CB radio arial killed by trees?

[kizz81]

hello,
i have a 5ft CB radio arial on the front of the roof rack shown in the picture below, why does it get pulled out when i go under low trees, my first arial did this but i had put that down to it being old and having got it stuck in the drive through roof at mcdonalds 1 too many times, but i put a brand new arial in the same position and the first lane trip i went on it had come loose

the main body of the arial comes loose from the connection above the spring, what i dont understand is why does my aerial fall apart and why does every one elses i have been out with on the same routes that have broken mine stayed togather???

(the arial on the roof)



cheers kieran

[muddyjames]

my guess would be that others are placed that little bit lower so that when they go under the trees the leverage on the mount is further up the ariel and flexes more where as yours looks quiet high on that roof rack so it hits the tree lower down and there for the leverage is higher and forces it out of the mounting.

my guess anyway.

[4 landies]

 Mine did the same and found it to be a very poor grub screw holding it in.

 Solved the problem by replacing it with a self tapping screw ( doesnt look as good ) and works fine.

[Lincs niva]

Ive had this problem with the springer aerials..Like fabiocars said the grub screws are very poor..

Cheers Gav

[Evilgoat]

Lost at least 2 like that and had an Antler systematically dismantled by a bush as well.

SWR it, then locktight the screw and the element. Black one as survived for 6 months and counting... :)

[kizz81]

hello,
many thanks for the advice, i will try the self tapping screw first i think theres probly a couple in the garage i can play with,
cheers kieran
happy 2008
 :D

[mud-club-matty]

my arial comes lose after laneing but on the actual mont its self  :(

[redhand]

Mine was attached to the gutter in line with the B post on my disco and I lost the aerial and the guttermount. only realised when I heard a funny slapping noiseand stopped to investigate.It turned out to be the coax hitting the side of the vehicle.  :x

[kizz81]

when i first got the arial it was mounted on the bumper using a mag mount because i bought it just after the landy thinking yay its all magnetic, but no the bumper was the only place it could go
it was fine there for a while untill i wen off-road and hit a mudbank, the arial and mount came off and wrapped its self around the wheel ooops :oops: we have to make mistakes to learn  :lol:...

[Wireless]

Why not mount the antenna on the front bull bar, angled towards, and tied, to the roof rack?

Ok, I realise 27MHz isn't going to be effective at NVIS Propagation, particularly at this point in the Solar Cycle, but basically, most comms will be line of sight, within a few hundred yards when off-roading, and the antenna doesn't need to be vertical, or mounted so high.

So mounting on the bull bar as I've described will be a better solution to combat vegetation, trees, or mud banks come to that.

BTW, NVIS Amateur Radio, whilst mobile with angled vehicle antennas, with low power (5 to 10W), can give a range of up to 150 miles, and it doesn't matter about hills or trees, as long as you can see the sky you have comms.

Anyone with an M3xxx should be aware, just check the predicted critical frequency before operating with the right antenna.

I'm M5WJF, not a very active member of the RAYNET HF NVIS Team.

[redhand]

Why not mount the antenna on the front bull bar, angled towards, and tied, to the roof rack?

Ok, I realise 27MHz isn't going to be effective at NVIS Propagation, particularly at this point in the Solar Cycle, but basically, most comms will be line of sight, within a few hundred yards when off-roading, and the antenna doesn't need to be vertical, or mounted so high.

So mounting on the bull bar as I've described will be a better solution to combat vegetation, trees, or mud banks come to that.

BTW, NVIS Amateur Radio, whilst mobile with angled vehicle antennas, with low power (5 to 10W), can give a range of up to 150 miles, and it doesn't matter about hills or trees, as long as you can see the sky you have comms.

Anyone with an M3xxx should be aware, just check the predicted critical frequency before operating with the right antenna.

I'm M5WJF, not a very active member of the RAYNET HF NVIS Team.

Yep great I couldn't agree more   :doh: =; :lol:  eeerm any chance of a jargon free translation for us ordinary people.  :roll:

[landroverkeith]

 :lol: both my ariels are always hitting things  :roll: trees at work and that silly carport at home  [-X is always moving but touch wood the only time ive ripped one of was the 1st week we moved into the new house and i backed right under the carport and got it snagged in the roof  heheh says a lot for thunderpole :) brill ariels take a beating and still fine

[4 landies]

 Mine was mounted on the a-bar but for better reception I've done like redhand and mounted mine on the gutter above the B pillar, always catching trees and the such but its never once come loose.