stock ranger coax impedance

--weezl-- · May 17, 2012

ok, so i'm buying my ham tomorrow i think... and i want to install the antenna where the stereo antenna goes, being that i NEVER use my truck's radio, it's always on the audio input... my curiosity is this, what is the impedance of the antenna coax running from the stock head unit to the stock antenna? can i use this for my ham, or do i have to *sigh* rewire it?

also debating if that IS where i want to put it, or if i want it on the front of my bed, to match the cb antenna i have...

also, what type of mounting do i have to deal with for the ham antenna, or can i find one that will just screw into the stock hole?

5speedin2.3 · May 17, 2012

I wouldn't use the stock coax. It isn't made to transmit and has very poor shielding.

I made custom made my antenna mount.
Tools I used; cutoff wheel, 1/2" drill bit, and a step bit.

I also bought an antenna windshield from autozone (20$) so I could listen to the radio still. It sucks when you're out in the middle of nowhere, but it works well enough.

This album should have enough pictures to give you an idea of what you need to do.
http://imgur.com/a/VDxbx#0

--weezl-- · May 17, 2012

i really like that... is that silver oval thing what holds the stock one in?

5speedin2.3 · May 18, 2012

--weezl-- said:
i really like that... is that silver oval thing what holds the stock one in?

Yup. I modified it to accept the firestik stud "mount".
If you pull yours off, you will understand what has to be done.

I was thinking about taking it off and grinding it down so I could use the lock washer, but I'm not sure how strong it would be at that point.
I'm just running a little 2ft antenna and it seems to be fine so far.

If you really want to get fancy, you can get one of these.
http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/AR-1A.htm

I was going to run one, but I've been reading a lot of mixed reviews.
That and my radio would toast the thing the first time I turned up the power.

Also, I carry around two adjustable wrenches in the glove box so I can take it off when I go the car wash. I have yet to leave it on and test it.
Not sure I want to after seeing how the brushes bent the original antenna.

--weezl-- · May 18, 2012

I've heard good things about those splitters, but I never use t antenna as it is, I'm not even sure where it is... The stock mounting place will be used for a ham antenna, not a cb, though I'm sure I can do virtually the identical thing...

My firestick (cb) is at the front of my bed right now... I'm not too sure what Style I'm going with on the ham... Guess I will see at around 430 when I buy it! Lol

Sent from somewhere naughty!

5speedin2.3 · May 18, 2012

I use my antenna for both. :dunno:

I'm running a Galaxy DX44V and the 2' K40.

--weezl-- · May 18, 2012

Hey, how did you get the sticky thing out of the flat thing, after you pulled the wire out of the bottom of it? I'm just about to start in with the dremel on the cover piece, but need to know that before I start cutting it...

Sent from somewhere naughty!

5speedin2.3 · May 19, 2012

--weezl-- said:
Hey, how did you get the sticky thing out of the flat thing, after you pulled the wire out of the bottom of it? I'm just about to start in with the dremel on the cover piece, but need to know that before I start cutting it...

Sent from somewhere naughty!

Sticky thing? :icon_confused:

--weezl-- · May 19, 2012

how did you get it from this:

to this:

5speedin2.3 · May 19, 2012

The plastic piece should come off the bottom, then you cut it and drill it out with the 1/2" drill bit.
I used the step bit to open it up a little more as you can see, that way the isolator would fit properly.

A vice makes it easier, you could probably get away with a pair of vise grips.

--weezl-- · May 19, 2012

i'll most likely be using a dremel, the mount i'm using is completely different than a CB mount...

that entire unit that i have in my hand in that picture, seems to be one solid piece, it won't come apart no matter what i do... maybe i'm missing something?

5speedin2.3 · May 19, 2012

The plastic piece on the bottom should come off, the smaller plastic piece on the top will twist/break off if you grab it with a pair of pliers.

--weezl-- · May 19, 2012

Ok I'll give that a try

Sent from somewhere naughty!

brinker88 · May 19, 2012

Im DEFINITELY stealing this info

5speedin2.3 · May 19, 2012

brinker88 said:
Im DEFINITELY stealing this info

Lol. I posted this close to a month ago on facebook and in my build thread.

stock ranger coax impedance

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