i really wana get a ss cover and bracket just for bling

 

Ya, CB pretty well sucks now days and I make sure to keep it off most of the time when there is a kid in the truck because they way people talk on the air is pretty stupid. Thats the beauty of HAM, people are much more polite but the downside is that most of the people just want to talk about HAM radio. There are a bunch of guys around me that shoot the **** on ch8 all the time and most are running way too much power through dirty amps echo mics and splatter 3 channels to either side. There is occasionally good traffic info on there and its ok for getting directions but its definitely not a real good means of communication anymore. I would still suggest though that if you really want to talk on 10m meter, get a "real" 10m radio. Those import radios are meant strictly for the super truckers. What kind of antenna is that? Is it designed to work without a ground plane? It would work much better if you get some metal around it. If you don't want it on the roof, maybe you could mount it on the hood lip.

 

Thanks for the antenna mounting pics. I'm a fellow ham and have stared at the truck for a year now, afraid to cut metal to mount an antenna. Not a bad place you have there.

Anyone know of any other post where there are decent pics or ideas for antenna mounting? (I can't do a back rack because of my bed cover)...

Bob

 

I was also freaking out over drilling in my truck but finally took the plunge and no regrets. It doesnt leak and can be easilly covered with a cap and noone will know what it is. My reasoning is that many new trucks like our explorer come with XM radio or GPS antennas drilled into the roofs so this isnt really any different. I am pulling in stuff much further out than I ever did before. When I bought the shell, I had to move the antenna from the toolbox so it was really the only good option. Here are a couple of current pictures. I have a 1/4 wave on an NMO drilled just above the 3rd brake light on the cab and the scanner antenna on an NMO fender mount. I am happy with the results of both. 2 meter radio is a Yeasu FT-2800M and the scanner is a Uniden BCD996XT. I sold my CB but will be putting one back in eventually. I am looking for a good antenna mounting option still.

 

Absolutely true,
In the last 2 years or so there has been a major influx of new hams on 10 meter that hang out on the 5's. The two most common that come to mind are 28.405 and 28.355, in the Technician segment and 28.505 in the General segment, all on USB (Upper Side Band).

73 de N5XTR