installing mini 8 in semi

[L0UDM0UTH]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

18ft is a lot how should I wind excess or should I cut to length

Right now I have it in a figure eight pattern but thought I would ask people with a lot more experience than I if there is a better way

[Froggy]

what antenna??

you can prolly get by with 15 feet maybe less

[L0UDM0UTH]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Well I have the one that looks like a snake I think they call it a viper but was looking at getting a wilson 2000 its going to have a X-80 in there soon too but had the dash apart thought I would run the wire now and then started questioning how I was doing it

[L0UDM0UTH]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Well I zip tied th figure 8 up and have it that way in the dash threw an old francis 4ft up and got 1.3 on it

[Marcel]

Francis antennas are designed to balance out with 18ft coax. Figure 8 is ok or I have gone in with 3-4ft loops tied at center and ends What kinda truck are we talking about please?

[L0UDM0UTH]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

97 T-600 and thanks Marcel and froggy for the responses

[Marcel]

where are you going with this? mirror mount? back of sleeper. if your using the mirror mount your gonna need a very long shaft for that Wilson 2000 to be effective. You might be better off with a 5ft Francis IMO

[Captain Morgan]

Wirelessly posted (Captain Morgan NJ 400 mobeal: Treo800w/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE, PPC; 320x320) (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11))

where are you going with this? mirror mount? back of sleeper. if your using the mirror mount your gonna need a very long shaft for that Wilson 2000 to be effective. You might be better off with a 5ft Francis IMO

we have 3-600's @ work. factory coax runs dual to mirrors. wilson 2000's with the 4" (or is it 3") shafts. whips dropped all the way in then raised aprox 1/4" each side. with my mfj, 1.0 X=0.

[Captain Morgan]

Wirelessly posted (Captain Morgan NJ 400 mobeal: Treo800w/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE, PPC; 320x320) (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11))

meant to say T-600's

[L0UDM0UTH]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I pulled the factory coax and it was still original. Put mini 8 to the left (driverside) mirror. Would a top load antenna work better then since the mirror sits so low. I am gonna try my old viper antenna and see what I can get cuz well its paid for lol.

[Marcel]

Wirelessly posted (Captain Morgan NJ 400 mobeal: Treo800w/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE, PPC; 320x320) (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11))



we have 3-600's @ work. factory coax runs dual to mirrors. wilson 2000's with the 4" (or is it 3") shafts. whips dropped all the way in then raised aprox 1/4" each side. with my mfj, 1.0 X=0.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/5.0.0.328 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)
Hey Capt......thats truly a great match man BUT.......what about the fact of it(mirror) being so low? The coil is not even above the mirror....or any other part of the cab. Just my concern


I pulled the factory coax and it was still original. Put mini 8 to the left (driverside) mirror. Would a top load antenna work better then since the mirror sits so low. I am gonna try my old viper antenna and see what I can get cuz well its paid for lol.

I know a guy that has/owns/runs 4 nice T-600's pulling reefers and he uses Skipshooters and runs only 1 not 2 and his radio rocks all day long as does the guy that drives his blue one. Of course I have used skipshooters myself with great results

[-=PEAKABOO=-]

You can cut the coax to length (preferred) or you can coil it up. The rule about not being able to coil coax is a BS CB myth.

[Captain Morgan]

Wirelessly posted (Captain Morgan NJ 400 mobeal: Treo800w/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE, PPC; 320x320) (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11))

marcel,
not sure if were on the same page, maybe I missed something. my entire antenna, including the coil is mounted to the top of the mirror bracket.
All of our tractors "get out" fine.
coil is just about cab height, not including the roof cowl.

[Marcel]

Wirelessly posted (Captain Morgan NJ 400 mobeal: Treo800w/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE, PPC; 320x320) (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11))



wilson 2000's with the 4" (or is it 3") shafts. , 1.0 X=0.

Pardon my questioning of this but based on the above statement and the fact that all the T-600's that I'm familiar with the use of a 4 or 3 INCH shaft would make it a VERY low antenna HOWEVER a 4 or 3 FOOT shaft would be more suitable and better performing. Perhaps you meant 4' and not 4"............

[Captain Morgan]

Wirelessly posted (Captain Morgan NJ 400 mobeal: Treo800w/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE, PPC; 320x320) (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11))

I apologize, T-800's

[Sonomer]

Is it really not true about avoiding tight loops or coils of coax? I've always heard you run the risk of an RF choke or a high SWR.

[-=PEAKABOO=-]

Is it really not true about avoiding tight loops or coils of coax? I've always heard you run the risk of an RF choke or a high SWR.

If it causes a high SWR then your coax was a part of the counterpoise. As far as a choke, it is a choke but only for the shield not the center conductor. It is commonly used to decouple the antenna from the feedline.

[HiDef]

That's exactly right. If you need to f around with cable length and you are using 50 ohm cable then the cable itself is being used as part of your ground plane. If that is the case coiling the cable enough to reach choking in tance will eliminate decouple the cable as a counterpoise (groundplane) and the SWR will zip back up. Better off fixing the thing at the antenna in the first place if you are considering high power someday and want to transmit something besides squeel.

If it causes a high SWR then your coax was a part of the counterpoise. As far as a choke, it is a choke but only for the shield not the center conductor. It is commonly used to decouple the antenna from the feedline.

[Froggy]

run a 4 foot skipshooter on the mirror and be done with it....they rock

[Sonomer]

That's exactly right. If you need to f around with cable length and you are using 50 ohm cable then the cable itself is being used as part of your ground plane. If that is the case coiling the cable enough to reach choking in tance will eliminate decouple the cable as a counterpoise (groundplane) and the SWR will zip back up. Better off fixing the thing at the antenna in the first place if you are considering high power someday and want to transmit something besides squeel.

Thanks for the elaboration there. Make sense.