2001 Ford Explorer Antenna Install

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 5:11 pm

Haven't posted any work in a while.

Here's a 2001 Ford Explorer finish a couple nights ago.

Antennas are

Antenex VHF CAN

Maxrad MLPV series UHF and 800

Antenex GPS

Shakespeare Sirius Sat Radio Antenna.

The Sirius antenna is actually a marine bolt on mount that I adapted for vehicle use. Its a bolt through with a collar for thick surface fiberglass mounting. I had to use a thick mount hilman brass washer to get a proper fit to the roof. Came with TNC connectors and RG-174 coax. Works flawlessly.

[img]http://www.10-39publicsafety.com/images ... %20003.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.10-39publicsafety.com/images ... %20004.jpg[/img]

paramedic218 · Post by **paramedic218** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:23 pm

i like these antennas and the lo pro look. but i just cant bring my self to cut holes in my roof on my dodge ram. i have used fender mounts up to now.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:32 pm

Hole are good....

Get over the fear and just do it!

ILuvXMRadio · Post by **ILuvXMRadio** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:14 pm

Yeah.. you WILL love having them mounted in the roof.

I will admit the first time hearing the hole saw cut through, it was like.... 'what the hell did I do!'. But, no turning back..

All I can say is 'it will be ok'. Cut the hole. You'll be glad.

ESDA20 · Post by **ESDA20** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:57 pm

How do you like those phantom antennas? I've been considering getting one and trying it out. Haven't found anyone who uses them locally tho for comparison.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:21 pm

Ugh, Antenex hardware... I've got two of their GPS pucks that get temperamental in hot weather on a black roof (apparently, the amplifier becomes a good 40dB pad).

Never had an issue with RadiallLarsen pucks.

Nice layout, otherwise!

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:44 pm

Haven't noticed problems with the antenex GPS antennas so far.

VHF Phantom antenna was chosen as a compromise. I would have prefered a Comtelco can, but wasn't able to do so because of time contraints.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:23 pm

paramedic218 wrote:i like these antennas and the lo pro look. but i just cant bring my self to cut holes in my roof on my dodge ram. i have used fender mounts up to now.

Cut them holes! LOL

I hate the look of mag mounts since i put them in the roof, cables strung all over the place, and L-Brackets are ok for some stuff, i have my GPS antenna on an L-Bracket since it was easier than adding another hole to the roof in a hard to get to place, ran out of easy locations.

I could have put more mounts in the roof if i was willing to drop the headliner. The ones in the roof now were just done by pulling down the dome lights.

Anyway....

Nice work as always apco, how about some shots of the radios these antennas are feeding?

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:32 pm

Those pics will follow....

afterimage84 · Post by **afterimage84** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 2:25 pm

you should check out the new phantoms, or ELITE from antennex. tiny and wideband. all of em even VHF-hi. its got a screwy nmo converted mount thing, but other than that they are all niiiiiiiiiiccccccccceeeee.

http://www.antennex.com

Splat · Post by **Splat** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:45 pm

We have no problems with Maxrad's pucks. MOF, we never had problems with any Maxrad antennas. BTW, cut the holes. The performance increase will make you sleep better knowing you did the right thing.

paramedic218 · Post by **paramedic218** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:24 pm

what about when you trade back in your unit. thats what i am looking at

007 · Post by **007** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:59 am

paramedic218 wrote:what about when you trade back in your unit. thats what i am looking at

If you bought the vehicle with trade-in value in mind, you made the wrong investment.

Drill the holes, mount the antennas the right way and throw some 3/4" rubber hole plugs in when you're done with the vehicle.

007 · Post by **007** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:03 am

afterimage84 wrote:you should check out the new phantoms, or ELITE from antennex. tiny and wideband. all of em even VHF-hi. its got a screwy nmo converted mount thing, but other than that they are all niiiiiiiiiiccccccccceeeee.

http://www.antennex.com

The address is http://www.antenex.com

afterimage84 · Post by **afterimage84** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:26 am

whoooops! my bad.

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:08 am

Yep, cars of any sort make very poor investments. Did you buy it to use it or to sit on it? Drill the holes and your antennas will work that much better.

Of course if it's a lease, that's different, but financially that's worse than hoping for an appreciation in value. Leases are for agencies with more money than sense and for kids with no savings but who think they need a hot car "for now" to pick up girl.

Drill the holes.

paramedic218 · Post by **paramedic218** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:15 am

well i guess i will have to look into it.. gonna have to look for a ram with antennas in the roof. see how it looks.

thanks all for the input smitty