Guys looking for some info on where you all installed your HF antenna and what antenna you all are using....
Mark,
HF antenna? Like in 10 or 11 meters, or something different? I don't know if Foretravel has installed any large squares of metal plate anywhere for a ground plane. Guess we would have to ask Foretravel that question. Been wondering myself. I do know that Tiffin does that. Mine had a broken ball mount just above drivers side window for 11 meters and I replaced it with a new ball mount/spring and a "No Ground Plane" 48" Firestik.
Don't know how many Ham RVers are operating on 10 meter HF. Think many operate 144 mhz 2 meter. I have been thinking that I might take the Tech test. Got away from amateur radio many years ago, but I see where it might be a advantage to have a 2 meter rig in both the toad and motorhome. If I do the 2 meter thing, I would replace the old cell phone antenna that was installed at the factory in the center of the roof. Probably would use a Larson whip for 2 meters.
Pat
This is a timely thread, since I just drove up to Mesa (AZ) and took (and passed) my Technicians exam. Now I'm wondering where to put a larger antenna. I'm imagining a setup on the rear with a center loaded Firestick for 2 meters, maybe with a telescoping mast.
BTW - is there any issue with ~100W transmitters interfering with the engine / transmission electronics?
A neighbor of ours is a Ham and an RVer (Newmar, oh well ;) ). He's also in the radio equipment business (baluns and ununs). I'll send him an e-mail and see if he has any road-worthy advice I can post here.
Michelle
Here's Bob's response:
Hi Michelle,
Well I imagine the Foretravel is not unlike our Newmar in that the sidewall and cross memebers for the roof are metal studs or metal tubing. When I installed mine on the roof I used a stud detector that senses metal as well as wood and made sure I drilled holes for the mounting bolts that passed through the metal infrastructure. The center of the roof is the best ground plane for an HF antenna but not always easy to access. With the massive amount of metal presented by the coach it usually is not an issue though. My only caution would be not to mount one of the larger HF antennas on the sidewalls because of the weight. My mount is motorized and retracts down to the horizontal position when traveling. I then just raise it when we are stopped and I want to use it..
On that same topic, the 5 watt CB type transceivers usually do not bother the electronics of a coach but when you raise that to 100 watts from a typical HF transceiver, strange things can happen. In mine it would cause the slide to retract and sometimes start the generator (we have auto start for the gen). The RF can get into the wiring easily because of the proximity of the antenna so if higher power is used (100 watts and up) be prepared to start installing clamp on ferrites around the 12v and 115v wiring to suppress the EMI caused by the RF.
Also, if the question is truly oriented to an HF antenna, the best is one of the screwdriver types that will provide use on many HF bands. Scorpion, Hi Q and Tarheel are some of the better ones and allow remote tuning. Be sure to use a choke balun like the ones from Balun Designs <grin> at the feedpoint of the antenna and also at the end of the feedline before any transceiver.
Hope that helps Michelle and just let me know if you or the forum have additional questions.
Bob, KZ5R Balun Designs
One of the more sanitary installations I have seen is to use a Marine HF antenna like a Shakespere 23' mounted on a marine rachet mount bolted to the drivers side a foot or so below the drivers window and the addition of a chrome bracket or two rearward to carry the antenna when it is laying down in a retracted position. This antenna of course is only deployed when sitting still. If you are in the southwest, plan to be at Quartzsite, then lots of examples there January 22-29th at MM99.
Regards,
Here are multiple pictures from Tarheel antennas which show their screwdriver antenna mounted on RV's. I used their largest antenna (the only one they had when I bought it) on the old Bluebird. Worked quite well.
Recreational Vehicle Photos (http://www.tarheelantennas.com/recreational_vehicle_photos)
Great thanks for that link.....who's foretravel is that on their page? I have a hs1800 screwdriver antenna that I am going to use I think. I might get that Tarheel mount, it looks awesome!