uhf aerial problem
Submitted: Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 07:49
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happytravelers
Hi all
I've fitted a stainless uhf aerial to the bull bar. Half way along it's length is a curled spring like section, this visually vibrates while driving as it's designed to do. My wife finds this very distracting, so rather than move the aerial I was considering placing a piece of heat shrink over the curled section. This would not impair it's ability to flex but I think it would make it less distracting to the eye.
My question is, would the heat shrink over this small curled section effect the aerials transmit/receiving efficiency at all.
Thanks for your help
Jon
Reply By: Member - Boobook - Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:00
Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:00
No it wont affect it at all. In fact many antennas are a piece of wire inside a tube of fibreglass.
If it were me though, I would get an antenna bracket for the bull bar and move it more to the side. Won't hurt your transmissions and a bit of courtesy for your passenger. They do drive you crazy, even if they don't wobble when right in front of the view.
As an alternative, put it on your side if you think it's not an issue right in front of you!
Better still if you are in open country put it on the roof.
AnswerID:
451609
Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:36
Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:36
Hi
John
Boobook is on the right track. Try the heat shrink. But personally, and this is not for a lot of very close country travel, get an "S" shaped bracket like in the picture and mount it on the side of the bonnet using one of the existing bolts. Preferably the right hand side. Less of a distraction to your wife. It will also remove the antenna away from the vibration of the bullbar being at the extent of the body they are the greatest there. So it is less likely to vibrate to pieces. But watch for very very close country hitting the antenna there. It is a little exposed. I move mine to the bullbar when in the Vic Alps. Especially on tracks which do not get used much and have a lot of regrowth on the sides.
As far as performance is concerned; UHF is totally the wrong band for mobile car comms and as such will suffer no matter where you put the antenna. The best place is in the middle of the roof. I have three fixed antenna mounts and ended up just leaving it on the about 1" in front of the
snorkel. Usual hassles in the hills the same as others and fine on the flats.
Phil
FollowupID:
724229
Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:38
Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:38
Typical guard mount.
Phil
FollowupID:
724230
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:06
Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:06
Jon,
Heat shrink should not effect the performance of the aerial but it would focus your wife eye to the heat shrink. It could make the matter worse.
You could try placing electrical tape around the spring area just to see if it is a less of a distraction before going to the trouble of the heat shrink
There is not much that you can do about the distraction but I have found after time you will see through the aerial as if it was not there.
Wayne
AnswerID:
451610
Follow Up By: happytravelers - Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:35
Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 08:35
Thank you Wayne and Boobook for your replies.
Jon
FollowupID:
724228
Reply By: Member - Craig F (WA) - Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 09:53
Monday, Apr 18, 2011 at 09:53
Your wife is less temperamental than mine. I have mine in the center of my bar. Not in your direct field of vision and in the clear when on the tracks also makes a great locator when slotting the car into the garage (I have apiece of string hanging from the roof and when the aerial touches the Spare clears the door.
Craig
AnswerID:
451629
Reply By: geocacher (djcache) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 15:40
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 15:40
Gee. Some wives...
I had a Codan Autotune in front of mine when I had a dual cab ute & nowhere to put it on the back. Just told her to get used to it cos I wasn't moving it.
Took her a few thousand km but she stopped complaining about it.
Either she worked out it wasn't going anywhere no matter what she said, or she got used to it. I never asked.
Dave
AnswerID:
451888
Reply By: snoopyone - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 15:57
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 15:57
I have two on my bullbar and wife says after a few days she doesnt notice it.
But her eyes have gone funny after 18 months of looking around them LOL
AnswerID:
451889