UHF antenna location

Jimbo ,
If it's so tall , you might smash it when you pull up for lunch in a shady spot . It is very easy to forget about it .
Willie

Look at either a 9, or 12db antennae. The larger the number, the larger the "throw".
That is, as you get a higher db, the signal is "pushed" higher, and farther out, therefore increasing range. Whilst sacrifising close range stuff to a degree.
Talk to Outbacker Communications in Canningvale and they will give you the rundown alot better than i can.
No affiliation to them, just a satisfied customer.

meow.

rick.

Jimbo

Get what you've got on the roof mate.

ie. Mount it on a roof rack or ski bar with foldable bracket mount.

You will be amazed at the difference.

I now run two on a custom made 'ski bar' on the Troopy.

6db broom stick which I only use occassionally and a 300mm floppy stubby 4.5db for nearly all other occassions.

The higher the gain the flatter the disk of concentrated energy that is radiated. This is only any use to you when you are on a dead flat road. If you are stuck going into or coming out of of a creek crossing your signal will be radiated up in the air or into the ground close by as the antenna is not dead vertical. The same thing happens when travelling fast – the antenna tilts back and all radiation to the front goes up in the air and in the rearward direction it is radiated into the truck.

Elevation of the antenna is the best way to improve your signal in all directions. Mount a mast (eg 20mm aluminium pipe) with a knock down joint on the top so that tree branches will just knock the antenna out of the way. Then mount a ground independent antenna of medium gain (4.5 dBd maximum) on top of the knock down joint. The antenna should be mounted clear of any load on the top of the vehicle. Even a high mounted flexible ¼ wave whip mounted on the end of a mast without a matched ground plane is better than a 6 dBd co-linear antenna mounted down low.

PeterD

Thanks all for the reply's so far - looks like the general feeling is towards what I was leaning towards doing, which is to put an antenna on a rhino bar on the roof.

Thanks again, all

I run a GME AE4005 Ground Independent on the bullbar(short flexi type) that is ideal in trails/bush work & a AE4007 (with a TX4400) mounted on the headboard/ladder rack of the dualcab. I take off the 4007 & change leads when the going gets tough. I cannot pick any difference between the two aerials & mostlly use the 4005 anyway.

A quarter wave ant on the roofrack can sometimes out perform a 6db on the bullbar for distances.
Those 2 to 3 db rubber duckies do a great job too.

Hi Jimbo,
I have a small flexable rubber antenna mounted on the top of my Hilux's canopy. It gets a belting in low scrub and handles that OK. I have the same radio as you and have a good transmit range, which of course will vary depending on the terrain.
Often when traveling in a large convoy and needing to talk over a longer distance I will use a 6 db with a spring base.
Regards
Scooby