Awesome, thank you 4Crawler. I've got a 102" that I'd like to continue running. But I've emailed right channel radios, and a few other places to start with. I think I might be making this WWAAAAYYYYY more difficult than it really is.

Thanks for the input.

 

Here's my mount (with a 102 inch whip) it was originally a mirror mount that I took half of and mounted to my tool box. I'll get a picture of my dads tonight which is what I will be switching to when I get a new tool box.

 

If your mount is missing parts, like that insulating ring, a new one won't cost that much, maybe $5-10 at a radio or electronics shop.

 

4Crawler,

I'm thinking that's all I need is the insulation rings, and the rings separate the actual mount from the antenna right? I'm using the PL-259 and RG-8 but, I think I'm getting confused on all this grounding and bonding stuff for the antenna. I think it's time for a break to clear my head then come back to everything and read again.

Mudd Duck,

Thanks for the pics, clear up a lot of my confusion. Please do send me the other pics of your dad's mount as well.

Ive been letting the coil sit/contact my mount. My mount is grounded to my frame and bed. I think that's where I went wrong, but not sure. Keep the pics and advice coming please.

 

All the little washers do is insulate the antenna from the mount (like you said). From my experience you usually wont have to ground your mount to the frame or bed I've always just hooked everything up and if your SWR's are just not where they should be then think about grounding directly to the frame or where ever and see if it helps. I've only had to run a ground like that on one truck. Does that make sense?

 

Yea it makes sense. I've always been under the impression that everything had to be grounded. But If all I really need is to insulate the antenna from the mount as a starting place, then I'm all worked up over nothing......guess it's time for a trip to the hardware store. THANKS !

 

Two basic kinds of antenna mounts, one for mounting on a metal surface (ground plane) and one for mounting on non-metallic surface (no ground plane). The latter is the complicated one, the former is just the mount with the insulating washer piece. On the mounts I have use, the insulator is a bit more than just a plastic (likely nylon) washer. It also has a little lip in the center to keep it centered in the hole.

 

stay away from the no ground plane antennas and mounts.

Just go to a local truck stop in your area and pick up a mount that will work for you. You can get an entire mount or just the stud that will have everything you need. No sense in trying to save $10 and buying the wrong $0.30 spacer and blowing up another radio. If your confused how the stud is installed look at the regular mounts there as the studs most of the time are already pre-installed.

Mount the mount or stud then put the spring on then your antenna. SWR's as long as you have a good ground between whatever your mounting the mount to and the mount itself with a 102" should be dead on to what it needs to be. SWR meter is your friend here and a good investment as well. Do not rely on the SWR meter in the radio if it happens to have one. Only use an 18' cable as well. DO NOT use a 9' cable or any other length, as this changes the wavelength and SWR or the antenna. Do not coil up the extra cable that will be there, if anything wrap it in an S shape with an inch or two between the wire. If coiled up it creates what is called an RF choke and will cause issues with range and SWR. If buying an SWR meter also pick up a 3' cable to go between the meter and the radio.

 

I realize that the "spacer" or whatever you prefer to call it is more than "just a plastic washer" I know it has that little lip on it I was mearly refering to it as a washer for lack of a better word

 

HA!

I've got you beat. I had a Radio Shack TRC-482 that had a roger beep and connex board in it, it dead key'd at 1w and would swing to 22w! Pissed off a lot of people with that radio. All the locals used to duckhunt me because they thought I was running power, and left pissed and amazed that I wasn't running power.

 

muuuuduuccckin!!!!!! Lol