RadioBanter - View Single Post

January 2nd 05, 09:41 PM

On 2 Jan 2005 11:15:17 -0800, wrote in
.com:

1. It's mounted using a standard RS bracket within a plastic
compartment on the console.

snip

3. Grounded to a bolt on the door hinge.

Seems you have a floating (ungrounded) system. DC ground is not the
same as RF ground, the latter needing as short a wire as possible. In
fact, the antenna base should be mounted directly to some bodywork and
you can't cheat by running a wire to a ground somewhere else. The same
should be done with the radio if possible, although a -very- short
wire from the radio to ground (the deck beneath the console) should be
OK as long as your antenna mount is well grounded.

The reason RF grounding is so important is because a floating system
picks up noise very easily. Also, the antenna works much better when
properly installed. You can gain 2-3 S-units (and increase your
transmit range proportionately) by properly mounting the antenna. I've
installed lots of CB and commercial radios and as long as everything
is grounded (RF ground) there is rarely a problem with RFI..... unless
the alternator is going bad or something like that, but you would be
able to hear that in your AM/FM radio, too.

It's either that or drop the tank.