Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but
where to plumb the radio! Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket
that will fit into or around the luggage rack frames? I can fabricate my
own, but not having a full-featured machine shop, it might not be as
pretty as my wife would like.

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

In article ,
Gary wrote:

I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but
where to plumb the radio!

Bad? No... I'd say it's entirely natural grin

Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket
that will fit into or around the luggage rack frames?

Diamond makes several which might meet your needs. The K515SNMO is an
adjustable (2-axis) mount with a "universal luggage carrier" bracket.
They even make a motorized luggage-rack-mount base (K9000LRM) which
you can lower electrically from inside the vehicle.

http://www.rfparts.com/diamond/Produ...og/mounts.html to see
photos; the mounts themselves are available through the usual online
and storefront ham-radio dealerships.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

Gary wrote:
I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but
where to plumb the radio! Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket
that will fit into or around the luggage rack frames? I can fabricate my
own, but not having a full-featured machine shop, it might not be as
pretty as my wife would like.

Marine antenna mounts work great as well, and most are built to withstand the
elements better.

See the AES catalog pages 78-89: http://www.aesham.com/pdf/pages78-89.pdf

for several types of mounts..

Bob N9LVU

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

In article ,
(known to some as Gary) scribed...

I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but
where to plumb the radio! Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket
that will fit into or around the luggage rack frames? I can fabricate my

snippety

With the first-generation antenna installation for my van (better
known as the 'Techmobile'), I used 10.5" high 19" blank aluminum rack
panels, suspended by Adel clamps around the cargo rack crossbeams. See
http://www.bluefeathertech.com/kc7gr/thevan.html for some outdated
photos (major updates are pending). If you choose to do it that way,
standard NMO mounts will not work (the rack panels are too thick). You
will need 'thick mounts' (available via Tessco from Radiall/Larsen,
PCTel, and other vendors).

It worked OK for a couple of years, until the rear hatch gaskets
(where I was running the cables through) started losing flexibility and
leaking in rainy weather. I converted everything to standard through-
roof NMO mounts, and haven't had a problem since. I would recommend that
you do the same.

Yes, there are safe-and-sane ways to drill the correct size of
hole, even in a new car. My personal favorite is the Irwin Manufacturing
'UniBit,' also known as a step-bit. Well worth the $45 or so they cost.

Couple said Unibit's action with a standard deburring tool for
sheet steel (available from any well-stocked hardware store), and you're
good to go.

Reserve a full day, take your time, and drink plenty of water.

Happy installing.


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, KC7GR)
http://www.bluefeathertech.com -- kyrrin a/t bluefeathertech d-o=t calm
"Salvadore Dali's computer has surreal ports..."

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

"Dr. Anton T. Squeegee" wrote:

In article ,
(known to some as Gary) scribed...

I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but
where to plumb the radio! Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket
that will fit into or around the luggage rack frames? I can fabricate my

snippety

With the first-generation antenna installation for my van (better
known as the 'Techmobile'), I used 10.5" high 19" blank aluminum rack
panels, suspended by Adel clamps around the cargo rack crossbeams. See
http://www.bluefeathertech.com/kc7gr/thevan.html for some outdated
photos (major updates are pending). If you choose to do it that way,
standard NMO mounts will not work (the rack panels are too thick). You
will need 'thick mounts' (available via Tessco from Radiall/Larsen,
PCTel, and other vendors).

It worked OK for a couple of years, until the rear hatch gaskets
(where I was running the cables through) started losing flexibility and
leaking in rainy weather. I converted everything to standard through-
roof NMO mounts, and haven't had a problem since. I would recommend that
you do the same.

Yes, there are safe-and-sane ways to drill the correct size of
hole, even in a new car. My personal favorite is the Irwin Manufacturing
'UniBit,' also known as a step-bit. Well worth the $45 or so they cost.

Couple said Unibit's action with a standard deburring tool for
sheet steel (available from any well-stocked hardware store), and you're
good to go.

Reserve a full day, take your time, and drink plenty of water.

Happy installing.


Harbor Freight has a set of three sizes on sale for $9.99 right now
thought Aug. 14th. http://www.harborfreight.com Item 91616 The
website shows $19.99 but the retail flyer I got in the mail today shows
the $9.99 price.


DRILL 28 HOLE SIZES!
This compact set replaces 28 individual drill bits. Two-flute design
gives you faster, smoother cutting. Titanium nitride coating for cooler
running.
Automatically deburrs holes as you drill
Quick-change 1/4'' hex shank
M2 high speed steel for long life

Sizes:
3/16'' to 1/2'' Six Step Bit (3/16'', 1/4'', 5/16'', 3/8'',7/16'',
1/2'')
1/4'' to 3/4'' Nine Step Bit (1/4'', 5/16'', 3/8'', 7/16'', 1/2'',
9/16'',5/8'',11/16'',3/4'' )
1/8'' to 1/2'' Thirteen Step Bit (1/8'', 5/32'', 3/16'', 7/32'', 1/4'',
9/32'', 5/16'', 11/32'', 3/8'', 13/32''’, 7/16'', 15/32''’, 1/2'')
ITEM 91616-4VGA

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

In article ,
Michael A. Terrell wrote:

Harbor Freight has a set of three sizes on sale for $9.99 right now
thought Aug. 14th. http://www.harborfreight.com Item 91616 The
website shows $19.99 but the retail flyer I got in the mail today shows
the $9.99 price.

And if you go to the store, make sure you take the retail flyer along
with you. The one time I failed to do so, the item was marked with
the higher (non-sale) price in the store, and they wouldn't honor the
flyer price without a copy of the flyer in-hand.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

hi gary,

my car looks like a porcupine ! only kidding....

who counts drink cup holders, we count antenna mounts....

a few links for you,

antenex usa made antenna and mounts

http://www.antenex.com/

get the hole saw, hs34 it is the right tool for the job of hole drilling.

http://www.antenex.com/c_search.asp?...CT%99+Hole+Saw

I get my stuff from radio outfitter.com http://www.radiooutfitter.com/

http://www.radiooutfitter.com/store/HS34.html

very good pricing, low ship fees and no problems...

73

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

I am assuming that your intention is to mount V/UHF antennas on the
vehicle.... Being fully mindfull of the limitations of V/UHF, and that its
used for local repeaters and not DX, a real simple and inexpensive solution
would be to go with a glass mount antenna.... the one I run on my Tundra is
a 2m/70cm dual band "cellular look-alike"($25.00 on Ebay) on the passenger
top corner of the windshield. No holes *ANYWHERE* for antenna mounting, and
works sufficiently well, even on low level machines in rural south
Mississippi.

-n6ojn

"Gary" wrote in message
. ..
I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but where
to plumb the radio! Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket that
will fit into or around the luggage rack frames? I can fabricate my own,
but not having a full-featured machine shop, it might not be as pretty as
my wife would like.

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

In article ,
(known to some as Michael A. Terrell) scribed...
"Dr. Anton T. Squeegee" wrote:

BigSnip

Yes, there are safe-and-sane ways to drill the correct size of
hole, even in a new car. My personal favorite is the Irwin Manufacturing
'UniBit,' also known as a step-bit. Well worth the $45 or so they cost.

Couple said Unibit's action with a standard deburring tool for
sheet steel (available from any well-stocked hardware store), and you're
good to go.

Reserve a full day, take your time, and drink plenty of water.

Happy installing.


Harbor Freight has a set of three sizes on sale for $9.99 right now
thought Aug. 14th. http://www.harborfreight.com Item 91616 The
website shows $19.99 but the retail flyer I got in the mail today shows
the $9.99 price.

snippety-two

At that low of a price, I'd be really concerned about the quality
of these bits. More specifically, are they made-in-Taiwan imports, made
from Lord only knows what grade of steel, or are they the same quality
as the Irwin products?

To put it another way: You gets what you pays for. Caveat emptor
indeed...


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, KC7GR)
http://www.bluefeathertech.com -- kyrrin a/t bluefeathertech d-o=t calm
"Salvadore Dali's computer has surreal ports..."

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

Noon-Air wrote:
I am assuming that your intention is to mount V/UHF antennas on the
vehicle.... Being fully mindfull of the limitations of V/UHF, and that its
used for local repeaters and not DX, a real simple and inexpensive solution
would be to go with a glass mount antenna.... the one I run on my Tundra is
a 2m/70cm dual band "cellular look-alike"($25.00 on Ebay) on the passenger
top corner of the windshield. No holes *ANYWHERE* for antenna mounting, and
works sufficiently well, even on low level machines in rural south
Mississippi.

-n6ojn

"Gary" wrote in message
. ..
I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but where
to plumb the radio! Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket that
will fit into or around the luggage rack frames? I can fabricate my own,
but not having a full-featured machine shop, it might not be as pretty as
my wife would like.


I'm not inclined to drill holes if I don't have to. :-0

With regard to glass mounted antennas, I have never seen one that would
work properly over time, so I will avoid those as well.

The Diamond K515SNMO looks promising but it must live on the side rail
and not more centered. The cross members of what I am looking at
resemble an airfoil and are about 3 inches wide. Would be nice to have a
bracket that would fit over and under that cross piece and then mount to
the bracket. I might have to get some stock and go to fabricating.

.....................
.............................
.....................

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

"Gary" wrote in message
. ..
Noon-Air wrote:
I am assuming that your intention is to mount V/UHF antennas on the
vehicle.... Being fully mindfull of the limitations of V/UHF, and that
its used for local repeaters and not DX, a real simple and inexpensive
solution would be to go with a glass mount antenna.... the one I run on
my Tundra is a 2m/70cm dual band "cellular look-alike"($25.00 on Ebay) on
the passenger top corner of the windshield. No holes *ANYWHERE* for
antenna mounting, and works sufficiently well, even on low level machines
in rural south Mississippi.

-n6ojn

"Gary" wrote in message
. ..
I'm giving serious thought to buying a new vehicle and you know it's bad
when your first thought is not the mileage or seating capacity, but
where to plumb the radio! Does anyone manufacture an adjustable bracket
that will fit into or around the luggage rack frames? I can fabricate my
own, but not having a full-featured machine shop, it might not be as
pretty as my wife would like.


I'm not inclined to drill holes if I don't have to. :-0

With regard to glass mounted antennas, I have never seen one that would
work properly over time, so I will avoid those as well.

The Diamond K515SNMO looks promising but it must live on the side rail and
not more centered. The cross members of what I am looking at resemble an
airfoil and are about 3 inches wide. Would be nice to have a bracket that
would fit over and under that cross piece and then mount to the bracket. I
might have to get some stock and go to fabricating.

Also be mindfull of your overhead clearance....The glass mount, cell
look-a-like is not a problem, but a 30+ inch tall diamond on top of a
vehicle could cause some problems in drive-throughs, garages, etc.
With the antennas that currently reside on my Tundra, my clearance is
12'6"....no more bank drive-throughs, fast food, parking garages, and plays
hell with low branches and wires.

-n6ojn

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

On Wed, 19 Jul 2006 23:13:33 -0700, Dr. Anton T. Squeegee
wrote:


Harbor Freight has a set of three sizes on sale for $9.99 right now
thought Aug. 14th. http://www.harborfreight.com Item 91616 The
website shows $19.99 but the retail flyer I got in the mail today shows
the $9.99 price.

snippety-two

At that low of a price, I'd be really concerned about the quality
of these bits. More specifically, are they made-in-Taiwan imports, made
from Lord only knows what grade of steel, or are they the same quality
as the Irwin products?

To put it another way: You gets what you pays for. Caveat emptor
indeed...

I have both the original Unibit brand and the Greenlee imitation.
Both are equally good. I have seen other brands, like Stanley, that
should perform well. Some of the prices I have seen lately on good
brands make me shed a tear over what I paid 10 years ago.

Dick

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

Gary wrote:

I'm not inclined to drill holes if I don't have to. :-0

With regard to glass mounted antennas, I have never seen one that would
work properly over time, so I will avoid those as well.

The Diamond K515SNMO looks promising but it must live on the side rail
and not more centered. The cross members of what I am looking at
resemble an airfoil and are about 3 inches wide. Would be nice to have a
bracket that would fit over and under that cross piece and then mount to
the bracket. I might have to get some stock and go to fabricating.


There is one problem with mounting on the cross members of the rack...
After time, the cross member will be twisted due to the force on it from
the wind pushing on the antenna.
It will happen faster the higher the ambient temp, and material of the rack and
color...
The only way to keep this from happening, or to minimize the flexing, is to
mount it as close to the side rails as possible..
I would add an extra cross member right behind/before the stock cross member,
and attach an aluminum or stainless steel plate with NMO hole to mount the antenna.
The resulting setup will be much stronger, and negates the special
clamp/mount needed..

Bob N9LVU

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

"Dr. Anton T. Squeegee" wrote:

In article ,
(known to some as Michael A. Terrell) scribed...
"Dr. Anton T. Squeegee" wrote:

BigSnip

Yes, there are safe-and-sane ways to drill the correct size of
hole, even in a new car. My personal favorite is the Irwin Manufacturing
'UniBit,' also known as a step-bit. Well worth the $45 or so they cost.

Couple said Unibit's action with a standard deburring tool for
sheet steel (available from any well-stocked hardware store), and you're
good to go.

Reserve a full day, take your time, and drink plenty of water.

Happy installing.


Harbor Freight has a set of three sizes on sale for $9.99 right now
thought Aug. 14th. http://www.harborfreight.com Item 91616 The
website shows $19.99 but the retail flyer I got in the mail today shows
the $9.99 price.

snippety-two

At that low of a price, I'd be really concerned about the quality
of these bits. More specifically, are they made-in-Taiwan imports, made
from Lord only knows what grade of steel, or are they the same quality
as the Irwin products?

To put it another way: You gets what you pays for. Caveat emptor
indeed...


They work fine for me, or I wouldn't have recommended them. In fact,
I bought a spare set today, because they have a tendency to disappear
from my shop I've never broke or jammed one of them. I normally use
them in my drill press, but I have used the larger size to deburr 1/2"
EMT when doing electrical work.

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

Luggage Rack Mounted NMO Mounts?
 

Dave Platt wrote:

In article ,
Michael A. Terrell wrote:

Harbor Freight has a set of three sizes on sale for $9.99 right now
thought Aug. 14th. http://www.harborfreight.com Item 91616 The
website shows $19.99 but the retail flyer I got in the mail today shows
the $9.99 price.

And if you go to the store, make sure you take the retail flyer along
with you. The one time I failed to do so, the item was marked with
the higher (non-sale) price in the store, and they wouldn't honor the
flyer price without a copy of the flyer in-hand.


The store in Ocala always has a stack of them on a stand right inside
the front door so you can pick one up as you enter the store. Also, you
want to be on their E-mail list for specials. For those you do have to
print out the e-mail w/coupons to get the extra savings. The coupons
have a serial number so you can't buy more than the advertised limit.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida