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Mobile Antenna Farm 2.0 - Build Thread

Discussion in '2nd Gen Builds (2007-2013)' started by Lars, Jan 3, 2017.

Page 4 of 4
  1. Aug 30, 2018 at 8:49 AM
    #91
    Lars

    #91
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    I've seen folks talk about Firestik, or Firestik style antennas with regards to other radio services. I want to do a little show and tell if that's alright. There will be a bit of science in here, but only just the edge.

    Citizens Band (CB):
    • 27mhz
    • 11M wavelength
    • A quarter wave antenna is around 102" or about 9 feet
    Family Radio Service(FRS)/General Mobile Radio Service(GMRS):
    • 462mhz
    • 70CM wavelength
    • A quarter wave antenna is roughly 7" or less than one foot.
    The Most Popular Ham Radio Band (2M)
    • 144mhz
    • 2M wavelength
    • A quarter wave antenna is around 19" or under 2 feet.

    Quarter Wave CB Antenna
    [​IMG]

    Quarter Wave 2M Ham Antenna
    [​IMG]

    Quarter Wave FRS/GMRS Antenna
    [​IMG]

    When we look at a Firestick, whether it's a 2 foot firestik, or a 5 foot firestik, what you have is an inductive coil that electrically lengthens a physically short antenna. This always qualifies as a compromise. Either the antenna has narrower bandwidth, which could mean channels 5-30 tune welll, but you can't get the SWR down on 1-4 and 31-40. Or the take off angle is higher, leading to more of your RF heading toward space than other trucks. Finally, physically short antennas usually have loss when compared to their quarter wave cousins.

    Because FRS/GMRS is such a short wave length, there's very little reason to run a firestick like antenna for those bands. Instead what you'll see is longer antennas that are either an end fed half wave dipole, or a 5/8 wave, or in some cases co-linear arrays of quarter wave antennas stacked on top of each other. All of these improve performance over the standard quarter wave antenna, usually with the compromise being the robustness of the antenna, cost, or both.
     
    Lars, Aug 30, 2018
    #91
    TexasTundra27 likes this.
  2. Aug 30, 2018 at 2:22 PM
    #92
    FoghornTX

    #92
    FoghornTX Proud American and Infidel since 1968

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    FoghornTX, Aug 30, 2018
    #92
    138thBatista, Lars[OP] and GodlessPro like this.
  3. Aug 30, 2018 at 3:34 PM
    #93
    Lars

    #93
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    If there was a "LOVE" button I would have hit it.

    Please let me know if while you're studying you have any questions you would like explained in layman's terms.
     
    Lars, Aug 30, 2018
    #93
    FoghornTX[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. Aug 30, 2018 at 3:34 PM
    #94
    Lars

    #94
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    I found plugs for the "parking assist sensor" holes that my Demello bumper had pre-drilled. My truck doesn't have the parking assist sensors, soo....
    [​IMG]

    And then because I'm not afraid of a little 12v wiring... I put some corner indicators in them. I also got un-lazy and at the same time added the DRL halos to my parking lamps, so they actually light up now.
    [​IMG]
     
    Lars, Aug 30, 2018
    #94
    TexasTundra27 likes this.
  5. Dec 14, 2018 at 7:19 AM
    #95
    Lars

    #95
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    Trail Toys High Clearance Rear Bumper is being installed.
    This is only the second, or maybe third Trail Toys HC Tundra Rear in the wild.

    [​IMG]

    Here's what it looks like off the truck (bumper 2 or 3 whichever mine isn't, this one's heading to Montana)
    [​IMG]

    Frame mounts go straight through the bumper to become the rear shackle mounts.
     
    Lars, Dec 14, 2018
    #95
    TexasTundra27 likes this.
  6. Dec 14, 2018 at 7:32 AM
    #96
    Lars

    #96
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    Lars, Dec 14, 2018
    #96
  7. Dec 14, 2018 at 7:34 AM
    #97
    FoghornTX

    #97
    FoghornTX Proud American and Infidel since 1968

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    Kinda put it off to the side for a bit. Other things became a priority. Now, they are not a priority. After Christmas and New Years, I'll be picking it back up.
     
    FoghornTX, Dec 14, 2018
    #97
    Lars[OP] likes this.
  8. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:18 PM
    #98
    TexasTundra27

    #98
    TexasTundra27 Moby Dick

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    Icon stage 3, Icon billet UCAs, 5.29s, ARB lockers F+R, Coachbuilder +2s and shims, Rago fab ditch light brackets and bed stiffeners, Rago Fabrication sliders, ARE camper, 17x9 XDs and 37/12.5/17 stt pros, DT long tubes, xpipe with dual magnaflows, Full skids, TrailToys front and rear bumpers
    Welcome to the Trail Toys club! Bumper came out great!

    92F742AB-3771-4102-ABB7-142DF2C96787.jpg
     
    TexasTundra27, Dec 14, 2018
    #98
  9. Dec 14, 2018 at 2:50 PM
    #99
    Lars

    #99
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    Hidden Falls?
     
    Lars, Dec 14, 2018
    #99
  10. Dec 14, 2018 at 3:13 PM
    #100
    TexasTundra27

    #100
    TexasTundra27 Moby Dick

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    Icon stage 3, Icon billet UCAs, 5.29s, ARB lockers F+R, Coachbuilder +2s and shims, Rago fab ditch light brackets and bed stiffeners, Rago Fabrication sliders, ARE camper, 17x9 XDs and 37/12.5/17 stt pros, DT long tubes, xpipe with dual magnaflows, Full skids, TrailToys front and rear bumpers
    Yes sir, you’ll be happy to know that the rear bumper never hit a single time!
     
    TexasTundra27, Dec 14, 2018
    #100
  11. Feb 15, 2019 at 7:43 AM
    #101
    Lars

    #101
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    New Rear Diff Armor got installed:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I'm working on installing an ARB Dual Air Compressor under the rear seat. I need to first run another set of 4awg leads back there, into another Blue Sea Systems fuse panel.
     
    Lars, Feb 15, 2019
    #101
    zcarpenter92 and FoghornTX like this.
  12. Feb 15, 2019 at 8:07 AM
    #102
    Lars

    #102
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    I upgraded my HF radio and Antenna recently to an Icom IC-7100, with a Tarheel Little Tarheel-II antenna.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Lars, Feb 15, 2019
    #102
    sgthoskins likes this.
  13. Feb 15, 2019 at 8:23 AM
    #103
    Lars

    #103
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    I might...
     
    Lars, Feb 15, 2019
    #103
  14. Feb 15, 2019 at 8:42 AM
    #104
    Stormtrooper81

    #104
    Stormtrooper81 Slow and steady

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    Great build thread!!:thumbsup::cheers:
     
    Stormtrooper81, Feb 15, 2019
    #104
    Lars[OP] likes this.
  15. Feb 15, 2019 at 4:28 PM
    #105
    TexasTundra27

    #105
    TexasTundra27 Moby Dick

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    Icon stage 3, Icon billet UCAs, 5.29s, ARB lockers F+R, Coachbuilder +2s and shims, Rago fab ditch light brackets and bed stiffeners, Rago Fabrication sliders, ARE camper, 17x9 XDs and 37/12.5/17 stt pros, DT long tubes, xpipe with dual magnaflows, Full skids, TrailToys front and rear bumpers
    Looks good, who makes that?
     
    TexasTundra27, Feb 15, 2019
    #105
  16. Feb 15, 2019 at 4:29 PM
    #106
    NE_WARRIOR

    #106
    NE_WARRIOR [HOONIGAN] Wannabe

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    NE_WARRIOR, Feb 15, 2019
    #106
    TexasTundra27[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Feb 22, 2019 at 2:14 PM
    #107
    NE_WARRIOR

    #107
    NE_WARRIOR [HOONIGAN] Wannabe

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    @Lars found my instagram :spy:
     
    NE_WARRIOR, Feb 22, 2019
    #107
    Lars[OP] likes this.
  18. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:05 PM
    #108
    Lars

    #108
    Lars [OP] Trail Communicatons Expert

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Tundra TRD RockWarrior
    I took it out my birthday weekend (early November) and actually used it.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Lars, Dec 18, 2019
    #108
    sgthoskins, TexasTundra27, NE_WARRIOR and 2 others like this.
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Diamond Original NR72BNMO Dualband Mobile Antenna
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