Re(2): Re(2): Re(2): [Mobile-Portable] Installation in 2005 Ford F-150 Crewcab?

[DavidE Benedict]

k3bz at arrl.net writes:
>Thanks, Dave... very helpful. I've never seen an installation like yours
>and
>it gives me some good ideas. 73 and Happy New Year,  Jerry K3BZ


Happy New Year to you, too, Jerry!

I'm glad the mounting photos and etc. were an interesting addition to your
idea farm.

FYI... remember the last photo? The coax was sitting there alongside the
antenna, ready to be connected to the 2-1/2 inch aluminum mast. I didn't
like its exposure to wx and what was ((for lazy-me)) a
cumbersome/inconvenient attachment to the mast.

--- Larry's Antennas ---
By the way, I drove over to Vancouver WA and met & talked with this guy,
and he seems to be both an A-OK Ham and a good manufacturer.
.............www dot kj7u dot com.............
Look at this site for more photos which show a few mounting schemes.
Though not detailed they are possibly somemore idea-makers for your
installation.

Additionally....
I like more ease of On & Off mount, so modified Larry's mount and coax
connection scheme.

Mounting Stud....
I started by making a new stud assy which is of larger O.D., and which is
inclusive of the top mount plate of my cantelevered base... then I brought
the coax up thru a ~1/2 inch hole drilled up thru the mounting stud and
physically/electrically terminated the center wire of the coax with part
of a banana plug. I then made the coax and it's outer sheild physically
affixed and electrically connected to the stud via some set screws to it
from the outside radius of the stud. I then completely water-sealed this
new stud/connector assy with liquid/pourable "electrical tape" (ACE
HARDWARE, ~$5 for a small can). 

Larry's Antenna Mast....
Then, I affixed an inverted coax chassis-type connector to a tight-fitting
plastic piece up into the mast at just the right height inside the mast to
meet with the center wire of the coax's banana plug. This is a new plastic
insulator/mast stud acceptor which I fashioned to accept this new coax
chassis connector and the larger diameter stud (larger dia. stud to
maintain the stud's strength with the new 1/2 inch hole drilled thru its
vertical middle for the coax run to the banana pin).

Viola! ....
Easy On/Off physically, which also automatically makes/breaks the RF
connection, too.
--But I still have to also make/break the two wire motor connection with
Larry's original plug...the wires of which still run the same sneaky way
out of the mast.

BUT....
When I remove the mast it leaves the banana pin exposed and physically
vulnerable in that sea of liquid "electrical tape" at the top of the
mounting stud, so I made an aluminim cap which covers it when the mast is
removed.

All this is waaay too much work for most folks...and probably too
expensive to manufacture & sell, so it'll probably remain a one-of-a-kind
Kludge. Pictures available of the finished Kludge if you want to see them

I hope you have a great mobile year Jerry.

David B.
W7DBH
Oregon