<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CslRkH2:
You want a large ground plane for the Antenna to work best. Interestingl your great reception will be from the antenna toward the side with the most metal. So if you mount it in the rear passenger, your best reception will be forward to the driver which would be optimal for Interstate Highways. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Very interesting. So how about mounting the antenna in the middle of the the horizontal, left-to-right bar that's just aft of the sunroof? That's where I put mine today (and it damn well
better work since I had to scrape powder coat to get a good ground
). I ran out of daylight before making the coax run to the interior so I haven't had a chance to test it. Based on what you say, I'd guess my best reception will come from the back, the sides will be even and in front will be the weakest. Agreed?
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Everyone I;ve talked to and the websites like FireStik state yo need 18' coax length. I'm not sure that guy you spoke with was correct in this instance. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I grabbed this off the Firestick site.
About the length: This is a testy subject with many engineering types. They have argued with us on many occasions regarding this matter. They say that if your system is set-up properly that the length of the coax is irrelevant. We agree! However, mobile installations have so many variables that a perfect set-up is the exception, not the rule. One guy has a pick-up and another has a fiberglass motorhome. One wants the antenna on the bumper, another on the hood and a third on the roof. Few people want to drill holes in their vehicle so quality grounds are always a consideration. Because of the imperfect world, we almost always recommend 18' (5.5m) when our products are used. We do so with good reason too! At 18' the voltage curve has dropped back to the zero voltage point where the cable meets the antenna which reduces the reactance within the cable itself (a null cable if you would). It has been our experience that if the antenna location makes it somewhat out of sync with its surroundings, cable lengths that are not multiples of our 18' suggestion adds to the problem. To that, our complaining experts say, "Then the antenna should be moved!" to which we say, "You tell the guy with the $30,000 vehicle that he must drill a hole in his roof so he can use a 9' cable". We solve problems in the best way we can given the boundaries that the customer establishes.
On that note, when you have 18' of coax going to a radio that is only 8' away, what should you do with the other 10'? We recommend that you serpentine it like a skein of yarn so that it is 10-14" long and tie it in the center with a wire tie then tuck it away. Do not roll it up in a tight circle as this can cause it to act like an RF choke, which often times will cause system problems.
If I read that right, it's all about the ground? And if the ground and all other components are good, length is negotiable?