Any ideas on mag mount?

[mcguire6799]

I am looking into getting a magnet mount antenna, because I am sick of dealing with my hot rod ones. I figured if I am gonna buy an antenna might as well get one I don't need to worry about. But I know nothing about them so any ideas would be great. Wanting a pretty decent range on it but nothing HUGE. As I am going to keep my dual fiberglass sticks on because I love how it looks. Going to put it on the top of my s-10 cab.

['Doc]

I may be misunderstanding the way you meant that 'range' thing. The mount for an antenna has nothing to do with 'range', propagation determines that. The only property of a mag-mount that should come into figuring which is good/bad is how well and how much can that magnet support. The area covered by that magnet determines the amount of capacitive coupling it has, which sort of translates into how well the antenna will make connection to it's 'other half', which can be translated into how well the attached antenna will 'work', which will always be less than a 'hard' or direct connection. May not be a lot less, but still always less efficient.
If using a mag-mount solves a problem you're having, or if it's the best answer to a mounting problem, then by all means use one. The only good reason to use a mag-mount is that you can't drill a hole for whatever reason.
- 'Doc

[mcguire6799]

I guess what I meant was mad/antenna combos haha sorry. But I like my antennas on my box, but I am having the worse trouble with it, and my antennas aren't tunable. Only one is hooked up though with a single 50ohm cable. And I don't know if I want to buy 2 more antennas that are tunable and mess with it, you know? I didn't know which magnet/antenna combo would work out best for me. I like the one's with the coil around the antenna, have been told it helps with range or something along those lines?

['Doc]

Those antennas with the coils radiate just like a similar antenna without those coils would, there are no benefit with having a coil as far as radiating ability goes. Those coils do make the antenna seem to be electrically longer. Coils, in them selves, do not radiate any differently than a plain length of 'antenna' the same height as that coil. Coils DO make a shorter antenna possible, which is very handy when needed. The 'catch' is that they always introduce some inefficiencies because coils are not efficient, they always have losses. If those losses are less than the importance of a shorter antenna, then it's worth doing.
If you just want the 'looks' of that giant coil on an antenna, why not make a coil on a conductive 'tube' (instead of an insulator) that will fit over the antenna you have. Slide the thing onto that antenna and bolt it down. Since that coil is 'shorted', it isn't really a coil, just a chunk of metal. You might have to readjust your antenna slightly, but you will have a 'sexy looking' coil on your antenna now. Doesn't do anything except change the 'looks' of the antenna. Whoop-ee!
- 'Doc

[RCII]

Since that coil is 'shorted', it isn't really a coil, just a chunk of metal. You might have to readjust your antenna slightly, but you will have a 'sexy looking' coil on your antenna now. Doesn't do anything except change the 'looks' of the antenna. Whoop-ee!
- 'Doc

HA!!! (exactly)

[mcguire6799]

Okay I was told the coil helped it. Basically my choices are get 2 tunable antennas and replace what I have mounted on my toolbox, again only one is hooked up, or get an antenna and a magnet mount for the roof of the truck. What is the pros and cons of both choices? Will I still have to tune an antenna on a magnet mount? Again I want a pretty decent range I know there's no real way of telling how far you'll get it varies. But any help is appreciated.

['Doc]

I'll make this comment about the last post, but won't try to suggest which would be 'better' for you. Any antenna will need to be tuned to some extent. There are no 'pre-tuned', good for every installation situation antennas. The maker of that antenna can certainly get you to the ball-park, but you still have to find your own seat. How can anyone make a single antenna that will 'fit' every situation when every situation is at least slightly different? If it happens, it's pure luck.
So, get ready to do some tuning with a mag-mount, or a different antenna for your tool box.
- 'Doc


Oh, by the way. That 'do nothing' coil thingy is patented by my antenna company, 'J.A.R.O. Antenna'. If you want to make one your self you have my permission but you do have to attribute the idea. (J.A.R.O.Antennas stands for Just Another Rip Off Antenna company.)

[mcguire6799]

What if I ran a little will or a metal whip on a magnet? How do you tune that?

[RCII]

Can you use an SWR meter? It's not hard, nothing to be afraid of. With a magnet mount usually there's an Allen screw that you can loosen and allow you to move the whip either farther in or out of the base. Maybe I'm missing something, but how can you tell the antenna isn't tuning correctly?

Really though, if you're only using one antenna you really should take down the other one. Having another resonant antenna that close (even if it's not being used) can greatly affect the tuning. Just for grins, unscrew the unused one and see if that helps the tuning.

Having two antennas with such close spacing isn't going to do much for you, but if you like the dual antennas, why not use them both?



Rick

[mcguire6799]

The antennas can't be tuned. Not a tunable tip. Francis hot rod. I've tried taking it down and nothing.


How does it just simply bring there not hooked up effect performance?

[jessejamesdallas]

The antennas can't be tuned. Not a tunable tip. Francis hot rod. I've tried taking it down and nothing.


How does it just simply bring there not hooked up effect performance?

Francis can be tuned...If it's too short, you can add a spring to make it electrically longer...If it's already too long, then you can take off the plastic cap on top, and pull some of the wire out, and clip it off to make the antenna electrically shorter...

[jessejamesdallas]

As I am going to keep my dual fiberglass sticks on because I love how it looks. Going to put it on the top of my s-10 cab.

Bad idea leaving the other two antenna's on, if you add a magnet mounted antenna to the roof...Even if their not hooked-up, they will affect your signal, and could make it hard to tune your magnet mounted antenna.

If what your trying to do is increase your signal and receiving capability, I would get rid of the two antenna's you have now, and go with just one in the center of your roof...And one of the best Magnet Mount Antenna's out there is going be the Wilson 5000 Magnet Mount...It's NOT the Best Antenna you can get for the roof...But Is probably the best Base-Loaded Magnet Mounted Antenna. Very simple to tune, and is very forgiving when it comes to hitting stuff like low tree branches.

[mcguire6799]

My antenna now is at a 3 wrs reading. I have taken the cap off and it is like sealed down inside the fiberglass outer. How does having the other 2 on there effect it?

[jessejamesdallas]

My antenna now is at a 3 wrs reading. I have taken the cap off and it is like sealed down inside the fiberglass outer. How does having the other 2 on there effect it?

If you put another antenna on,(on the roof) and leave the two you have now, then the two on the sides (that you are not using) will pull your signal towards them and you won't have a omni signal like you would if they were not there...They will make you more "directional" to the sides and less signal out the back and front.(basically)

[mcguire6799]

okay so even though they aren't hooked up, they're still pulling signal? Makes sense I guess. So if there was another set of fiberglass antennas that I should should for my box that have a tuning tip what would be good ones?

[jessejamesdallas]

okay so even though they aren't hooked up, they're still pulling signal? Makes sense I guess. So if there was another set of fiberglass antennas that I should should for my box that have a tuning tip what would be good ones?

Althogh I have never used them, I have herd nothing but good reports about them, and that's the "Skip-Shooter's".

What happens is the antenna's you leave on, then add a third in the center, the other two will act like directors and pull your signal towards them...giving you sorta a figure 8 signal to the sides...Or since they would be real close to the center antenna (probably within 3 or 4 ft.) they may give you a lop-sided signal.

[RCII]

How does it just simply bring there not hooked up effect performance?

It can cause your impedance to be considerably lower than 50 ohms, depdending on the spacing. It may also have some directional effects, but I'd be more concerned about your antenna being detuned.

[jessejamesdallas]

How does it just simply bring there not hooked up effect performance?

It can cause your impedance to be considerably lower than 50 ohms, depdending on the spacing. It may also have some directional effects, but I'd be more concerned about your antenna being detuned.

Yep....what he said!

[mcguire6799]

So what is the best route, just get 2 new fiberglass antennas?

[jessejamesdallas]

So what is the best route, just get 2 new fiberglass antennas?

Personally if it were me...I would rather go with just One in the center of the roof.

"WHY?" Because on a S-10, you really don't have the right spacing between two antenna's to make it work right. Technically, you need a 9' spacing between antenna's to co-phase.

[mcguire6799]

so if one is hooked up on the box, and the other one is just mounted there will it be farther out front and back? if they are on the right and left sides of the box?

[jessejamesdallas]

so if one is hooked up on the box, and the other one is just mounted there will it be farther out front and back? if they are on the right and left sides of the box?

Ok....If you have two antenna's...One is mounted on the far right, and the other is on the far left, then you also have one in the middle, that's not going to work right.

Co-Phasing is having two antenna's, which are mounted one on the left, and one on the right sides of your truck...They would need to be 9' apart to work right, and if they were both connected, your signal would be sorta omni. Big Rigs use this set-up because they can get the 9' spacing, and not have to worry about the trailer blocking off part of their signal.

You can still do a co-phase set-up on your S-10 if you want, but it's going to be hard to get a low SWR, and your not going to get any benefit out of it.

Plus, you also would need to use a Co-Phase coax harness which uses 75 ohm coax...

If you install two antenna's (one on each side) but only connect one of them, so one of them is just a "dummy antenna", you probably can do that, and get away with it...But to me it would be just a waist of money buying two antenna's and using one "Just for Look's"...

hope that helps...

[mcguire6799]

I was going to run the 2 the truck came with them wired for 2, but then was told to just run 1 on a 50ohm cable, so I did and nothing was better. I just like the look and it's just like $30-$40 extra so not too big of a deal to me. Now just wanting to know what a good tunable antenna is I know willson makes a silverload antenna I have heard good stuff about also that skipshooter you're talking about, any other good ones I could look into?

Also where is a good place to get an SWR cheap but still work good, or should I just take it somewhere to tune it?

[jessejamesdallas]

I was going to run the 2 the truck came with them wired for 2, but then was told to just run 1 on a 50ohm cable, so I did and nothing was better. I just like the look and it's just like $30-$40 extra so not too big of a deal to me. Now just wanting to know what a good tunable antenna is I know willson makes a silverload antenna I have heard good stuff about also that skipshooter you're talking about, any other good ones I could look into?

Also where is a good place to get an SWR cheap but still work good, or should I just take it somewhere to tune it?

Radio Shack sells a good SWR/Power Meter that can handle up to 2000w's for around $50. Or, most Truck Stops, and On-Line CB Shops sell SWR Meters starting around $20 that will work just as well...

One thing you may want to check on first, since you said your SWR right now is at 3.0, is to check for a short...You may have a bad coax connector, or your antenna mount may not be installed right, and is grounding out. (just a thought)

As for the antenna's...I haven't used either of those antenna's but both are suppose to be good.

I only use the Predator 10K Antenna's myself...You can find plenty of threads on this Forum about the Predator 10K's!

[mcguire6799]

Are they fiberglass?