Finally I post my gear (56k beware!)

kleptophobiac · 06-09-2003

My suction cup antenna, it is a 6db omni, and with the groundplane effect from the car become 9db. I mount it to the sunroof. The nice thing is that I can mount it on any flat surface, including windows and carpaint. The suction cups have enough give to accomodate a reasonable curve.

Here are the actual suction cups used to hole the thing onto the roof. They are 2" suction cups with threaded mounts and lock nuts to hold them to the pipe.

The antenna is in the PVC radome, and the bottom is threaded for easy mounting. The cable comes out the bottom.

Here's what it looks like when mounted on one of my cars. This one is particularly convenient with the sunroof, which makes it easy to feed the cable in. The weather stripping on the sunroof protects the cable from being annihilated. In this picture the sunroof is still open, so the antenna leans forward a lot. One you close the sunroof, it goes almost vertical.

Here's my 50 foot mast, which in this picture is only extended to 40 feet. I had it down for maintenance, so the cable is not properly secured, nor are the guy wires on. Sorry not to show it in its finished state, but oh well.... you get the idea. That is another 6db omni up top, along with a 1 watt amp. I'm right on the limit for FCC PtP connections. I have 110 feet of LMR-400 coming down the mast.

These two pictures are of my workspace, which is utterly messy. The oscilloscope I bought off of ebay still hasn't arrived, so that will be a welcome addition.

hawk · 06-10-2003

now that's one serious (if not amusing) stumbling configuration..

How far can you go from home and still connect?

Any experiences with the cops yet? I bet they'd find any reason they could to pull you over just to ask what the heck that thing is.. :-)

kleptophobiac · 06-10-2003

I can get around two miles from home pretty easy with the omni (ground level) but I haven't found my outer bound yet when using a quad-quad (panel) antenna and at roof height. I've made 4 miles....

Sorry, no incidents with the cops yet. However, it is hilarious to watch all the people staring at me as I go by. They just gawk like they're staring at a crash site. I've seen heads do full 180's to watch me.

HAiRYANiMAL · 06-11-2003

none of your pictures work anymore ;(

kleptophobiac · 06-12-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by HAiRYANiMAL
none of your pictures work anymore ;(

They work for me? I even refreshed them. I'll host them somewhere else tomorrow.

kleptophobiac · 07-08-2003

06-09-2003	#1 (permalink)
kleptophobiac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 310	Finally I post my gear (56k beware!) My suction cup antenna, it is a 6db omni, and with the groundplane effect from the car become 9db. I mount it to the sunroof. The nice thing is that I can mount it on any flat surface, including windows and carpaint. The suction cups have enough give to accomodate a reasonable curve. Here are the actual suction cups used to hole the thing onto the roof. They are 2" suction cups with threaded mounts and lock nuts to hold them to the pipe. The antenna is in the PVC radome, and the bottom is threaded for easy mounting. The cable comes out the bottom. Here's what it looks like when mounted on one of my cars. This one is particularly convenient with the sunroof, which makes it easy to feed the cable in. The weather stripping on the sunroof protects the cable from being annihilated. In this picture the sunroof is still open, so the antenna leans forward a lot. One you close the sunroof, it goes almost vertical. Here's my 50 foot mast, which in this picture is only extended to 40 feet. I had it down for maintenance, so the cable is not properly secured, nor are the guy wires on. Sorry not to show it in its finished state, but oh well.... you get the idea. That is another 6db omni up top, along with a 1 watt amp. I'm right on the limit for FCC PtP connections. I have 110 feet of LMR-400 coming down the mast. These two pictures are of my workspace, which is utterly messy. The oscilloscope I bought off of ebay still hasn't arrived, so that will be a welcome addition.

07-08-2003	#6 (permalink)
kleptophobiac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 310	bump

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-10-2003	#2 (permalink)
hawk Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 16	now that's one serious (if not amusing) stumbling configuration.. How far can you go from home and still connect? Any experiences with the cops yet? I bet they'd find any reason they could to pull you over just to ask what the heck that thing is.. :-)

06-10-2003	#3 (permalink)
kleptophobiac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 310	I can get around two miles from home pretty easy with the omni (ground level) but I haven't found my outer bound yet when using a quad-quad (panel) antenna and at roof height. I've made 4 miles.... Sorry, no incidents with the cops yet. However, it is hilarious to watch all the people staring at me as I go by. They just gawk like they're staring at a crash site. I've seen heads do full 180's to watch me.

06-11-2003	#4 (permalink)
HAiRYANiMAL Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 50	none of your pictures work anymore ;(