2017+ Cascadia Evolution Antenna Mount

I “know” you’re correct, we talked past each other. The current setup isn’t done at leisure. No time off and full days. Have to steal the time, as it were.

You’ll see better at some point.

And I had already burned four hours at that shop. Be ###### glad if you don’t try to route lines thru overhead. And pulling side panels to access door wiring grommets and then thru dash lower went quickly.

Getting power and coax where I wanted it was that days big step.

2.0 was a starting point. Good enough for that day.

 

The factory antenna setup you mention is an option. The OEM is a Hirschmann “Thin Film Antenna” buried in the roof. I suspect not far above the windshield.

I agree about removing others.

 

The current harness sure isn’t very best quality. So I appreciate tips for a better one. Thx.

 

Installed the Noise Filter yesterday.

Palomar
RFI-DC-30

As before, the heavy gauge power cables are run to the BATT.

Have since soldered in a quick disconnect near rig. Downstream of that is now this filter.

What noise remains is softer-edged. Definitely helped cut the refrigerator compressor sound to an irritant versus turning off radio.

I’m pretty accepting of noise to listen for those distant transmissions. But the compressor was too much most of the time.

I haven’t reinstalled the 3 into 1 12V socket device as it was noisy. I’ll try it today if I think of it.

All received transmissions now a little more clear. Audio fidelity improved. (So, yes, power cables were contributory to noise).

The device is big (for mobile), and it’s expensive (trucker relative). Like the West Mountain DSP speaker, not what I’d recommend unless someone wants to chase away all the problems.

 

Craig, I’m feeling guilty you’re sitting bolt upright on awakening every morning with my SWR problems the cause.

At the moment, I leave the transmit amp off and the Galaxy variable down to minimum. I may have spoken 3-4 times on air past week.

I’ve a couple of SWR bridges. They’ll do until I’m further along.

I’m set to receive some more gear when I can swing past home, hopefully this week. RFI reduction stuff.

After that (another week or so) I’ll have funds to play with again.

May go back to the 2017 mount as a pair and the 7’ Firestik as a pair again. If they’re “okay” then maybe (big may be) I’ll order the Skipshooters.

The winds here (eastern New Mexico & Colorado, both Texas & Oklahoma Panhandles; the High Plains; 4,000+ feet elevation) are nothing to be trifled with. Steady 25-30, even forty. Gusts to 60 and better. Almost knocked off road today by a gust.

Yes, the Francis antennas bend too much. But receive quite well given what they are.

Haven’t measured space between them. But it’s certianly better than some. I’ll see if I can’t find a large car to make a comparison.

The Skips would likely be better, but how to steady them? I’ve seen Mike5511’s “brace”, so it occupied a few miles of driving for thoughts (no room for V-grips in mirror housing).

I’m open to suggestions. Just may not be able to act right away. (Not my truck, a lease, remember).

Tomorrow or next day I’ll order up some braided ground straps. Probably a roll.

An analyzer (1), and then onto ideas about antennas (2). Got it. (Go back to bed; I’m going to get in touch with a former driver who’s also a HAM of many years. After he catches his breath from laughing, I’ll see if I can’t put him to work, too).

 

First day with the DC power cable noise filter installed AND almost no wind today, first day in two weeks.

“Audio quality”, fidelity, is genuinely better. No difference in receive distance, of course, but better able to distinguish words and voices.

Was approaching IH-40 thirty miles east of Amarillo coming up from the south, and started to pick up the doorslammer slaves 7.1-miles out.

But this time could understand them.

Same for other receive: at three/four miles they could have been sitting next to me for intelligibility.

Chasing RF interference is paying. In the words of our Prez, “bigly “.

I should have received the Coax Common Mode Filter at home, and ordered toroid ferrite rings for all the DC pieces today.

Palomar Engineers isn’t the only source, nor is my route the only one. See kits available.

One of those kits is for wall warts. I’m going to try it on the three chargers, the GPS power cord, and the Bearcat speaker.

Have already ordered one of the big rings for that danged refrigerator DC cord. (Sure glad it’s a bit quieter already).

My son may go back overseas as a military contractor. So a couple of kits and some loose pieces may accompany him, I’m that happy this far.

I’d say the DC filter has excluded all but what is now being picked up by the coax shield braid. We’ll see if my guess is correct.

Sibilance (hiss) is now soft to the point of being steady. No real spikes or random noises intruding. Someone left the rhythm section intact, but pulled the bass and drummer offstage.