Tools for Off-Roading

Crissa

Well-known member
First Name
Crissa
Joined
Jul 8, 2020
Threads
126
Messages
16,211
Reaction score
27,071
Location
Santa Cruz
Vehicles
2014 Zero S, 2013 Mazda 3
Country flag
It's whatever shape you want it to be. The mounts are usually just screw points, aren't they?

And you ignored the idea of using the window itself. I don't know the radioreflective properties of the glass they're using, but it's probably more like metal than most. Put your loop there.

There are lots of solutions. The roof itself is a big box.

-Crissa
Sponsored

 

ajdelange

Well-known member
First Name
A. J.
Joined
Dec 8, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
3,213
Reaction score
3,403
Location
Virginia/Quebec
Vehicles
Tesla X LR+, Lexus SUV, Toyota SR5, Toyota Landcruiser
Occupation
EE (Retired)
Country flag
If you are familiar with aviation radio you should be familiar with the √(h1 + h2) rule based on sperical spreading and thus loss of 20 db per decade and the shape of the earth. This means, practically speaking, that it may be possible to talk to a controller 100 miles away from 10000 ft with a handie. OTHOH as soon as one of the stations goes beneath the horizon, behind a mountain or through heavy forrestation (especially in summer when the leaves are out) spreading is secondary and losses become 40 db/decade or more. I've had pretty extensive experience with low power radios in aviation, business, ham, FRS, military and other bands. With VHF/UHF in hilly woods expect the game to be pretty much over at a mile. This can go out to 2 miles or 3 or even more if the terrain is flat and treeless. Over water perhaps 5 miles (unless the antennas are on tall masts of ship, shore or both in which case you can communicate much farther).

Every dB is precious, of course, but if you are fighting 40 dB per decade picking up 1.25 dB by improving antenna VSWR from 3:1 to 1:1 is only going to buy you range improvement of 10^(1.25/40) = 1.075 which is 396 feet of additional range if you are at a mile with the 3:1 antenna.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the better modern radios can do automatic antenna matching so that even if your antenna groundplane isn't that great the radio can still match to it so that there is little return loss. Then there are other types of antenna like log spirals, sleeve dipoles, patch and so on. Hams were, when I was active, known for their ability to innovate. Perhaps that's no longer the case.

If you are using a handie to talk to an aircraft you should have no trouble as long as it is above the horizon and hills don't block LOS. If you are in the ham bands you should have no trouble talking to a repeater as long as there is LOS to it (doesn't mean you have to be able to see it - means you would have to be able to see it if the trees were gone).

Haven't thought much about this stuff in years but it only took me a minute to find this 2m "no ground plane" antenna: https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-b1442n-752. Of course you still have to mount it somehow and get a cable to it. I wouldn't want to be drilling holes in my CT but you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
 
Last edited:

ldjessee

Well-known member
First Name
Lloyd
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
1,148
Reaction score
1,357
Location
Indiana, USA
Vehicles
Nissan Leaf, MYLR, Kaw 1700 Vaquero
Occupation
Business Intelligence Manager & Analyst
Country flag
I saw someone make their own ground plane using roof rack bars by having a piece of sheetmetal between the bars with the antenna mounted to this piece of sheetmetal. Attention was paid to make sure the sheetmetal was grounded to the vehicle body (common ground).

I was not worried about these details, my plan was to check to see if the bed of the CyberTruck was magnetic and just use a magnetic mount there, if not, then use the rail in the bed to mount the antenna for mobile setup.

I have also seen interesting bumper mounted fiberglass poles that have antennas attached to the end, which gives a huge elevation above the vehicle (it was on a Jeep).

I have seen some interesting tripod dismount antennas as well that if I really got into Ham I would consider doing more research.

I have not done much with radio other than some simple research when I thought I was getting a Jeep Gladiator (now I have a CyberTruck reservation) since I got out of the Army. I did consider doing a Raspberry Pi with Ham doing packet radio, but decided to focus on a hobby I already had instead of getting into another one. :)
 

FullyGrounded

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 18, 2020
Threads
8
Messages
324
Reaction score
340
Location
blah
Vehicles
blah
Country flag
I've been watching some YT videos to see what different people's off-roading experience is like. Some that I'm liking are from The Story Till Now. Conveniently those guys are up in British Columbia so they have somewhat similar terrain as what I'd expect to get around here in Washington State.

Watching the videos though I'm noticing that there are a number of regular use tools that I'll probably want to get with my CT in order to make these trips. The powered tools I'd like to be either battery-electric or plugin with extension cords if necessary. But some of the things I'm seeing as necessary are:

  • Some Jacking solution
Anybody have any other favorite tools that they like when off-roading? Any recommendations?
Yes, a high-lift jack is an off-road staple. Don't be shocked if you see someone having one mounted to their hood. Just sayin. peace
 

Crissa

Well-known member
First Name
Crissa
Joined
Jul 8, 2020
Threads
126
Messages
16,211
Reaction score
27,071
Location
Santa Cruz
Vehicles
2014 Zero S, 2013 Mazda 3
Country flag
Yes, a high-lift jack is an off-road staple. Don't be shocked if you see someone having one mounted to their hood. Just sayin. peace
That's a terrible place for one. The sail is a better place; it wouldn't hit your range as much.

-Crissa
 


ldjessee

Well-known member
First Name
Lloyd
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
1,148
Reaction score
1,357
Location
Indiana, USA
Vehicles
Nissan Leaf, MYLR, Kaw 1700 Vaquero
Occupation
Business Intelligence Manager & Analyst
Country flag
That's a terrible place for one. The sail is a better place; it wouldn't hit your range as much.

-Crissa
I was thinking along one side mounted to the rail if it does not fit inside the sail pillar storage.

I also cannot suggest high enough having a shovel, ax, strap, and some kind of traction/weight distribution device (ie, MaxTrax).

Then would be a winch, even more recovery tools (like snatch blocks, tree protectors, chains, etc), and a fire extinguisher.
 

Ehninger1212

Well-known member
First Name
Jake
Joined
Dec 18, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
1,222
Reaction score
2,520
Location
Houston, TX
Vehicles
Audi A3 E-Tron - 2005 Land Rover LR3 - T-Bucket - 1951 chevy 3100
Occupation
Architect/Fabricator
Country flag
Yeah, I was thinking along the top of the sail, in that backpack roof rack area.

-Crissa
I'll just throw mine in the bed/"vault".
 

Sirfun

Well-known member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Dec 28, 2019
Threads
55
Messages
2,389
Reaction score
4,872
Location
Oxnard, California
Vehicles
Toyota Avalon, Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, Ford E-250
Occupation
Retired Sheet Metal Worker
Country flag
I'll just throw mine in the bed/"vault".
Don't you guys think if Elon says you could mount a Giant Paintball gun in the bed. That you could mount a jack? I don't want a jack sliding around in the bed of my truck! Maybe mounted to the accessory rails on the inside of the bed?
 


Ehninger1212

Well-known member
First Name
Jake
Joined
Dec 18, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
1,222
Reaction score
2,520
Location
Houston, TX
Vehicles
Audi A3 E-Tron - 2005 Land Rover LR3 - T-Bucket - 1951 chevy 3100
Occupation
Architect/Fabricator
Country flag
Don't you guys think if Elon says you could mount a Giant Paintball gun in the bed. That you could mount a jack? I don't want a jack sliding around in the bed of my truck! Maybe mounted to the accessory rails on the inside of the bed?
Yeah.. but im a cheapskate.
Sponsored

 
 




Top