I am getting ready to install my radios in a toyota tundra 4x4 extended cab...
The truck is my personal truck in which i use for my daily activities connected to the business I own.
The truck like I said will be a extended cab truck. On the bed will be an all aluminum construction topper. There will be a ladder rack that is seperate of the topper, but is about 1 1/2 inches above the top of the topper. The ladder rack has a pipe tube (holds electrical conduit inside it) that is made of sked 80 pvc pipe and is about 4 inches in diameter and is mounted in the exact center of the ladder rack. Ladders (fiberglass type) will be carried on the ladder rack almost all the time. And finally the ladder rack does extend over almost the entire cab of the truck.
So my question is, as most of you probably already know, Antennas???
I have some ideas, but let me first outline my radios
vhf spectra
uhf spectra
800mhz edacs radio
800mhz digital type scanner (its an all band digital scanner, however it is only used on 800mhz to monitor the colorado state apco 25 system)
all band scanner
I hope to use a communications grade splitter of some sort for the edacs radio and for the 800mhz digital scanner since the edacs radio never transmits to save one antenna.
The all band scanner has a few 150mhz public saftey freqs in it. A few 460 public saftey freqs and a couple of 800mhz trunk system in it. So I need a fairly good all band antenna. But, this radio is not used that much. Most of the stuff in colorado is 800mhz stuff near me and in the areas that I travel mostly. So its like a backup out of the home area scanner.
The two spectras are used for ham radio repeaters and simplex. Both of the spectras do have some public safety mutal aid freqs in them, but the are receive only.
So here is what I have been thinking about.
800mhz, one of those little phantom antennas that are about the size of a medicine jar mounted on the top of the topper but under the ladders etc... I know, signal will be degraded, but I won't destroy the antenna like has happended on my other truck that this one is replacing (that truck had all whip type antennas mounted on the roof of the truck and the topper)
vhf/uhf spectras I am at a loss here. I realize I can mount one whip for each radio on the hood edges. I really don't want to though so that is why I was hoping for some input from you guys. I was hoping to make the truck as clean looking as possible. Have the most effiecent comms possible with the tradeoffs that I need to incorporate and keep from trashing my antennas with the ladders like which has happened in the past.
The all band scanner antenna, once again. Any suggestions.
Let me know what all of you think. I am willing to go any route that sounds usefully and effective.
Thanks
Dave
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Looking for suggestions etc for install
This forum is dedicated to helping people with questions about installing radio equipment in vehicles. This can include antenna installs, electrical wiring questions/problems, and mounting systems. Pictures of installs are welcome.
Note: Discussions regarding lighting, sirens, and other equipment now has its own forum in the 'off-topic' section below.
Note: Discussions regarding lighting, sirens, and other equipment now has its own forum in the 'off-topic' section below.
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