Author Topic: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle  (Read 16828 times)

Offline DBT

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Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« on: June 12, 2014, 09:43:26 AM »
Hi all,

After some info on the metal base that bolts to the antenna brackets on the FFR (110). The bit below (and possibly including?) the antenna spring.

Are these a generic unit, or are they part of the antenna kit? Are they generally available? Do they have a name? I'm assuming (hoping) it's not a tuner, just a mount.

I plan to use 2 of my brackets to mount UHF CB and NextG antennas. Apologies to FFR restorationists for my planned butchery. :)

Thanks for any advice.

Dave.

Offline aussiegregmac

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2014, 10:15:09 AM »
The item you talk about is the MX-6707 Ant. matching Unit.

http://www.armyradio.com/arsc/customer/product.php?productid=1637

However , not suitable for your intended use.  You'd be better off getting some flat plate with your UHF ant. spring bolted into that with the plate bolted to the steel brackets.

The Mil stuff is designed for a different Freq. range.
Nothing wrong with your intended purpose as it doesn't change anything that's there already.
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Offline Greg & Tony Egretz

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2014, 12:24:55 PM »
My son and I are gutting one to run a uhf antenna cable through it and 2.1 m uhf antenna on it. It will still look Mili spec on the outside, the only reason were doing that to it when I got  the base, sometime in it's army service it caught on fire on the inside and damage beyond repair events on the outside of the fire too.
Cheers Greg Egretz 150
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Offline DBT

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2014, 12:46:43 PM »
Many thanks Greg M and Greg E.

As i feared its a tuning unit, which i don't need.

I like your idea Greg E of using the shell to mount a UHF. It would at least look authentic, in lieu of function.

I shall keep an eye out for incomplete / unserviceable examples.

Thanks again.

Dave.

Offline Diana Alan

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2014, 12:59:35 PM »
I might take one of the bases down to our local fibreglass auto body parts maker and see if he'll do a mould then we can just order up the positives and fit an antenna base into it.

May be able to do it tomorrow.

Fitting something like the 2.08m RFI "UHF CBRS Q-Fit Collinear 477MHz - 8 dBi"   http://www.rfiwireless.com.au/mobile-antennas/citizens-band-mobile/uhf-cbrs-q-fit-collinear-cdq8000-b.html#tab_desc would even look similar to the AS1729, particularly if we painted them khaki green.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2014, 01:06:25 PM by Diana Alan »
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Offline Mick_Marsh

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2014, 03:44:15 PM »
Great idea Diana.
Put me down for a few.
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Offline Aussie Jeepster

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2014, 06:17:30 PM »
Sounds good to me too.
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Offline Greg & Tony Egretz

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2014, 07:14:43 PM »
put us down for couple as well sound like a good idea Cheers Greg Egretz 150
Myrtle   63 2A Ambulance                - 112-115  (GREG)
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Offline DBT

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2014, 09:58:47 PM »
I'll take 2 please!

:)

Offline Doddy

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2014, 10:34:43 PM »
Hi,

I have a handbook for these antennas and tuning units if anyone needs specific info on internal components etc.

The fibre glass copy sounds like an excellent idea for mounting cb etc antennas.

Please don't gut good working examples just to mount a different antenna, as stated above they are getting harder to find.

I wonder how they managed to cause one to catch fire, as the unit is rated at 70Watts?

Regards
Doddy

Offline Greg & Tony Egretz

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2014, 06:52:47 AM »
Hi Doddy as a sig in the army reserves  back in the 80's never had one catch on fire, but when I saw this one I tried to work how this could of happened (vehicle fire maybe?)
Cheers Greg Egretz 150
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Petri     64 2A Workshop Hard Top  - 113-773 (GREG)
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Offline Phoenix

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2014, 12:48:06 PM »
Bushfire could have been the cause, I have photos of a few vehicles gutted by fire, particularly a set from holdsworthy of a few that were caught in a yard.
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Offline Diana Alan

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2014, 08:34:25 PM »
Missed the fibreglass mob apparently they finish early on Fridays.  I did however spend the time to dismantle one of the bases to investigate and so I have an easy sample to take the mould off.

Am also wondering about the construction.  What would people think about having the bases manufactured with an aluminium tube in the middle which is tapped to the same thread as the RFI antenna mentioned previously?  This way the antenna screws into the mount and the forces in the antenna would be distributed to the length of the tube, rather than just the very top of the mount.  Could even leave some tube protruding from the bottom so a grounding strap can be attached.
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Offline Doddy

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2014, 09:38:14 PM »
How well will the tube bond to the fibreglass?

Would it be a better idea to have a metal plate on top of the fibreglass "cone" with the 16mm mounting hole drilled in it, much like the original?
You would need tube spanner to tighten nut.
Assuming from web site literature that it is supplied with cable coming up through the base of the spring and spring has some sort of coaxial socket at the top that antenna attaches to.

Just some ideas

Doddy

Offline Diana Alan

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Re: Antenna base - between spring and vehicle
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2014, 09:40:14 AM »
Hi Doddy

The original MX6707 housings have a reputation for cracking just above the mounting flange, I would assume a plate in the top would have a similar problem because of the torsional effects when the tip of the antenna hits something like a tree branch.  The plate idea would also require a larger hole through the middle for the nut and tube spanner (very long tube spanner)

Will discuss the options with the fibregalss blokes this week.
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