I have read alot about ground planes and I have a few of questions. 1. How does the mirror mounted antennas achieve the ground plane? 2. If I were to mount an antenna to the bed rail at teh corner of the cab on my ranger pick up would this give me enough ground plane, if not what could I do to improve it. 3. Would a co-phased set up be of any advantage to me the antennas would be about 5' apart and about 2/3 of the antennas would be clear of the obstruction of the cab.
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ground planes?
- Thread starter Triple R
- Start date
A good way of thinking about "groundplanes" is that they are the other half of the antenna. The particular 'shape' of that 'other half' of the antenna can make a difference, but that 'shape' isn't going to be too important (with in reason). That mirror bracket and all the metal connected to it makes up the 'groundplane' or the other half of the antenna. Typically, having more than needed is 'better' than not having enough. That's just one of the reasons why bonding things (body panels) is a good idea. Then, you make adjustments to the antenna to make up for having too little or too much of that 'other half'.
The word "groundplane" comes from how the first vertical antennas were made. They used the ground/dirt as their 'other half'. That dirt was in a 'plane' perpendicular to the antenna, so, the word "groundplane". All it amounts to is the 'other half' of the antenna.
Dual or phased antennas. I've tried that, if done correctly, it works, but it's just a directional antenna. If you don't have a need for a directional antenna, there's no particular benefit to them. They are not easy to set up correctly. The distance between the two antennas is important, basically determines the 'shape' of the radiation pattern, where the signal goes. The less distance between those two antennas means the less directional the whole thing gets. At the distance you have to work with, you honestly would do as good with a single antenna. I wouldn't recommend them.
Have fun.
- 'Doc
The word "groundplane" comes from how the first vertical antennas were made. They used the ground/dirt as their 'other half'. That dirt was in a 'plane' perpendicular to the antenna, so, the word "groundplane". All it amounts to is the 'other half' of the antenna.
Dual or phased antennas. I've tried that, if done correctly, it works, but it's just a directional antenna. If you don't have a need for a directional antenna, there's no particular benefit to them. They are not easy to set up correctly. The distance between the two antennas is important, basically determines the 'shape' of the radiation pattern, where the signal goes. The less distance between those two antennas means the less directional the whole thing gets. At the distance you have to work with, you honestly would do as good with a single antenna. I wouldn't recommend them.
Have fun.
- 'Doc
Thanks after reading up dual vs single I was thinking the same thing. I am thinking that if I went with single antena mounted on the passengers side front of the box just outsidethe edge of the cab which should give me good range. Is this right? Should I run a bonding wire from the antenna to the frame? I really appreciate your help.
Bonding
this link was recommended to me a couple of weeks ago...good read and methodology
i just started bonding Tuesday
thankfully my truck box is direct to frame, but the cab has the rubber spacers so i've added straps in the four corners of it and so far two to the exhaust
i have tho picked up more noise so i'll be heeding the advice given with the link of going back and doing one at a time and checking between each new connection for any changes....i still need to do the hood and add a few more to the exhaust
I did tho, since installing the radio finally get my first shout back on DX today, from Puerto Rico...so coincidence or not i dunno but i've been calling DX for a few weeks and all of a sudden???? i think i'm gonna break down and either get a 259b or at least a fs meter
this link was recommended to me a couple of weeks ago...good read and methodology
i just started bonding Tuesday
thankfully my truck box is direct to frame, but the cab has the rubber spacers so i've added straps in the four corners of it and so far two to the exhaust
i have tho picked up more noise so i'll be heeding the advice given with the link of going back and doing one at a time and checking between each new connection for any changes....i still need to do the hood and add a few more to the exhaust
I did tho, since installing the radio finally get my first shout back on DX today, from Puerto Rico...so coincidence or not i dunno but i've been calling DX for a few weeks and all of a sudden???? i think i'm gonna break down and either get a 259b or at least a fs meter
While tha antenna near the cab will work, it won't work as well as if it were further from that cab. Or on top of the cab. Antennas would rather be above metal than beside metal.
As for running a ground wire from the antenna to the frame of the truck, why not use the existing metal between that antenna and the frame? As in the truck's bed. There's no advantage/benefit to running a separate wire to ground if you can ground that truck's bed (I assuming the bed is metal? If it isn't, run the wire.).
- 'Doc
As for running a ground wire from the antenna to the frame of the truck, why not use the existing metal between that antenna and the frame? As in the truck's bed. There's no advantage/benefit to running a separate wire to ground if you can ground that truck's bed (I assuming the bed is metal? If it isn't, run the wire.).
- 'Doc
dual antennas are directional to the longest ground plane direction, but; the right side talks as far left as a middle mount. as the left viseversa. both talk the short front or back equal to the middle mount because they dble . and as already sated above the longest ground pklane they are strongest and will hands down out talk the single atenna, . rf isnt like a water hose being divide in haslf. the gain from duals jumps them way up