| Author |
Message |
    
307
| | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 8:53 pm: | 
|
Antenna Mount Lingo...
There are many types of antenna mounts that I would like to share with you but I would have to use several pages of paper to get them all in so I will use the most common types only .
1) Mag Mount: Uses a Magnet to grab on to the metal . Usually comes standard with option to screw in a regular studded antenna . Not good for Chevy Lumina Vans or Pontiac Transport Vans .These vans are all fiberglass . Not recommended for high periods of high RF keydown . The larger the magnet the better it will hold up in wind . Usually will have 17 to 19 feet of RG-8X or Similar coax attached . Some problems are routing the coax through to the inside of the vehicle .
2) Mirror Mount: Usually for a truck or van with large mirror brackets . A good choice for antenna mounts . Be cautious to assemble the mount per instructions because the plastic insulator can be put on wrong and cause a dead short . Usually a good strong mirror mount can handle any power (limited to antenna) and any size antenna . Mirror mounts can be mounted either horizontal or vertical depending on the style of the mirror bracket . Very universal .
3) Trunk Lip Mount: The best antenna mount for a car if it can be used . This type bracket usually picks up a good ground through the body of the car through the two allen screws that hold it on to the lip of the vehicle . SWR's can normally be set to 1:1 with little or no trouble at all . These antenna brackets can take a lot of abuse .They can hold all the way up to 102 inch whips .
4) Hatch Mount: This is usually a universal angle mount for those cars , vans and trucks that use hatch backs or sometimes called lift-backs . The grate thing about these type mounts is that the mount can be mounted and then the antenna can be moved to any position , this insures that the antenna is straight up and down even if the bracket is mounted at a 45 degree angle .
5) Universal Ball Mount: This is a super rouged stainless steel ball mount that has adjustments for any angle that can be mounted on body side panels or anywhere that has a 5 square inch flat surface . The problem with ball mounts are that you must drill holes to mount it to the flat surface .The best thing about ball mounts are they are in-destructible . Usually used in four wheel drive vehicles that are constantly in the woods and near trees .
6) Gutter Mount: This type antenna mount is for the tourist or someone that wants to mount the antenna temporarily . It uses the small rain gutter on the roof of the vehicle and has a small bracket that bites onto it. Very limited to the size of the antenna that you can put on it , generally 19 inches is about all .
7) Strap Mount: This type mount goes onto the bumper of the vehicle and raps around it using a stainless steel 1" strap . Is adjustable for any bumper that has got a top and bottom . Will not work on newer cars since the top and bottom are formed into the uni-body . Very good for four wheel drive pickup trucks .
8) Chain Mount: This type mount goes onto the bumper of the vehicle and raps around it using two small chains inside a plastic retainer and is adjustable for any bumper that has got a top and bottom . Will not work on newer cars since the top and bottom are formed into the uni-body . Very good for four wheel drive pickup trucks . Not good in the North because these chains will rust in the winter .
9) Stud Mount: This type of mount is for the person who does not mind drilling a 1/2 hole in the body of their car . Not recommended for long antennas because the stud depends on the body of the car for strength and new cars are very flimsy . Also can be used on all types of metal brackets that are custom made for cars that have no other way to mount an antenna other than a welded on bracket .
10) Vise Grip Mounts: This is the quick way to mount an antenna on a piece of metal such as a mirror . Simple adjust the Vise Grip size and snap it on . Not recommended for large antennas but highly recommended for the truck driver who continuously changes trucks and takes his radio with him . Major rust though , you must keep the WD-40 sprayed on .
11) Cowl Mount: This type of bracket usually goes on the front right or left fender about where the AM/FM antenna was mounted . Not recommended for the person who is not mechanically inclined because if the hole you drill is off center a little , you will have t find a good body shop person who will put a patch on your car .
12) Power Antenna Mount: This is a bracket that was popular in the 70's . it would retract the antenna down into the body of the car so that there would be little of a chance to have it stolen . Usually expensive and took a service shop to install it . It was also limited to low power CB radios .
13) Glass Mount: This is an antenna mount that would be glued with a special glue to the front , side or rear glass on the vehicle . After the outside piece was mounted you simply go to the inside of the glass , line up the inside piece and glue it on . Once they are on they are on because it uses a bonding type glue . Not recommended for someone who wants to talk over 1/2 mile . Very hard to set the SWR . They use capacitance to get the signal through the glass . Really hard to get off when ready to trade in the car.
14) Roof Mount: Generally requires a 1/2 hole on the roof of the car . The easiest place to drill the hole is directly up from the interior light on the roof of the inside of the vehicle . Good luck getting a good seal on it to keep the rain out . Not recommended for heavy antennas . |
|
