MM0RBZ

[bigbadbob76]

Hi Guys.
Any Radio Amateurs or CBers on here?
I'm putting a rig in the van and would be interested to know if anyone else has and if so how/where you routed the antenna coax.
I'm planning on haveing a 2m whip on one side mounted on a gutter mount and the same on the other side for an HF whip when parked up.
I might have to drill holes for feedthroughs but that would de-value the van.
Suggestions welcome.

[Mocki]

Yeah I've got 2,6,10,70 and HF on board


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bigbadbob76]

Hi Moki.
A couple of questions for you if you don't mind.
Is that an FT-100?
Where did you put the main unit?
What antennas do you have and where are they mounted?

I have an IC-706 under the passengers seat with the head in the same place as yours, just waiting for antennas.
I saw someone ran the coaxes out of the rear vents to gutter mounts, I'll probably go that way too.
The van is too high for bumper mounts I think. the metal body would cause problems with tuning and directivity.
73.
Bob.

[Mocki]

morning
sorry for the long delay replying, was away in the van and internetness was sparse to say the least ( club80-90 xmas party )
the main box of the ft100 is mounted just infront of my right knee, just above the throttle and brake pedal on the big box section below the dash



my van is petrol engines, so i didnt run the antenna coax anywhere near the engine bay !!
and whats the point of long coax run? i wouldnt take the antennas to the enginebay

i have two gutter mounted antennas one for HF,6&10 /11 and one for 2&70 for the ft100 and another mount on my windout awning for 2&70 for my standardc510 , the coax exits through grommets in the hitop ,


but prior to that mine were routed out of the front of the front doors and up past the top hinge and up the outside of the front gutter, keeping the runs short and easy

bumper mounts are pointless, reflected standing wave would be too high

[bigbadbob76]

Hi Mocki.
And thanks for your detailed reply.
Understood about keeping coax away from the ignition system, makes good sense.
Ditto keeping coax runs short.
I have a tin-top so want to avoid grommets unless I really have to, I have enough rot and rust as it is. your front door route sounds good.
I'll stick with gutter mounts as the curved roof doesn't lend itself well to magmounts.
I concur about bumper mounts, you see some bumper mounted CB antennas that are tied back over the top, whether they radiate anything is questionable, they're practically lying on the ground plane.

[Mocki]

this is how it was on my last camper.....



why not just use roof mounts if its a tin top, 13mm drill bit and no need to run coax out anywhere and the best omnidirectional groundplane with no chance of leakage!, its easy to run coax up the "A" pillars to the roof ......

[bigbadbob76]

Thanks for the pics Mocki.
Some ideas for inspiration there.
Will have a think about it and see what i can do, don't fancy drilling holes.

[Mocki]

Thanks for the pics Mocki.
Some ideas for inspiration there.
Will have a think about it and see what i can do, don't fancy drilling holes.

a couple of 13mm holes will be less damage than a guttermount does!