[Yaesu] Re: [FT817] ATAS-100 mount on Explorer

[Rudy Marcelletti, K8SWD]

Hi Pres:  I don't have this set up but have discussed it with a couple =
of guys on the air who had better than average signals and seemed to =
know what they were talking about.

If the electric mount you refer to is the one made or marketed by =
Comet--it will not hold the Yaesu screwdriver at highway speeds--to much =
wind loading.   It doesn't even hold the larger Comet Dual or Tri band =
VHF/UHF antennas.

I believe they recommend the larger, heavy duty Diamond K400 mount for =
this antenna.  One of the guys had this mount.  I have one also--and had =
it mounted on the rain gutter of my old Ford F150.  It held any antenna =
I put on it, plus I could roll down the window, reach up and turn the =
knob, and lay the antenna down.  However, your vehicle and most newer =
ones don't have nice rain gutters and I don't think your luggage rack =
goes forward enough for you to access the mount from the driver's =
window.  You would need to get out.

The antenna needs to be mounted on the roof rack however--to keep it in =
the clear.  The coil and boot should clear about everything the typical =
city has to offer, but the whip tip may take a beating at times.  =
Mounting the antenna on the driver side would help avoid most low trees =
(trees are lower near edge of road) however, most fast food and bank =
drive throughs are only about 10 feet high--not good.  But that low =
drive through height and my tall antenna helps keep my waist line =
trimmer than it would be if I could drive through!

I would consider a nice piece of aluminum to clamp to your rack cross =
pieces, then mount a nice ratchet mount, similar to a marine antenna =
mount (like that used by SGC on the QMS with 303 whip).  Mount the plate =
on the driver side, or center it.  You can open the rear door, step up =
and quickly fold it over.  Also, the plate will add to the ground plane, =
which is of utmost important with this antenna.  You must run heavy =
braid or solid copper strap to a GOOD ground and be sure you use as much =
metal under the antenna as possible for your ground.  The luggage rack =
alone is not enough and most have poor ground to body and body is rubber =
mounted.
Rudy Marcelletti, K8SWD
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Pres Waterman=20
  To: FT897@yahoogroups.com ; ft100 ; ft817 ; yaesu@qth.net=20
  Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 5:10 AM
  Subject: [FT817] ATAS-100 mount on Explorer


  Has anyone mounted the ATAS-100 on the roof of a Ford Explorer?

  If so, does it pose a hazard of striking trees or parking garages? How =
do
  you handle that?

  Has anyone used the electric tilt-over mount available in Japan? Does =
it
  adequately ground the antenna?

  Thank you.

  ..Pres Waterman.W2PW
  c/o Patchogue 112 Ford//Kia 112
  Long Island Ford and Kia Dealer

  GO BILLS!


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