- First Name
- Kilgore
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2022
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 120
- Reaction score
- 282
- Location
- Washington
- Vehicle(s)
- Jeep
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
- Thread starter
- #1
Hi fellow Hams. Two years ago I took delivery of a Badlands and almost immediately was struck with the 7 speed manual death rattle. Decided to wait until Ford sorted things out before installing any ham gear. 7k miles since Ford performed the fix, the tyranny is silent, and the install has begun.
My first HF mobile install was 1976. The rig was a Kenwood TS-520 in a 1972 Datsun Pickup with hustler whips and resonators for antennas. Several compromises were made, like eliminating the ability to carry a passenger..........
My last install was a yaesu FT-891 and Diamond SD-330 screwdriver in a Jeep. That install served me well over 100k miles without a failure and great performance. The 891 will get a full once-over and firmware update on the bench and move over to the Bronco. The 330 will be recycled in a different truck.
The Diamond SD-330 still works great, but has been upgraded to a Hi-Q antenna. The big driver for this change is the ability to handle more power. The 330 is limited to 200 watts, the Hi-Q is rated at 1.5Kw. Although the install will not initially include the amplifier, it will be designed to accept the amp later.
This post will document the full install project in steps. The first step is where to mount the freaking antenna!! Ford didn't do us any favors here. No steel roof, no rear bumper mount if you have lane change sensors, and of course a thin aluminum body.
The Hi-Q is a big, heavy antenna with lots of wind resistance and mass mounted high. If your not familiar with one, go here for a peek;
https://www.hiqantennas.com/gallery/
After a lot of poking around, the only place that makes sense was the tailgate. It's designed to handle a heavy spare tire, and has accessible hinges that can be utilized as load bearing points.
After a rabbit trail of building a plate to capture the tire mount and hinges, I found this on Amazon:
Advanced Accessory Concepts Bronco 21+ Tailgate Reinforcement https://a.co/d/bwnWw7Z
Perfect starting point, and the price was right considering the time and materials I would avoid. The first test fit went well. What became evident almost immediately was the tailgate is not vertical. This causes the plate to have a 3.5 degree tilt forward at the top. Normally not an issue, but with a tall antenna, it looks really bad.
Next was the mount itself. My preference for strong, high power handling antenna mounts is the Breedlove Puck:
https://breedlovemounts.com/store/ols/products/high-power-puck
Have used them in many installs and never a failure, even at full legal limit. In this case, the mount would be mounted on a length of 2 inch aluminum tube, so the mounting ring was machined to have a slight interference fit to the tube. Final mounting was by heating the ring to expand it over the tube. After cooling, three locking TIG welds were performed between the ring and tube. Photos below.
The tube was secured to the plate with some angle stock and aluminum tubing clamps. Before drilling the final mounting holes for the Tubing clamps, the antenna was temporarily installed and made vertical. See photo.
The last photo is the completed mechanical install. Also installed is the breakover fitting for the whip. Its also a Breedlove product and recycled from the former Jeep install. Very useful in parking structures!! At this point the overall height is 13 feet. The whip will be trimmed down to give 12.5 feet where I am comfortable.
No grounding or bonding has been done yet. That will be in the second installment.
73, Bob
WB6AGE
My first HF mobile install was 1976. The rig was a Kenwood TS-520 in a 1972 Datsun Pickup with hustler whips and resonators for antennas. Several compromises were made, like eliminating the ability to carry a passenger..........
My last install was a yaesu FT-891 and Diamond SD-330 screwdriver in a Jeep. That install served me well over 100k miles without a failure and great performance. The 891 will get a full once-over and firmware update on the bench and move over to the Bronco. The 330 will be recycled in a different truck.
The Diamond SD-330 still works great, but has been upgraded to a Hi-Q antenna. The big driver for this change is the ability to handle more power. The 330 is limited to 200 watts, the Hi-Q is rated at 1.5Kw. Although the install will not initially include the amplifier, it will be designed to accept the amp later.
This post will document the full install project in steps. The first step is where to mount the freaking antenna!! Ford didn't do us any favors here. No steel roof, no rear bumper mount if you have lane change sensors, and of course a thin aluminum body.
The Hi-Q is a big, heavy antenna with lots of wind resistance and mass mounted high. If your not familiar with one, go here for a peek;
https://www.hiqantennas.com/gallery/
After a lot of poking around, the only place that makes sense was the tailgate. It's designed to handle a heavy spare tire, and has accessible hinges that can be utilized as load bearing points.
After a rabbit trail of building a plate to capture the tire mount and hinges, I found this on Amazon:
Advanced Accessory Concepts Bronco 21+ Tailgate Reinforcement https://a.co/d/bwnWw7Z
Perfect starting point, and the price was right considering the time and materials I would avoid. The first test fit went well. What became evident almost immediately was the tailgate is not vertical. This causes the plate to have a 3.5 degree tilt forward at the top. Normally not an issue, but with a tall antenna, it looks really bad.
Next was the mount itself. My preference for strong, high power handling antenna mounts is the Breedlove Puck:
https://breedlovemounts.com/store/ols/products/high-power-puck
Have used them in many installs and never a failure, even at full legal limit. In this case, the mount would be mounted on a length of 2 inch aluminum tube, so the mounting ring was machined to have a slight interference fit to the tube. Final mounting was by heating the ring to expand it over the tube. After cooling, three locking TIG welds were performed between the ring and tube. Photos below.
The tube was secured to the plate with some angle stock and aluminum tubing clamps. Before drilling the final mounting holes for the Tubing clamps, the antenna was temporarily installed and made vertical. See photo.
The last photo is the completed mechanical install. Also installed is the breakover fitting for the whip. Its also a Breedlove product and recycled from the former Jeep install. Very useful in parking structures!! At this point the overall height is 13 feet. The whip will be trimmed down to give 12.5 feet where I am comfortable.
No grounding or bonding has been done yet. That will be in the second installment.
73, Bob
WB6AGE
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