CB and GMRS antenna on MOPAR A-pillar brackets

[chorky]

Anyone using these brackets to mount antennas along with lights? Curious to hear how antenna performance is.

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[Cruizer8]

I am currently using those brackets with a GMRS antenna and signal is pretty good. I also have a light right next to it so that doesn't help at all. In the future I will probably get a taller antenna too improve the signal.

 

[chorky]

I am currently using those brackets with a GMRS antenna and signal is pretty good. I also have a light right next to it so that doesn't help at all. In the future I will probably get a taller antenna too improve the signal.

how did you route the coax?

 

[Cruizer8]

how did you route the coax?

I ran it down the inside edge of the cowl and then through the conduit/channel at the top of the firewall over to the passenger side. From there it goes into the cab through the grommet that one of the main harnesses runs through.

 

[sarguy1941]

Did similar setup. My cable runs into engine compartment and thru grommet to my 8500. Shows decent sweep, although on the edge for VHF

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Nice option. Any idea what it would cost to get that painted to match the body?

 

[chorky]

Woah forgot this was my post. I ended up using EVO brackets because I ordered and installed the D&C Designs lucid cowl lights. These mopar brackets are certainly stronger and more secure. But I do like the low profile of the EVO brackets despite their cost.

Post # 22 and 36
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/destination-unknown-2022-jtr-journal.66430/page-2

 

[hjdca]

That bracket can really help GMRS reception if it is grounded. I'm not sure if those 4 cowl bolts ground the bracket, but, you can also run a wire from one of those bolts to a bolt on the fender which is grounded.

 

[chorky]

That bracket can really help GMRS reception if it is grounded. I'm not sure if those 4 cowl bolts ground the bracket, but, you can also run a wire from one of those bolts to a bolt on the fender which is grounded.

The cowl bolts will ground. My EVO brackets that I opted for only use 1 cowl bolt and the one hinge cover bolt that is either alum or plastic? Either way I checked continuity and had a perfect 0.00 resistance between the radio mounts, going through the brackets, body, and to ground.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

That bracket can really help GMRS reception if it is grounded. I'm not sure if those 4 cowl bolts ground the bracket, but, you can also run a wire from one of those bolts to a bolt on the fender which is grounded.

Yes, that was my thought on going with a more “substantial” bracket like this. If I’m going to go with a permanent antenna mount, I want it to be functional.

 

[Radio Guy]

That bracket can really help GMRS reception if it is grounded. I'm not sure if those 4 cowl bolts ground the bracket, but, you can also run a wire from one of those bolts to a bolt on the fender which is grounded.

Grounding shown by an ohmmeter doesn't really apply to the antennas being discussed and its more about the amount of flat sheet metal right under the antenna vs a wire to the body or battery. You can have a sufficient size ground plane approx 12" dia for UHF floating above the vehicle and not grounded in any way and it will be a happy performing antenna.

A tiny antenna mount with no ground plane surface area to speak of elevated above the vehicle and tied to the body with a single wire will become more of a dipole with the whip being one half of the antenna and the ground wire to the body being the other half of the dipole. The wire attachment to the body is not of any real consequence at that point and the vehicle body is not really part of the antenna in this case.

The curved body parts behind the hood on either side are plastic on my truck and attach to raised brackets underneath. That is a very poor RF ground and using the attachment screws for the plastic parts as a ground will not add much to the performance of an antenna mounted above these plastic parts. In the example shown in post #5 the light bracket is the major portion of the antenna ground plane and that ground plane basically ends at the edges of the light bracket. It will work at UHF but for VHF or lower frequencies its not very much surface area.

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