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Sparkomatic
Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2003 - 11:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The company that I work for went from pickups to 3/4 ton vans. The vans have ladder racks. Will an antenna mount bolted to the front of the ladder rack work good.......I put a Wilson 5000 magnet mount on the roof and the swrs are 2.5 barefoot. I was told by some locals that the ladder rack screws up the ground plane. Does anyone have experience with ladder racks on vans.
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Kc0gxz
Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2003 - 2:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sparkomatic

Questions

1- Is the rack is grounded to the roof of the truck.

2- Is your SWR a 2.5 with the ladder ON or OFF the truck? Or doesn't it change either way?

I have a couple of suggestions but I'll wait for your reply.

Jeff, kc0gxz.
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Crafter
Posted on Monday, September 29, 2003 - 12:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have never heard that, I have mounted whips to ladders with no problems. I cant see it as the problem. Does it have a luggage rack ?
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Sparkomatic
Posted on Monday, September 29, 2003 - 6:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The barefoot swr is 2.5 with the ladders on which is the way it will always be......the ladders are fiberglass anyway. Yes the rack is grounded to the roof with 2 1/2 wide ground braid.
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Kc0gxz
Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 2:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sparkomatic

Yes, you can bolt a antenna mount to the rack providing the rack is WELL GROUNDED. However, with the antenna being mounted to the front, it will talk best off the rear of the van since that is where most of your ground plane will be.

For best communications, the antenna should be in the center of the roof. But carrying a ladder up there will make this impossible.

Jeff, kc0gxz.

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