HAM radio antenna mount options

[Cyberus]

Are these Mars crossbars?

Has anyone on here found a good way to run the antenna up through the center pillar and out through the roof opening where the 48v connection point is? I am hoping to mount it on my roof rack.

I've ran a few searches on this forum and can't find anything.

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[Pulaski]

Are these Mars crossbars?

Sure are.

 

[Woodrick]

Sure! Forgive the mess, just got back from a fishing trip.


This is always good advice... Edit: I meant to also add that this antenna is very easy to just unscrew from the base. It also can lay flat but requires a Phillips head and getting up there, so I just unscrew it for carwashes and the garage.

In other words, one day you will hear the bang, bang, bang and 4 letter words will at least circle around the brain, if not escape verbally.
It may even be that 8 ft parking garage that you visit one day.

 

[tmeyer3]

In other words, one day you will hear the bang, bang, bang and 4 letter words will at least circle around the brain, if not escape verbally.
It may even be that 8 ft parking garage that you visit one day.

Haha yup! This antenna does fall flat when you eventually do forget to remove it--driving forward into something forces the base to loosen; however, reversing into something too low will cause it to tighten

But it's a nice feature, intentional or not.

 

[Woodrick]

Haha yup! This antenna does fall flat when you eventually do forget to remove it--driving forward into something forces the base to loosen; however, reversing into something too low will cause it to tighten

But it's a nice feature, intentional or not.

Let's see how well that glue holds!

I put mine at the low point of the roof and just happened to catch it before I backed into the garage. And then took the longer antenna off and went with a shorter one.

The difference in range will probably be some like 0 miles.

 

[tmeyer3]

Let's see how well that glue holds!

I put mine at the low point of the roof and just happened to catch it before I backed into the garage. And then took the longer antenna off and went with a shorter one.

The difference in range will probably be some like 0 miles.

I'll let you know! I've already whacked it 3 times ?

 

[OMFG]

Has anyone on here found a good way to run the antenna up through the center pillar and out through the roof opening where the 48v connection point is? I am hoping to mount it on my roof rack.

I've ran a few searches on this forum and can't find anything.

Pulaski, did you finally get your attn mounted? I am supposed to receive my MARS accessory bracket mount today (replaces the aluminum cover plate on one cross bar), and wondering if you got the wiring run down through pillar.

Unrelated note, I have been searching for new cover plate SS screws to replace the carbon ones that came with it. I found the hex socket M8-1.25x12mm ones that hold the bars on, but not the M6-1.00x5mm flat ones for the cover plates. The slight rust on the carbon ones driving me nuts lol. Q, are you seeing the surface rust as well? Or just keeping dry/clean?

 

[Pulaski]

Pulaski, did you finally get your attn mounted? I am supposed to receive my MARS accessory bracket mount today (replaces the aluminum cover plate on one cross bar), and wondering if you got the wiring run down through pillar.

Unrelated note, I have been searching for new cover plate SS screws to replace the carbon ones that came with it. I found the hex socket M8-1.25x12mm ones that hold the bars on, but not the M6-1.00x5mm flat ones for the cover plates. The slight rust on the carbon ones driving me nuts lol. Q, are you seeing the surface rust as well? Or just keeping dry/clean?

I'm waiting for a slow day at work to run the antenna, so negative on that front. Once I have it setup I'll be sure to post pictures. The process has me a little hesitant.

The rust on the screws drove me effing crazy as well. The day after I installed them, I drove up to Northern Minnesota and had some off roading fun and they immediately started rusting.. I just emailed MARS and they sent SS ones for the cover plates. They have coated black ones now as well that are supposed to be rust resistant. They are really responsive. I did not ask for the hex socket ones though, thank you for sharing that size.

 

[OMFG]

I'm waiting for a slow day at work to run the antenna, so negative on that front. Once I have it setup I'll be sure to post pictures. The process has me a little hesitant.

The rust on the screws drove me effing crazy as well. The day after I installed them, I drove up to Northern Minnesota and had some off roading fun and they immediately started rusting.. I just emailed MARS and they sent SS ones for the cover plates. They have coated black ones now as well that are supposed to be rust resistant. They are really responsive. I did not ask for the hex socket ones though, thank you for sharing that size.

Excellent! Yeah, MARS has been good. My aluminum plate covers turning a little bronze-ish in this 100 Tx heat/sun, but in a way it looks cool. It’s just the rust on the screws that needs to addressed. Glad to hear they finally got some SS and coated ones as alternate.

for wind noise, I am going to take rubber seal / strip they provide for top of rail to protect whatever you put up there and move it to the front single slot facing forward. I think that front grove is where air is hitting at that angle for the slight wind noise. Still sounds better as is than wife’s Rover factory bars at speed…which makes me feel but better. Happy with the quality and multiple slots and thoughts they put in to make t nuts easy to slide in with no disassembly.

Everyone…Bad pic just now, but for others seeing thread, this is what Pulaski and I have and chatting about.

 

[wb9vxy]

I haven't figured out how to get in the truck without going thru the doors.
Here are my NMO mounts
Changed the cable to RG188 (pics show RG58) and snake it thru a gap in trim, then in to back door,
tucked into weather seal, under floor mat to radios in a box in the center below console
APRS and Voice radios in box with LiFePO batt from Bioenno.
15V USB-C PD cord with series Si diode and voltage is in the acceptable charge range.

 

[Seagrave7]

Well done. Any pictures of how you routed the wires in at the doors? Also any pictures of the radio mount inside the Cabin?

I haven't figured out how to get in the truck without going thru the doors.
Here are my NMO mounts
Changed the cable to RG188 (pics show RG58) and snake it thru a gap in trim, then in to back door,
tucked into weather seal, under floor mat to radios in a box in the center below console
APRS and Voice radios in box with LiFePO batt from Bioenno.
15V USB-C PD cord with series Si diode and voltage is in the acceptable charge range.

 

[wb9vxy]

More pictures of my dual NMO mounts and radio.

 

[Paul Scott]

Has anyone figured out how to mount a ham radio antenna on the Cybertruck and how to feed the coax cable into the cabin?

I was thinking mounting an antenna bracket in one of the roof rail mount would work, but how to get the coax cable inside?
Does the roof rail mount need to be “sealed”, or is it ok to leave the flap open to the elements?

Under the rear seat seems good place to mount radio body and power supply

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Yes, I mounted my antenna on the rear left and ran the cable under the roof panel tucked it behind the windshield rubber gasket. Pulled it from the frunk back to the driver side door where there is a small channel that goes in behind the dashboard.

 

[cybercricket]

Also curious what will be involved in getting clean/quiet 12v to the existing 12v ham radio options.

There is no alternator noise, and high frequency DC-DC converters are fairly clean too.

 

[tmeyer3]

There is no alternator noise, and high frequency DC-DC converters are fairly clean too.

I have yet to get any noise from the CT on 2m and 40cm, including the GRMS wavelengths. I haven't tried 10m yet, anyone running 10m get noise?

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