| Author |
Message |
    
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 322
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 10:28 am: | 
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OK, I drilled the hole, put in a marine gas cap (So the hole can be waterproof), Put a brace mount on the inside, and all seems to fit well. Problem is, Having this antenna on a 10 foot mast makes it tricky to slide into the hole (I almost dropped the antenna trying yesterday).
Imagine trying to hold 30+ feet of a long stick waving in the wind on the roof of a van. And then taking it out. Anwyay, With the 10 foot mast, once slid in, the bottom of the IMAX is about 5 feet from the roof of my van. I actually want to cut the mast to about 6 feet, this way it would be easier for me to insert this darn thing. BUT my question is, is having the base of the IMAX so close to the roof of the van a bad thing? Does it need to be a minimum amount of feet away from this ground plane? Thanks. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3610
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 4:38 pm: |
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a design based on this works just fine. you can't drive with it anyway, so, use longer 'tube', put antenna on a couple of 10' masts, lift mast into 'tube', you'd be 20-25' to the feedpoint, & an a99 would be nearly 43' to the top. the epitome of a 'base station on wheels'. and no holes in the roof.  |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2485
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 10:49 pm: |
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james, it will work just fine right aobve the vans roof.
no problem.
cut the mast so it sticks up above the roof just enough to bolt the antenna on it, and screw in the coax.
put the mast in first.
then bolt the antenna to it using wing nuts on the U-bolts for speed.
or how about this:
cut the mast off about 1-2 inches above the roof line and mount it permanently. use a cap for the top when not in use.
then use a short mast, maybe 18-24" with a tapered end, and bolt it to the IMAX.
then you just stab the tapered end into the hard mounted mast.
maybe something with a foldover could be configured, so that you could mount the lower section of the imax, fold it over, screw on the top two sections, and stand it up.
just some thoughts.
sounds like fun!!!
matt
anyone wanting a "clean signal", just look to the left and build one of these!!!
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Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 323
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 2:47 am: |
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Pat, that picture shows a nice solid mount with a fold down/ fold over style. That is great. Where would I get such a thing? All I would have to do is simply slide the antenna and mast in it, and then simply fold it up. Thanks.
PS, It looks like I would have to add a trailer hitch kit for this to work correct?
KID, yes a fold over would work. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3617
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 12:24 pm: |
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you could replace the 'pipe' with one a bit longer for some added stability. or, you could buy a 'receiver extender', which is just the 2" bar coming out of the vehicle-mounted receiver, and weld/u-bolt a pipe to it. yes, you need a 'trailer hitch kit'. this way would've avoided the hole through the roof. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 326
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 1:54 pm: |
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Sounds good Pat. Is that swiverl part with the lock in silver bolt a custom thing? Or standard? The swivel thing in that picture looks like the key to making this all work. If it is standard, where can I get it? Thanks. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 325
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 3:01 pm: |
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Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 765
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 6:40 pm: |
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are you actually gonna use this antenna while moving????
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 329
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 8:39 pm: |
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Ha ha. No. I have a van, and basically I don't care about holes and such. Plus there is alot of room in the back of it. So, I can take with me all the stuff. Get to an open field, and put this antenna up to talk. I am wacky like that sometimes. |
Starface
Senior Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 1226
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 11:40 pm: |
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Like to see your out come on this James.
Please post the finishings in your members pic area thanks
73 de George
STARFAİE
KI4NBE
CEF476
HAM181
CVC014
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Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 331
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 12:00 am: |
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Trust me. When it's all ready to go, I'll post them. I may even go nuts and throw a beam up there too. Ha ha...... |
Penrider
Member
Username: Penrider
Post Number: 76
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 1:08 am: |
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james....just do what most of us do when we need/want something to work the way we want it to....Build It Yourself
Sean
CEF867
CVC81
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to!!"
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Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 332
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 9:08 am: |
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I would love to. But I am not handy with a welding machine, metal, etc.. Plus I don't have time. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2494
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 6:57 pm: |
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you know james,
you happen to live quite close to a pretty darned good metal fabricator by the name of vanillagorilla.
now, hank is probably too busy also, but you never know.
best of luck,
matt
anyone wanting a "clean signal", just look to the left and build one of these!!!
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Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 345
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 12:55 pm: |
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Well, tomorrow (April 29), I will be trying the IMAX on the back of my van. The feedpoint will be 15 feet from the ground (Tip of antenna at about 40 feet). I installed a hitch, and bought that special slide in mount (Thanks Pat). I even have the GPK bent at 30 degrees that I will be using. I did a test run, and am able to assemble everything and lift it up in 15 minutes. I haven't tuned it yet though. Will do that tomorrow. Hope it gets out well. I'll take pictures. Thanks.
PS--If a cop comes over to bust my chops, what's a good answer? Am I breakling any laws having an antenna installed like that? |
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 806
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 5:59 pm: |
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as long as your not causing damage to powerlines,ect i dont see any problems.
if they ask what that is tell them its your satelite dish to talk your relalitives in mars
haha i couldnt it
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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