Antenna location Question.

Peter thankyou for the reply,my intention is to mount it in the centre of the roof bar as close as possible to the centre of the turret.

So Bill, these "wank poles" of which you speak.
No good?
You knowing a bit about the subject.
Please explain.

Pop,

I didn't say the "wank poles" are no good.
What I am alluding to is the thick (usually white) fibreglass antennas are a distraction to the view out the front windscreen, swaying in the airflow. I have travelled in a vehicle sporting one and I didn't like it.

In my opinion, a ground independent antenna, mounted on the mudguard area close to the windscreen and with the top of the antenna high enough to clear the roof line of the vehicle, is as effective and efficient as one mounted on the bullbar and much less obtrusive. Mine is rated at 6db which is a good all round compromise to suit the majority of situations.

A convoy of three vehicles I was part of, were traveling down the Strzelecki Track one time and we came across a road work crew with a grader which had shed a tyre. They asked us if we could contact their base for support as we got closer to civilisation and we kept trying as we traveled down the track. Eventually, I established contact and at the same time, another member of our convoy, with a fibreglass "wank pole" also heard and could respond to the conversation.
This established to me that my 900mm stainless steel RFI antenna was just as effective as my mate's 2 metre white fibreglass pole mounted on his bullbar.

Both styles of antennas, mounted in their respective locations, will do the job and each of them are easy to connect the coaxial cable to, without cable routing problems up the window column or whatever, to one mounted on the roof area.

I personally just don't like the bullbar antenna location, although I will admit to mounting a safety flag to my bullbar for relatively short periods from time to time.

The roof centre is used because:

1. It provides the best area for a ground plane.
2. There are no obstructions to interrupt the transmission of the radio waves.
3. it gives you the maximum height without installing a mast.

The first point may not be important with ground independent antennas but the second point is equally important. If there is electrical noise that effects the reception shifting the antenna up to the turret will do little to relieve the problem, you need to suppress the noise at its source.

I have had experience. I spent many years installing police radios and AM 2 way radios on airport equipment. What gives you the right to question me?

I have used CB radio since the late 70's,starting with the old 27mghz and now with UHF. Without doubt a centre of roof aerial will give a better output signal than sitting on the bulbar.On the guard is usually better than the bulbar,but will be more directional across the bonnet side.There are reasons for this but I am not an electronics guru.There are stainless steel brackets you can purchase to bolt onto the guard while still being able to shut the bonnet. In my experience,I have found these brackets tend to vibrate on rough roads and can damage both the edge of the guard and the edge of the bonnet.I have mine mounted on the bulbar for convenience but have made certain it is on the driver side of the vehicle to prevent the cook complaining when a photographic opportunity presents itself from the front nearside of the vehicle.Don't worry about people thinking you are a wanker with a bulbar mount.Do what you are comfortable with and what suits you. Aerials these days are also much more refined and more efficient and will give you acceptable results wherever they are mounted.