Just installed mine this weekend too. Works great. For antenna, I used a 2' firestick FS with a spring and quick disconnect. This is mounted on top of an aev tire carrier mast so the entire 2' is above the roof line. The tunable antenna is awesome. Got swr readings 1.4, 1.1, 1.5 across the range.

For the mic mount, I used a gear keeper retractable system clipped to the passenger visor. Works great, especially with a manual tranny. Just grab and let go of mic when you have to shift.

I don't really like the connect mount plate though. I mounted it to the panel under the glove like a lot of people did. Not very sturdy and not very easy to connect. Also gets in the way of the passenger.

Also wish the speaker was louder. I connected it to the aux input of the stereo. That works fine but a bit of a pain to connect/disconnect. Anyone use the ext. speaker? How much louder is that?

All in all, still pretty happy with it.

 

...no problemos.

 

Got mine installed this past weekend, concealed under glovebox, hanger for mic near radio. Using 3' Firestik firefly on tire carrier. Bought the cooltech "ultramount" but didnt think would work that well then with only 3' antenna (wouldn't clear roof) so I used the ultramount and just bored the hole bigger and mounted to tire carrier (using the ultramount bracket).

For SWR I'm having trouble getting below 1.9 on Ch 1 and 40 though. I can get down to 1.4ish on either 1 or 40, but then the other end shoots up to 3-3.5. Best I can do across range is 1.9, 1.3, 1.9. Any ideas to get it lower? I messed with it for an hour but it just kept going back and forth. Ch 1 good, 40 bad, 1 bad, 40 good, but never better than what I got 1.9 on each. I guess this is safe to transmit, but would like lower...

 

redrockin7, I had very similar issues. Just a question about your SWR testing... between each reading did you replace the antenna tip? I tuned my antenna back-and-forth using the SWR on ch1, 19, and 40 with the tip off. Put the tip back on and got different readings. I'm still getting close to you however and would like to see other suggestions. My patch cable is 9ft and wonder if that could be an issue..????

 

After u tune don't check SWR till tip is put back in place every time u adjust.

 

In addition to what the others said, this is basic but just in case make sure you're taking your readings out in the open verses say, in a garage (I forgot one time, and got readings like yourself - drove me crazy until I realized my mistake ).

 

Does the patch coax length matter? (the coax between the transmitter and the meter)
The only one I could find was 9ft, that's half the length of the antenna coax.

 

Thanks for the ideas - I did put the rubber tip back on between each reading, so that is not issue.

I am using 2ft coax patch, whether or not it matters I don't know. I'd be inclined to think no, but I am novice at this kind of stuff!

I have a couple ideas, but not sure its worth changing to solve it. I'm not trying to reach out 10+ miles anyway, it will be used 98% on trails within 1/2 mile of each other, and 2% maybe when stuck in traffic trying to figure out whats going on.

My ideas are: 1) ground plane deficiency (does it matter/impact that Jeeps have soft tops versus metal tops that can reflect some signal) due to soft top 2) 3ft antenna only with about 50% of it "hiding" between my tailgate/top and the 35" tire on the back, and only clearing roof by 6" 3) I just have it grounded as its mounted on bracket between carrier and tailgate (with paint scraped off gate), but maybe gate needs grounded to frame?

I.e. new mounting location higher on tire carrier might work, or longer antenna, or better ground to frame. Going with a no groun dplane antenna, but I don't think thats the issue as jeeps been running regular antennas forever...

 

Hey guys I have a question about mounting up the quick release below the glove box. What did you guys do to get it to mount flush? Did you use a hole saw to cut a hole to fit the entire rubber grommet? If anyone could take a picture of the cut before you mounted the plate that would be awesome!

 

Yes it matters. The "jumper" coax to the meter should be as short as possible. Reason being, is that the amount of coax used does effect the entire antenna system.