2017+ Cascadia Evolution Antenna Mount

Ok. Have now made the 1,100-mile roundtrips with the two Francis antennas. No movement of the mount.

So far as I can tell I’m getting the most from this Uniden 880 Bearcat. Still planning on the 885 Beartracker (combo CB and GPS-located scanner; now for sale at some Loves; see thread by Trucker700 on Radio Reference) as the extra info offered looks intriguing as a driving tool.

The West Mountain Radio ClrSpeaker has to return to manufacturer for repair; got mishandled in one of my moves.

I’ll be out of the truck for a 34 until Saturday morning starting tomorrow. Will dig up that braided ground. And get another.

Thinking aloud about what next

I have the rig all in the overhead, but am now thinking I’ll move it to the dash. Easier cable routing. I’ll find some quality UV-resistant split loom to cover those.

Power currently from BATT and I think I’ll take another look at running the NEG to a chassis bolt. There’s a thread on Lightbar about avoiding problems with engine management this way. Concern there was about Hall Effect Sensors (new to me). Motorola still wants shortest run to a bolt, etc.

Rig to dash: a pair of racks velcroed to dash tray; starboard antennas install with change to co-phase and that covered and built as harness with power for ease of removal. I’ll find some type of standoff for contiguous power/coax run.

Power was fitted with quick disconnect, so some cabling accessories to keep all neat and secured (out of defroster vents).

Anyone still using COAX-SEAL or similar to keep connections weatherproof?

The rig is quiet enough I can now “hear” the engine (alternator). And the reefer compressor is a killer. About the only thing I have coming in across the coax is the windshield washer motor. A link awhile back here or on WWDX to Palomar Engineers makes me think I they could help me with those noise problems.

And I think I’ll contact Francis about their non-standard co-phase length.

Am open to your suggestions. This leased truck isn’t something I can screw around with too much. Probably enough done already to tick off someone.

 

You’d find the 880/980 a good spare radio. Light and small. A contributor here (Jamie) did nice set of commments back when they were new.

Yes, the SWR is given as digital decimal. Same with the self check where power (here) shows 14.50V

 

Your point about limited ground with the bird perch makes it simple enough in my mind to bond the mount to a body bolt.

Plus that we’ve already noted SWR change with door open or closed.

A “can’t hurt to try” solution.

 

Try them on your Western Star (5700?). I had them on a KW T880 after Robert dialed them in. Didn’t get around to a 1.0” corona ball, but that was next experiment. Best Fiberglas type I’ve ever used. Heavy, stiff.

 

I’ve got a few of those that now sit in the fabrication box.

 

First ever big truck was so slow I’d be on my original (and still kicking) Uniden 76 letting oncomers know I was out ahead of them on a grade, “attention eastbound up the Gorge, slowmover at mile marker XX”.

I could pretty much get out and run alongside that truck. Do bota

 

Here was the original mess. Power to circuit box behind passenger panel. Coax just zip tied to drivers entry grab handle and thru door



At 68-mph westbound on IH20. In this and other photos the antennas clear with door open or closed, and at speed. Hasn’t yet thwocked the mirror housing.