2017+ Cascadia Evolution Antenna Mount

The structure of the overhead is the problem. The pinch point is a bear.

Refer back to (enlarge) the pics when runs were being removed from overhead (March 30; end of first page) It’s a minimum being shown.

There’s just no good way to do it short of the runs coming out of the A-pillar and running exposed to central cubby.

Split loom is your friend in that case. Can use picture hooks to hang from top, and Velcro to secure.

Central divider pops out, by the way.

 

Presently at ten miles-plus on edge of metro area, transmit and receive.

Receive is as good as I remember from a large car install when I was oilfield a few years back. (Same Galaxy v2, and was using Wilson 2000s). Worked rural Texas, and, as with this job, fairly far west.

Too many voices is the right problem as I near DFW.

The DSP speaker showed up today. Hopefully I have both harnesses for it. Noise quality has been altered with chokes or filters, now its time for final clean-up.

I have to take apart the TRC-2 Radio Carrier and start over. Since now have all pieces (except RigRunner 405), it can be done a bit better than before.

The backordered DC toroid for the refrigerator/freezer compressor should be here soon. I’ve been using the heavy snap ferrite rings intended for the BATT ends of the power cables. Easy 5 Su noise reduction. Irritating, but no longer overwhelming most voice.

 

Have the DSP speaker installed this past week. Have always been pleased at having spent this money.

The SkipShooter 7’ antennas are en route to my address. I’ve had no desire to tune these Firestiks.
It’s been fun playing with the antenna tuner, though.

Still need to take everything apart and start fresh as in above post. Treat all the connections, seal the exterior from elements. Get the best physical layout in the TRC-2

New coax to be installed, too, as the present harness got pinched. Forgot to bring fishtape on this trip (3-4 weeks).

Bought more quick disconnects for 10-ga power leads. Will “shorten” the thing by taking a good bit of the middle out when I move from BATT to dash circuit box leads. There’ll be (1) a section from RigRunner to dash (QD), then (2) another section behind dash (QD), and (3) the final piece where fuses/terminations are installed.

Progress is always slow because the truck never sits. Never a day off where I could work on it. Has to go in shop next week, so I’ll try to get some stuff done while it waits.

Other truck projects are just as slow.

 

I agree about uncut wires, in general. But this approach — this time — renders my harness good for the next company truck. “Build a Harness”.

It’ll all be covered with close-fit split loom.

And the harness will no longer penetrate body panels.

The distance from Rigrunner to circuit panel (with cover removed) is 3’. The harness may wind up as 6’ (versus the current 18’).

Total amp draw is not high for this setup.

 

Took this tonight for another thread

Haven’t redone coax yet. Shows Pro-Comm mount with 7’ Firestiks.

Have figured out what settings on MFJ-945 Antenna Tuner work best at speed. Showing 1.5W reflect and 50w forward. .