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Anyone installed 900Mhz antennas on a Garbage Truck?
Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 2:24 pm
by CQCQCQDX
I know Will has. We have a 900Mhz mountain top system and a fleet of trash trucks. When we were on UHF, we ran coax all the way to the back of the chassis and up to the top to a "transit" type antenna. This worked well with acceptable loss on RG8X. I'm trying to find a way to not run LMR 400 or 9913. Howz about co-phased, mirror mounted Antenex NGP Phantom's? There's a metal hood/shield above cab, so that's out. 
Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 2:57 pm
by fire-medic8104
Is this a top load or rear load garbage truck? If it a rear load just put it in the roof. I haven't had the displeasure of working on a top load. Though I had to run video cables along the frame rail for a back up camera. EXTREMELY nasty. Truck had been in use for 2 years.
Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 4:41 pm
by CQCQCQDX
A top/front loader. This first one is new, then the rest are, well, garbagey. Actuall this outfit keeps their trucks pretty clean. But, you see my dilemma. Antenex is going to send me a couple of Phantom antennas with a phasing harness to try out on the mirrors. I'll post the results. The antenex guy was going to just send me a 'T' to connect the 2 antennas to the radio, but I think that the cables from the antennas to the 'T' have to be 75 ohm, and cut to an odd multiple of 1/4 wavelength. The Antenex guy didn't know. Somebody confirm?
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2003 3:46 am
by n1pfc
The odd 1/4 wavelength and 75 ohm coax is correct. They can also make up a cable using 92 ohm coax as well and avoid the whole specific length thing with the 75 ohm coax.
Kurt
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2003 9:58 am
by jim
Why not just run a single antenna with a radial kit on a mirror?
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2003 9:47 am
by FMROB
Jim, I am with you,,,,,Keep thing simple...It is a garbage truck, I wouldn't even want to waste the cheapest 900 meg spike on it, let alone a phantom or someting of the like....A single mirror mount with 58 will work just fine...
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2003 9:47 am
by FMROB
Jim, I am with you,,,,,Keep thing simple...It is a garbage truck, I wouldn't even want to waste the cheapest 900 meg spike on it, let alone a phantom or someting of the like....A single mirror mount with 58 will work just fine...
The Great White North (Canada I Mean)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:38 am
by Susan157
It Is A Garbage TRuck.
We Don't Need Antennas.
Self-Resonating 900 Mhz Garbage Truck
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:55 am
by CQCQCQDX
We decided to tune the entire truck for 900 Mhz and forget the antenna. Way to go batboard!
OK, We ran 9913 to the top of the truck and put a transit antenna. Putting the antenna on the mirror gave us signal problems in certain areas when the bulk of the truck got between the mirror mount and the mountain top repeater. Up on top, we've got clear 360 degree view. I opted against the dual-mirror option. Too much math!
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 5:43 am
by jim
I've never once even heard of a signal/coverage problem with a mirror mount on 800/900. Did you use an elevated feeder with a groundplane radial or just put the antenna on a mirror mount?
I use these on trucks with zero problems. Maybe they just need a better system!