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[AC1LC]

I'm in the process of putting an Amateur Radio into my JL.  I don't want one of the lip mounts that go on the hood to hold the antenna.  I'm looking at either a Comet SBB-5 or Larsen NMO2/70 antenna.  Everything I've read said one of the worst places to mount an amateur radio antenna on a Jeep is between the spare tire and tailgate as the base is not high enough and contains the signal from the baseload between the metal spare wheel and the tailgate.  Otherwise I would go with the Kraken mount.


But, I found this one - https://www.ruggedradios.com/collections/jeep-4x4-mounts/products/antenna-mount-for-jeep-jl-jk-tj-jt



It looks really good, sits on the driver's side about even with the OEM antenna on the passenger side. No holes to drill in the body and it's not attached to the hood.

[WA9AFM]

Give consideration to the Diamond KR-400 mount.

[KD6VXI]

Rugged Radios is nothing more than a reseller.  They buy cheap chineseum, rebadged it, and sell it as their own.

I used to drive past their multi million dollar new warehouse daily when I lived in Arroyo Grande.

You will always find it cheaper by looking for the same thing online.  Always.

And usually their stuff is Baofeng, if that helps.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

[AC1LC]

Thanks Shane.  I did find another maker that I like a bit better.  https://www.cooltechllc.com/2018-jeep-wrangler-jl/139-gladiatorwrangler-front-antenna-mount.html  At least this one is stainless steel so it should be stronger than the Chinesium.

[AC1LC]

Give consideration to the Diamond KR-400 mount.

I have a Larsen 2/70NMO on the way so I need an NMO mount as it comes with the Larsen coax which already has an NMO mount on the end.  I took a look at Diamond's website and it's a bit confusing.  Either they include the cable, which I don't need - or they have an adapter that changes the NMO mount to PL259 which I don't think will work with the Larsen coax.

[WA2EIO]

Give consideration to the Diamond KR-400 mount.

I have a Larsen 2/70NMO on the way so I need an NMO mount as it comes with the Larsen coax which already has an NMO mount on the end.  I took a look at Diamond's website and it's a bit confusing.  Either they include the cable, which I don't need - or they have an adapter that changes the NMO mount to PL259 which I don't think will work with the Larsen coax.

This one:
https://www.diamondantenna.net/k400cnmo.html

is an NMO mount antenna on the bracket, and  since it uses a very thin cable, it has a 'mini UHF' connector on the end and that mates with the PL-259 connector/adapter that they supply, so this one will hold your NMO antenna and connect directly to the SO-239 jack on the back of your rig.

[WB6BYU]

I have a Larsen 2/70NMO on the way so I need an NMO mount as it comes with the Larsen coax which already has an NMO mount on the end.  I took a look at Diamond's website and it's a bit confusing.  Either they include the cable, which I don't need - or they have an adapter that changes the NMO mount to PL259 which I don't think will work with the Larsen coax.

I find this confusing...

Typically, the PulseLarsen NMO2/70 antenna would be a whip with a
matching network at the base, that screws into an NMO mount.

Antenna:



NMOTLP trunk lip mount:



That round piece on top of the mount is what the antenna screws into.

The mounts can be several different types:  magnetic, through-hole, or,
like this specific one, designed to attach to a trunk lip.

Generally, NMO mounts and antennas from the various manufacturers
are interchangeable (the original design was a "Motorola mount"),
although some Japanese / Chinese versions might have a slightly
different thread or dimensions.

The important point in this context, however, is that the cable is
attached to the mount, not to the antenna.

There's nothing particular about Larsen's coax - the mounts that
I have all use RG-58, which can be adapted to whatever connector
you want.  (A solid polyethylene dielectric is better than foamed
in this application, where it may get squeezed in a door.)

So as long as the K400 NMO mount has a cable attached, you would
use it instead of the Larsen mount and cable.  If the cable is too
short to reach the radio, you just extend it with another piece in
the usual manner.


I found some web site recently that listed a number of brackets for
specific vehicles, formed to fit under a particular screw and bent to
slither out through an opening.  But I can't find it at the moment.

Ah, here it is, from TheAntennaFarm.com

Note that some of these are just a bracket to hold an NMO through-hole
mount, and others include the mount and coax.

[AC1LC]

I have a Larsen 2/70NMO on the way so I need an NMO mount as it comes with the Larsen coax which already has an NMO mount on the end.  I took a look at Diamond's website and it's a bit confusing.  Either they include the cable, which I don't need - or they have an adapter that changes the NMO mount to PL259 which I don't think will work with the Larsen coax.

I find this confusing...

Typically, the PulseLarsen NMO2/70 antenna would be a whip with a
matching network at the base, that screws into an NMO mount.

Antenna:



NMOTLP trunk lip mount:



That round piece on top of the mount is what the antenna screws into.

The mounts can be several different types:  magnetic, through-hole, or,
like this specific one, designed to attach to a trunk lip.

Generally, NMO mounts and antennas from the various manufacturers
are interchangeable (the original design was a "Motorola mount"),
although some Japanese / Chinese versions might have a slightly
different thread or dimensions.

The important point in this context, however, is that the cable is
attached to the mount, not to the antenna.

There's nothing particular about Larsen's coax - the mounts that
I have all use RG-58, which can be adapted to whatever connector
you want.  (A solid polyethylene dielectric is better than foamed
in this application, where it may get squeezed in a door.)

So as long as the K400 NMO mount has a cable attached, you would
use it instead of the Larsen mount and cable.  If the cable is too
short to reach the radio, you just extend it with another piece in
the usual manner.


I found some web site recently that listed a number of brackets for
specific vehicles, formed to fit under a particular screw and bent to
slither out through an opening.  But I can't find it at the moment.

Ah, here it is, from TheAntennaFarm.com

Note that some of these are just a bracket to hold an NMO through-hole
mount, and others include the mount and coax.

This is the cable I have coming for the Larsen antenna - https://www.gigaparts.com/larsen-nmok.html I also ordered a Comet RS-720NMO lip mount that I'm going to try mounting on the top edge of the Jeep's tailgate door.  It looks like it will work as it's made for trunk lids, door edges, etc.  If it adjusts so the antenna is vertical it should work out for me.  It would put the base coil of the antenna above the metal edge of the door and a bit higher than the steel wheel for the spare tire mounted on the tailgate.  The whip will extend up past the roof but the roof is fiberglass so I don't think that will have much of an effect.  Primary reason I went with the Comet over the Diamond is because the Comet allows for adjustments on 3 axis while Diamond only does 2.  I may not need 3 but figured I'd rather have the ability and not need it than need it and not have it.

[N4XMA]

Hope that works for you. If not, Arizona Rocky Road makes a mount that goes between the tire and tailgate, but it sticks up far enough to clear the tire. It works great for me and I'm using the same Larsen 2/70 antenna, but I have a TJ and can't say for sure they fit the same on a JL.

[AC1LC]

Finally after much searching and attempts I found one that will work.  I got a Comet RS720 that I was going to try to mount on top of the tailgate but it interfered with the window so that turned out to be a no go.

I found another side mount that is similar to the Rugged Radio mount but it's made from heavier stainless steel.  Just got it yesterday and it's solid.  I tried bending it with no luck.  I'll give this one a shot and see how it works out.  It uses an existing fender bolt so I don't have to drill into the body and gives a couple mounting options. Photo is from their website, it's not my Jeep. 

https://www.cooltechllc.com/2018-jeep-wrangler-jl/139-208-gladiatorwrangler-front-antenna-mount.html#/89-front_bracket_options-bracket_mount_hardware_only