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CB/Ham Radio & Antenna Mounts

neeqness

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#1
Hey all. Been looking to install a cb radio with antenna and possibly a ham radio in the near future. After researching all I could though, I'm not sure what would work best for me. Was hoping to place the antenna mount (without having to drill any holes) to any existing bolts in the chassis but I wasn't able to find any good locations. I didn't want to use a mag mount on roof either as I figure it will damage the paint eventually and I would like to keep the car as fair looking as possible. A glass mount is also not my preferred choice.

But I'm hoping to get any feedback from any of you that have had success in installing any of these radios and/or antennas (particularly the antenna mounts) and perhaps help me locate a good spot for mine as most of the online mounts are for other vehicles with seemingly more room and options...

Thanks in advance!

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mfr317

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Lowell
#2
I will also be looking into this and wanted to throw out there what my initial plan is. In my old MINI Cooper, the antenna on the roof was only for AM radio, so we took it out and replaced it with the ham antenna. I think the hole had to be widened a tiny bit, but it worked just fine to swap the original antenna back in when I went to sell the car. I will probably buy the Ford repair manual(s) for the FiST I have to help with this and where to run wires, etc. but it might be possible to find out what goes into the stock antenna without that extra info.

Have you made any progress on your install?
 


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Mount Royal, NJ
#3
Interested. My buddy was telling me to try a Larson Glass dual-band mount antenna(ham). He is having success with that on his truck. My windows are already tinted and might interfere with with the mount.
 


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Birmingham
#4
I use Waze. it's like the CB radio for this century. Combined with a Valentine one, I am alerted with real time traffic, accidents, issues with road such as potholes, dead varmints on the side of the road, and location of Police with possible or actual radar...

And I use a "breaker braker" bar for stuck brake caliper nuts

Those tools help me keep a "handle" on my car and driving:)

I do miss the days of CB radio. Still have a magnetic K40 whip antenna...
 


jmrtsus

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#5
You can use a piece of the Clear film sold to apply to the hood, rear bumper on a hatch or headlights. Cut it to size and place it where you want the antenna. I have never damaged the paint on any car doing this and it peels off when do decide to sell the car. I am Extra Class ham and a car nut. It has worked for me for 20 years.
 


OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #6
I will also be looking into this and wanted to throw out there what my initial plan is. In my old MINI Cooper, the antenna on the roof was only for AM radio, so we took it out and replaced it with the ham antenna. I think the hole had to be widened a tiny bit, but it worked just fine to swap the original antenna back in when I went to sell the car. I will probably buy the Ford repair manual(s) for the FiST I have to help with this and where to run wires, etc. but it might be possible to find out what goes into the stock antenna without that extra info.

Have you made any progress on your install?
I kind of gave up on it since there were no initial responses. Still have a small CB radio laying around the house somewhere though and an antenna (although I would have bought a new one with a mount).

I think the AM antenna is either along the door sill or in the rear window or some other part of the chassis. The antenna on the roof is for Sirius and FM if I'm not mistaken. However, I was also thinking of going this route with the roof antenna until I heard that you should use a special type (and length) of cable for the cb antenna which was likely not used on the oem antenna?

Also it seems like the jack for our antenna is placed at an angle. A longer antenna needed for a cb radio would hit the hatch door everytime you open it. Not sure how that would be resolved easily and it seemed like a better idea at the time to just find another location to mount it.


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OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #7
Interested. My buddy was telling me to try a Larson Glass dual-band mount antenna(ham). He is having success with that on his truck. My windows are already tinted and might interfere with with the mount.
My windows are tinted also which is one of the reasons I was not planning to use a glass mount. The other reason is that I heard they significantly affect the signal.

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OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #8
I use Waze. it's like the CB radio for this century. Combined with a Valentine one, I am alerted with real time traffic, accidents, issues with road such as potholes, dead varmints on the side of the road, and location of Police with possible or actual radar...

And I use a "breaker braker" bar for stuck brake caliper nuts

Those tools help me keep a "handle" on my car and driving:)

I do miss the days of CB radio. Still have a magnetic K40 whip antenna...
I use Waze also around the city (my hometown) but it doesn't seem to be as effective in some cities or on the open road. Also, it has difficulty receiving gps signals through my tint and drops signal a lot (google maps is better though).

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OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #9
You can use a piece of the Clear film sold to apply to the hood, rear bumper on a hatch or headlights. Cut it to size and place it where you want the antenna. I have never damaged the paint on any car doing this and it peels off when do decide to sell the car. I am Extra Class ham and a car nut. It has worked for me for 20 years.
This is interesting. I've heard of using like a wax paper but was unsure exactly how this is done and what type works best. I'm also interested if you have done this on your FiST yet...any pics? If so, what size antenna did you go with...any suggestions?

At the time of my original post, I was considering mounting the antenna on the passenger side of the hood...basically exactly where oem antennas used to be mounted on older cars pre-2000. Any thoughts?

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OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #10
Thanks everyone for your responses. I had considered this as a dead thread and that no one was interested in this kind of thing anymore...

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jmrtsus

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#11
This is interesting. I've heard of using like a wax paper but was unsure exactly how this is done and what type works best. I'm also interested if you have done this on your FiST yet...any pics? If so, what size antenna did you go with...any suggestions?

At the time of my original post, I was considering mounting the antenna on the passenger side of the hood...basically exactly where oem antennas used to be mounted on older cars pre-2000. Any thoughts?

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
A pic would not show anything. Hard to see with the naked eye. I use an Yaesu mini handheld dual band when I travel. Remove for normal use. Antenna is placed midway between moonroof and factory antenna. What will you be using for a radio? CB requires a much larger antenna. Many choices for a dual band antenna, I use an older MFJ mag mount similar to MFJ 1422. BTW, what's your call sign, 73's KG4AIH
 


jmrtsus

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#12
I kind of gave up on it since there were no initial responses. Still have a small CB radio laying around the house somewhere though and an antenna (although I would have bought a new one with a mount).

I think the AM antenna is either along the door sill or in the rear window or some other part of the chassis. The antenna on the roof is for Sirius and FM if I'm not mistaken. However, I was also thinking of going this route with the roof antenna until I heard that you should use a special type (and length) of cable for the cb antenna which was likely not used on the oem antenna?

Also it seems like the jack for our antenna is placed at an angle. A longer antenna needed for a cb radio would hit the hatch door everytime you open it. Not sure how that would be resolved easily and it seemed like a better idea at the time to just find another location to mount it.


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A CB or Ham radio will use a 50 Ohm coax cable while the radio uses a 75 ohm cable .....incompatible. As to the cable on a Ham or CB radio it can be cut to length as they usually come way too long. Make sure you know how to install the proper coax connector before cutting! Ham Radios like the two band stuff is dying a slow death since cell phones. And to use them on the road you are constantly having to set them up for the local "repeaters" or simply using it for short range car to car chatting. A CB is more useful for near range traffic reports and rag chewing, it requires a larger antenna and a home for the radio and power/coax cables. With smart cell phones and Google maps I seldom even put my radio in my car.....I do take my handheld dual Band ham radio camping as it is also a all band reciever. Tie a rock to a string, throw it over a tree and pull a long thin wire up the tree and you can listen to radio from around the world.
 


OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #13
A pic would not show anything. Hard to see with the naked eye. I use an Yaesu mini handheld dual band when I travel. Remove for normal use. Antenna is placed midway between moonroof and factory antenna. What will you be using for a radio? CB requires a much larger antenna. Many choices for a dual band antenna, I use an older MFJ mag mount similar to MFJ 1422. BTW, what's your call sign, 73's KG4AIH
If by dual band you mean vhf/uhf, I currently have a handheld dual band ham radio too. It's just a basic baofeng dual band I got on Amazon to communicate and/or listen in and get used to. I haven't done much with though, mostly listen to certain channels.

I don't have a license yet though so if I do talk I use the free channels (i.e.: MURS, FRS, GMRS, marine). I haven't noticed much activity though in those channels so I just use them for talking to friends.

If I started getting serious with it, I might get a mobile but the FiST is small and there isn't much room for it. With the CB, I was considering a 4" quarter band length antenna (Firestik) that has good reviews on Amazon but I'm open. For HAM antennas I hadn't given it much thought besides the aftermarket antenna I bought for my handheld but I think it's a fake because the stock one does better so I've been using that.


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OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #14
I do take my handheld dual Band ham radio camping as it is also a all band reciever. Tie a rock to a string, throw it over a tree and pull a long thin wire up the tree and you can listen to radio from around the world.
Nice!

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jmrtsus

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#15
If by dual band you mean vhf/uhf, I currently have a handheld dual band ham radio too. It's just a basic baofeng dual band I got on Amazon to communicate and/or listen in and get used to. I haven't done much with though, mostly listen to certain channels.

I don't have a license yet though so if I do talk I use the free channels (i.e.: MURS, FRS, GMRS, marine). I haven't noticed much activity though in those channels so I just use them for talking to friends.

If I started getting serious with it, I might get a mobile but the FiST is small and there isn't much room for it. With the CB, I was considering a 4" quarter band length antenna (Firestik) that has good reviews on Amazon but I'm open. For HAM antennas I hadn't given it much thought besides the aftermarket antenna I bought for my handheld but I think it's a fake because the stock one does better so I've been using that.


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I take it you mean a 4 ft antenna not a 4 inch. 2 meter and 440M require a Technician Class FCC license and are only good for a few miles without linear amps or mobile radio with lots of power. Using local "repeaters" you still will only be able to talk to other Ham radio operators. A CB would give you over the road coverage with other non license required CB operators that now are mainly truckers. My only real interest in ham radio now is called "QRP SSB" for low power, under 5 watts and voice not code. I love building my own equipment. I have talked to Russia and Israel on an antenna strung in the trees and less power than a flashlight. Let me know if I can help.
 


OP
neeqness

neeqness

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Thread Starter #16
I take it you mean a 4 ft antenna not a 4 inch. 2 meter and 440M require a Technician Class FCC license and are only good for a few miles without linear amps or mobile radio with lots of power. Using local "repeaters" you still will only be able to talk to other Ham radio operators. A CB would give you over the road coverage with other non license required CB operators that now are mainly truckers. My only real interest in ham radio now is called "QRP SSB" for low power, under 5 watts and voice not code. I love building my own equipment. I have talked to Russia and Israel on an antenna strung in the trees and less power than a flashlight. Let me know if I can help.
Yes, sorry you're right. I meant 4' for a quarter band wavelength antenna. I was using those other channels because I was under the impression that I didn't need a license for them. I was also looking into QRP as that seemed interesting and bought a couple books on it but being new to all of this, they were usually over my head as they are pretty much written for experienced ham operators.

I've been considering getting a license but as you mentioned, the HAM channels are pretty much dying. I did notice that people were saying there is some activity in the HF frequencies still, but I would need a license for them...

Nevertheless, it seems to still be useful for road trips so maybe I should stick with the CB radio. I heard that there are frequencies that you could use in the dual band range that are useful for traveling but I haven't used them much and since my handheld didn't have an exterior mobile antenna cor my car I wasn't sure if they were dead or if my reception was just too weak to pick it up.

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