Installing A Mag Mount On A Fiberglass RV Roof - K6UDA Radio Episode 49

I agree, I would never, never drill a hole in the roof of an RV...
How about a clamp on mirror mount, truckers do this all the time.

 

Yeah, this would have been a lot neater, specially since it's a VHF/UHF antenna, it would have been small. Also, thanks for sharing that, I've never seen one of those before and I'm totally going to buy one to use in my car.

 

Properly done, it works well. I proved it a hundred times for several years.

That's OK for MF-HF but, a lousy idea for VHF-up. The result is a radiation pattern that isn't omnidirectional.

 

Watch this weeks episode for that answer.

 

All of these folks who wouldn't drill a hole in and RV, yet, the TV antenna comes through a hole, mounted in holes, plumbing vents go through holes, the air conditioner is in a BIG hole, the refrigerator vents through a hole, and the roof hatch vents are good size holes.

I guess some guys just don't like holes.

Drill, Baby, drill!

 

Why not?

Serious question. I honestly don't know why one should not drill holes in fiberglass.

 

When you can mount an antenna on mirror or even the rear ladder is an option, why drill holes for a piss willy 1/4 wave mag mount? But, to each his own.

 

The point is to have an omnidirectional radiation pattern, by using a groundplane that is uniform. Otherwise, in order to maintain communication, you'd have to never turn.

 

Omni direction makes sense on HF or 2 meter ssb, but repeaters? Come on.

 

Non omni when working a repeater (or any station) is fine, as long as the relative direction of the repeater never changes.

 

All mobile antennas are omnidirectional.

 

...if they're installed above the middle of an appropriate and symmetrical groundplane. If they're installed to one side, they're not omni.

 

True. However, will -0.9 db make much difference into a repeater? I think not.

 

Many things are drilled into the roof of a motorhome. If its done correctly by someone who knows what they are doing, theres no issue. It's rained heavily here since the install and this coax cover and seal perform flawlessly.

 

There is no reason not to. The manufacturer drills and cuts holes for A/C units, TV antennas, plumbing and refrigeration vents, FM radios, Solar Panels and more. Lots of this stuff is put on after a coach leaves the factory.