Amature Radio Antenna on FGRV

[Markz]

Curious to see how others have/would hook up an dual band antenna on their campers.

Let's see hear about your set ups.

[redbarron55]

Which two bands?
I might suggest (if 2 meters and 440) an Ed Fong dual band J pole and a stick of some kind.

[Dave Fish]

I have unique opportunity on my Campster. When they replaced the 13' frame with a 15' and removed all of the propane, they left the original propane mounting hardware intact. I have an aluminum tent pole I slide over the threaded clamp down rod and have a mirror mount VHF/UHF antenna mounted to it. I have a ground strap from the rod to the frame.

When in camp or on a field event, I extend the tent pole and unfold the antenna and am ready to go.

I also put a weatherproof bulhead connector through the wall of the trailer as my conduit to get it inside.

W7DAF

[redbarron55]

If you use a J pole you can get some gain and not need that ground plane.
I use one at home and portable.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DBJ-1-Dual-...-/113516146770

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by Markz

Curious to see how others have/would hook up an dual band antenna on their campers.

Let's see hear about your set ups.

I have both permanent and temporary mounts. The temporary slides into the receiver hitch. The “permanent” mounts get changed as needed and are nothing but bent plates mounted on the back of the awning. A Motorola mount would let you remove the antenna as needed.

[Markz]

Love to see a picture

Originally Posted by Dave Fish

I have unique opportunity on my Campster. When they replaced the 13' frame with a 15' and removed all of the propane, they left the original propane mounting hardware intact. I have an aluminum tent pole I slide over the threaded clamp down rod and have a mirror mount VHF/UHF antenna mounted to it. I have a ground strap from the rod to the frame.

When in camp or on a field event, I extend the tent pole and unfold the antenna and am ready to go.

I also put a weatherproof bulhead connector through the wall of the trailer as my conduit to get it inside.

W7DAF

[Markz]

I was thinking of maybe using a ball mount on the side of the camper or making a receiver on the back to hold a pole for the antenna [emoji341] to mount to.

[redbarron55]

I have a 2" PVC schedule 20 pipe mounted so that a 2" telescoping pole (or green 31' fishing pole vertical antenna will slide in.
This can work with the included wire and a tuner for HF and can support the portable J pole as well (but not to 32').
I have the Scamp Command Vehicle (SCV) set up with 300 watts of solar power and a connection for a second battery with a connection for a power distribution bar with Anderson power poles.
There is also a power dynamics PD4540 charger etc.
We are set up of emergency comms with a 2000 watt inverter generator etc as well.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Markz

Curious to see how others have/would hook up an dual band antenna on their campers.

Let's see hear about your set ups.

For portable ops or mounted full time?
The rear hitch receiver (an option for Scamps) is great for portable set-ups but useless for a full time permanent mount (on the highway). I just put together an end fed 40-10 meter wire antenna which runs from a mast on the Scamp's rear receiver hitch to any support more than 70 feet away. I have a second mast and hitch mount so the far support can be my tow veh or any other vehicle with a 2 inch hitch receiver.

The same mast on the scamp can be used for any VHF dual band antenna of course.. for stationary ops only.

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by Markz

I was thinking of maybe using a ball mount on the side of the camper or making a receiver on the back to hold a pole for the antenna [emoji341] to mount to.

A painters pole works also

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by AC0GV

A painters pole works also

A painters pole is also a mast.. one of my masts is a fiberglass tree limb trimmer. A mast by any other name would still ....

[Dave Fish]

Originally Posted by Markz

Love to see a picture

First picture is travel position. Second is the antenna rotated to the vertical position. Third is the tent pole extended with the antenna up in the rafters. Last is the weatherproof bulkhead connector.

It might not be very efficient this way in the carport because of thecsteal roof.

[Kevin_Lemon]

Hi. I own a 1975 Boler 13ft trailer that I am setting up for radio communications. I am a member of Niagara ARES in the Niagara Penninsula.
I have a bumper mount antenna support from DX Engineering, in the mount is a modified piece of ABS pipe. I insert an army surplus fiberglass tent pole into the mount for a mast. The poles come in 5 ft lengths and I use up to 4 poles. On the top I put a Diamond X50 dual band antenna. The mount allows me to lay the mast down for assembly and then lift it into position. I also can use the same setup with a set of ham sticks for HF work.
I am also going to add small pipes onto the trailer frame to allow more fiberglass masts around the trailer perimeter. The DX engineering mount is very expensive so just design your own, I had it from a different project and just reused it. The mount attaches to the bumper via a Princess Auto spare tire mount. The fiberglass poles came from Princess Auto as well.
If you have a roof vent on the trailer you could also change the vent lid to a metal lid and use a mag mount antenna.
Kevin VE3RRH

[Derswede]

Hi, N4ABA here. I unbolted the jack on the back of my Scamp and bolted on a 2' long pipe I had. Actually an old table base for a camper, set it up to hold an 18' painter's pole, and an end fed PAR antenna connected to it. The 2m antenna is at the top of the pole, it is an old Ringo Ranger, which disassembles rather nicely. Setup time is 10 minutes. Coax exits thru a proper seal to keep insides in and outsides out. Coax is on the water tank side of the Scamp. 12V straight from the battery, thru a fuse-block, to the table area. The dining area is the shack. Kenwood TS-480AT for HF, and an old Alinco dual band unit for 2M/440/Crossband repeat. REALLY need to get out some more, but the current TV is too small to tackle Black Mountain, so limited to more coastal operations for the moment.

[computerspook]

I do HF from mine. I have a lund engineering (https://www.powerstream.com/power3.html) buck and boost converter and have replaced the converter with a high powered one. I then feed an anderson power pole power strip right above the table. Right now I have a seperate 2 meter rig from the HF fig. I put a half wave whip on the front so the rf is away from me even though that should be safe anyway. Planning on going dual band soon.

Also thinking of putting some kind of an aprs setup on/in it.

[redbarron55]

I have used a swiveling trailer jack ( Harbor freight ~$15.00) for a swing up attachment.
Take the jack screw and the wheel post out and you have the thing.
It is 2" ID and a 1 1/4 pole fits in nicely. It has the hardware to bolt directly to the rear bumper.
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Here is a picture of the SCV with the green fishing pole