I’m not sure I really need it. Not looking to talk to people miles away - just small groups a few miles apart in the mountains hunting and snow driving

3 - I don’t like the idea of running wires under the truck and then up the rear window to the mount.

That would be all inside wiring all you would have to do is drop the head liner some then follow the chmsl wires to the front of cab

 

[Fishnerd]

If that's the bullet proof diesel one, which is the only one I've seen like that as they have a pattern on it, the wires run into the cab just like the light wires do. So everything is inside the cab. No holes to drill or anything to leak. Just have to take out the back seat and head liner and back wall liner.

Been looking at one for my VHF antenna for my kenwood radio I use for off road racing.
But they are pricey.
Got a buddy with a 3d printer trying to make me one out of composite material.

Yup thats the one!! Been eyeing it for a while. They are pretty pricey, hence why i havent pulled the trigger yet. Figured i would learn as much as can first before I bought anything.

 

[jetrinka]

That would be all inside wiring all you would have to do is drop the head liner some then follow the chmsl wires to the front of cab

Huh interesting. I hadn’t seen that one. I do like it but sure is expensive.

Is it really that crucial to get the antenna up as high as possible?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Huh interesting. I hadn’t seen that one. I do like it but sure is expensive.

Is it really that crucial to get the antenna up as high as possible?

Not sure, idealy yes but important i dont think so…

 

[jetrinka]

My research says center of roof is best (not happening…) to get a good ground plane but it seems fender mount is a close second as far as efficiency.

I don’t think I’ll worry about it. Again not intending to try and transmit to Mars and back here. Think I’ll do the drivers fender mount to stay away from ignition interference.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

You can get a zero ground plane antenna to use if you dont have a big metal mounting spot like the roof.
I had one on my K5 as mine was a full convertable soft top. So I made a small mount for the side of the bed and used the zero ground plane antenna.

 

[Brutal_HO]

There are hood hinge bracket mounts available. Best option IMHO.

I'll see if I can find the links but there's a few CB or radio threads here with the details. I believe some are using a mount designed for Baja lighting as well and just mounting an NMO base on them.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Check out this thread:

A-Pillar / Ditch-lights ?

Howdy, all. Im in the process of planning some lighting mods to the 2021 Laramie that I "should" receive in just a few short weeks....mmm hmmm. Im giving serious thought to mounting a set of pod-lights at the A-Pillar. Some folks call these ditch-lights, I call them deer-detectors...

hdrams.com

 

[jetrinka]

One more thing. Grounding the mount.

I don’t want to run through the painted fender to create a good ground between the fender and mount. I can run a ground cable though. Should I go directly to the battery or use an existing body ground?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

One more thing. Grounding the mount.

I don’t want to run through the painted fender to create a good ground between the fender and mount. I can run a ground cable though. Should I go directly to the battery or use an existing body ground?

Always a chassis ground

 

[southern_yank]

Interesting. Had not seen that in my research. Any way you could post a picture of it with the door open?

The wire trucks in nicely behind the weather strip. There are four small set screws that hold the mount to the door edge(aluminum plate between the screw and the paint for a bit of protection.

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[SFAngus]

I went with the A-Pillar mounts from SDHQ in Arizona. Not cheap, but they seem to be one of the best:

'19-26 Ram 2500/3500 SDHQ Built A-Pillar Light Mounts

Our SDHQ Built A-Pillar Light Mounts for the 2019-Current Ram 2500 and 3500 are the best fitting, highest quality a-pillar mounts on the market. SDHQ-31-1206-G5

sdhqoffroad.com

I also added the Midland extension plates, and then mounted a Midland stealth GMRS antenna.

However, I didn't realize that an NMO mount needed to be grounded. Is that the case? What happens if you don't ground it, just a weaker signal?

(You can see more details about my install here, on my build thread):

My Big Booty Dually Adventure Rig Build

Looks like your fender is dented in the second last photo. Might be just the light. Is that the same dent that you photographed on trip to the red woods? Yessir, that's the same one, the day that it happened.

hdrams.com