I mounted my Midland on the Rock Hard cage, the coax is 18'.

 

Is there room in this thread for an amateur radio (ham) mount?

Here is my Icom 706mkIIg. For those not familiar with it, it's what's known as a "DC to daylight" rig as it can operate on just about any frequency commonly is use. I mounted the control head with a GPS type window mount and ran the separation cable to the radio via the front dash panel. I notched the back of the top dash piece to gain access and then went down behind the trim and under the carpet to the radio. I like this setup as all I have to do is unplug the separation cable and throw the head in the glove box and you wouldn't see anything from the outside.



Next is the radio itself mounted under the front passenger seat. The smaller box on top is an automatic antenna tuner made by LDG. The antenna tuner electronically matches impedance between the antenna and the radio such that all I have to do is push a button on the control head and I have the lowest SWR possible on my current frequency. There are two coax connectors coming out of the radio itself one for HF (long distance) and one for VHF/UHF (local) use. Only the HF passes through the antenna tuner. VHF/UHF out goes directly to the antenna. Coax length from radio to antennas is ten feet (a near perfect length). Power goes directly to the battery through the firewall. I used the factory hole that is filled with foam located behind the outer passenger AC vent (accessible by popping off the dash end cap piece). Also note that I grounded both the radio and the antenna tuner to the seat mounting bolt.



Here are my antenna mounts. They are made by Arizona Rocky Road especially for Jeeps and mount to the spare tire carrier. I choose these because they rise above most of the body of the vehicle. On one, I've mounted a 102" stainless whip for HF use (resonant on 10 meters and tunable to several other bands). On the other, I've mounted a small dual-band VHF/UHF antenna. The VHF/UHF is low enough to not cause me much trouble and the 102" whip is on a quick disconnect, so it's just push and turn and it pops right off. Good if I need to go under some low trees. The coax passes into the cab via the top hinge point of the tailgate. They just sandwich in when the gate is closed and they are held in place via sticky foam mounts and cable ties.

 

Thanks Matt and nope! Its been smooth sailing. Until I drove my jeep into my garage. TWICE! ive been through three antennas already.

 

I have the very same CB and have found it to be very versatile. I liked it better than the similar Cobra CB because of the ability to convert it to a handheld. the Midland is very simple to use and is a good trail radio and a good highway unit with a good antenna....

 

I get about 5 miles on it while hooked up to my firestik and about a mile or so the other way.

 

So how do you hook that up to a 4' antenna ? Do you just plug it into the cig. lighter for power too ?

 

So its not like the Cobra where it has a separate power box that needs to be mounted somewhere ?

 

Please let us know how it works. This is a good option for ease of use and the ability to take it out of the jeep when not in use , I am assuming !

 

10-4, Looking foward to hearing from you

 

What did you mount for the "Button" on the back of the radio?