Roof rack antenna installation question
Roof rack antenna installation question
Hi,
I am running a GL SWP with a RA 250. I am planning on mounting a Wilson 2000 on my trucks roof rack but I am concerned about proper grounding. My truck has a 100% steel rack mounted on a fiberglass shell (see pictures below). Is the rack large enough to provide proper grounding without grounding the rack to the frame (I don’t want to run a grounding wire if I don’t need to)? I am hoping to get feedback from anyone who has done a similar setup.
Thanks in advance.
I am running a GL SWP with a RA 250. I am planning on mounting a Wilson 2000 on my trucks roof rack but I am concerned about proper grounding. My truck has a 100% steel rack mounted on a fiberglass shell (see pictures below). Is the rack large enough to provide proper grounding without grounding the rack to the frame (I don’t want to run a grounding wire if I don’t need to)? I am hoping to get feedback from anyone who has done a similar setup.
Thanks in advance.
Probably not. I'd plan on running additional ground straps (start with at least 1) from the antenna mount to one of the mounting bolts on the rack. Then I'd probably run another one off the inside mount point (which I'm guessing it goes completely through the canopy?) bolt to a shiney point in the bed someplace. It may take more than one.
Or, you can probably simply run a 10 or 12 gauge wire along side the coax from a good shiney ground point on chassis or cab someplace, again attaching it to your antenna mount. Your rack will act somewhat like a ground plane but my guess would be it's simply not going to provide enough RF ground. Try it if you want first because I could be wrong. But I'd be surprised if you can get the SWR's down.
Good luck.
Or, you can probably simply run a 10 or 12 gauge wire along side the coax from a good shiney ground point on chassis or cab someplace, again attaching it to your antenna mount. Your rack will act somewhat like a ground plane but my guess would be it's simply not going to provide enough RF ground. Try it if you want first because I could be wrong. But I'd be surprised if you can get the SWR's down.
Good luck.
Yup, I have a ladder rack and I did at one point have a wilson 2000 trucker. I now have a 10K in its place. My ladder rack is powder coated and bolted to the bed. I ran without any extra grounding for a while. Then I read the thread [Please login or register to view this link]
and realized how much more I needed grounding. I was running a Connex 4600 Turbo SWP and added a 4 pill. After I grounded everything ( And I do Mean EVERYTHING! ) I found my SWR's had changed dramaticaly. I had to cut another 6 inches off my whip to get it there. My TX and RX changed for the better in a very noticeable way.
Let me give you one piece of advise. You have a good looking truck there, you have put time, love and money into it. Why would you want to short cut your radio ? Do your self a favor and read that thread and go ground your truck, you will be glad you did.
and realized how much more I needed grounding. I was running a Connex 4600 Turbo SWP and added a 4 pill. After I grounded everything ( And I do Mean EVERYTHING! ) I found my SWR's had changed dramaticaly. I had to cut another 6 inches off my whip to get it there. My TX and RX changed for the better in a very noticeable way.
Let me give you one piece of advise. You have a good looking truck there, you have put time, love and money into it. Why would you want to short cut your radio ? Do your self a favor and read that thread and go ground your truck, you will be glad you did.