No ground plane antennas for Ford F150

rangerfourever · Post by **rangerfourever** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:03 am

Hi folks, a question on install of antennas on a Ford F150 (2004). At my security job we have UHF and VHF mobiles that because of the shop can not have hole mount antennas installed. Currently the mechanics have put standard 1/4 wave antennas on metal "ears" on each side of the cab. Does anyone have experience with no ground plane antennas that are not to long as that is another issue with our shop foreman. Thanks for any info, just trying to get these mobiles to talk.

KC8NIY · Post by **KC8NIY** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:08 am

No ground plane 1/4 wave antenna's are the next best thing to not having an antenna at all. If the foreman is opposed to drilling holes, I would at least try to talk him into a 1/4 mag mount. You'll increase your range by about 75% over what you're getting now.

There's not much you can do with a no ground plane antenna. The way you have it described right now is about the best you can do with it.

EOppegaard · Post by **EOppegaard** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:35 am

Would the foreman be opposed to a glass mount antenna? I know once again these are not the best, however it may be a bit better than your current no-ground plane option.

I do agree with KC8NIY that a mag mount would definitely be best if there is no possibility for holes

rangerfourever · Post by **rangerfourever** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 11:02 am

I have thought of glass mounts on the rear window. Our truck rear window is not a slider nor does it have the deice grid. Do glass mounts work well in UHF as that is the most critical band we use. The VHF radio talks on a very strong fire repeater and I think a coat hanger would work it. Thanks in advance for the info. Oh the joys of non radio people installing the stuff your life might depend on!

KC8NIY · Post by **KC8NIY** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 1:43 pm

Glass mounts don't work "well", but they'll work better than what you have now if you position it right. Make sure it is mounted directly in the center of the rear window, as high up as possible. Your best range will be directly in front of the truck, and worst will be directly behind it.

joe1234 · Post by **joe1234** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:15 pm

I Install glass mount antenna's every day and Have no problem with them I dont know why everybody bashes them they look better and work well...and were I live the radio systems are not up to par like they are every where else.......and they Work fine.............................

KC8NIY · Post by **KC8NIY** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 7:24 pm

Keep in mind that working "fine" and "well" are relative terms. It all depends on how you are trying to use them. I wouldn't choose a glass mount over permanent mount if range was a concern. If you've got a 100w repeater at 400 feet 5-10 miles away, I'm sure it would work great! If you've got a 40w repeater at 40ft 15-20 miles away, I wouldn't consider it. Look at the characteristics of each.

Of course it also has to do with the radio. Sure, you could feed 110w into that glass mount (if it could handle that) and do the same thing as 40w with an NMO. Not sure that I want all that RF running into my cab though. Stray RF can wreak havoc on other things.

Not trying to be contrary about everything, just stating an opinion. And I don't happen to think that glass mounts look better

rrfd43 · Post by **rrfd43** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:15 pm

Any futher feelings on the 1/2 wave vhf no ground plane antennas? I noticed that some companys sell them as 1/2 waves that are designed for mounting on fiberglass bodies.

My intention was to move my syntorx9000 to one mounted on my cap. Has anyone used one of these specificaly designed antennas, or should I stick with my mag-mounts?

The object was to get the syntor antenna away from the yaesu. I think a previous transmitt damaged the yaesu. The syntor is 110 watts.

JohnWayne · Post by **JohnWayne** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:21 pm

I would definitely go with a permanently mounted antenna instead of a mag mount. Much less prone to damage and theft. Antenex makes a good halfwave VHF antenna; model B1442N. I've sold a bunch and have never had any complaints. They don't have the gain that a 5/8 wave has, but they work well then there is no ground plane. It's the way I would go.

The price on the B1442N is $28.25, and the black version (BB1442N) is $37.75. I also have mounts and anything else that you may need.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!
Jeff

rrfd43 · Post by **rrfd43** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 6:25 am

I assume they work with a standard NMO mount? Or do they need a special mount?

Are these prone to ripping through the fiberglass?

Do those NMO mounts need a basic ground to work?

JohnWayne · Post by **JohnWayne** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 2:43 pm

Yep, plain old NMO mount is all you need. You may need a "thick mount" model if your camper shell is very thick.

You'd have to hit the base of the antenna pretty hard to have it rip through the fiberglass. If you are concerned about it, then you can make a small sheet metal plate to act as a large washer and put it under the roof. That would spread out the load from a 3/4" to whatever size sheet you use if you did hit something very hard. That being said, there are thousands of camper shells with NMO antennas, and I've never seen one rip out the roof.

The NMO mount doesn't care about grounds, but the antenna does. But, since you are using a no ground plane antenna, then it won't matter.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jeff

rrfd43 · Post by **rrfd43** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 7:40 pm

Thanks, just gotta decide where up there to mount it and if it will be too high.....

rrfd43 · Post by **rrfd43** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:29 am

Still an additional question:
Talked to a friend about the no ground plane antenna. We sugested using a wire mesh like a screen etc, and placing this underneath the cap with the antenna going through it.

WT(heck)???? Dooes anyone have experience making a ground plane on the inside like this? Would it work?

va3wxm · Post by **va3wxm** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:17 pm

Should work fine! Some have used copper sheeting too. As long as the "ground" side of the NMO is affixed to the wire there's the groundplane you need.

BDB · Post by **BDB** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 3:33 pm

Recently I had to put a W9 Astro Spectra in a Kenworth tractor that had a fiberglass cab. I visited the sign shop got an old sign the size I needed for a ground plane. Used a thick material mount and a greenlee punch . Heck if you wanted to go cheap you could use an oven liner. I saw pictures once of someone who used metallic tape as a ground plane.

rangerfourever · Post by **rangerfourever** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:06 pm

great information as always on this group. I think we will go with no ground plane of UHF and keep the VHF as is. Maxrad or Antennex seem to be the best bets.

rrfd43 · Post by **rrfd43** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 2:05 am

Hey again thanks for all the help. Sorry to steal your post!

No ground plane antennas for Ford F150

No ground plane antennas for Ford F150

No holes on F150

thanks for the info