Re-using antenna holes

[Ron C]

Hello,

except for the holes for the roof rack that are plugged (I intend to mount a rack again) there are two antenna holes, one right above the front passenger seat (just on the outside) and one in the middle of the rear seat area (also just the outside).

I am wondering if the antenna cable/harness typically is still in there, and if the can be re-used, for a CB or HAM radio?

Has anyone done anything with these antenna holes?

(oh and the factory holes for the luggage rack, are they threaded or is there a nut welded in it or some sort of fastener?)

thanks,

Ron

 

[nofaz]

Yes, both of those holes can be reused. I'm guessing that they are 3/4" in diameter or possibly 3/8". The 3/4' in are more common and I've drilled plenty of them back in the day. I worked at a Motorola shop for 28 years.

Most likely the coax (cable) has been removed or at the least the antenna mount has been cut off and removed. Almost all of these mounts remove from the outside and are not removable from the inside. After you drilled the hole you inserted the cable from the outside and pulled it in through headliner.

If you want to reuse the holes for CB or Ham radio (I have that license also), the most common antenna mount to install would be the NMO
style mount. NMO is an abbreviation for New Motorola style.

With this mount installed there are antennas available for just about any radio band you want to use.

Right now I have 3 NMO mounts on the roof of my 2013 Yukon Denali. I lowered the headliner to drill the holes and run the cables.

I'd be happy to answer any question you have if I can help.

Mark

 

[Ron C]

Yes, both of those holes can be reused. I'm guessing that they are 3/4" in diameter or possibly 3/8". The 3/4' in are more common and I've drilled plenty of them back in the day. I worked at a Motorola shop for 28 years.

Most likely the coax (cable) has been removed or at the least the antenna mount has been cut off and removed. Almost all of these mounts remove from the outside and are not removable from the inside. After you drilled the hole you inserted the cable from the outside and pulled it in through headliner.

If you want to reuse the holes for CB or Ham radio (I have that license also), the most common antenna mount to install would be the NMO
style mount. NMO is an abbreviation for New Motorola style.

With this mount installed there are antennas available for just about any radio band you want to use.

Right now I have 3 NMO mounts on the roof of my 2013 Yukon Denali. I lowered the headliner to drill the holes and run the cables.

I'd be happy to answer any question you have if I can help.

Mark

Ah cool, I don't have the ham license yet, (have friends that do) but I might be apply for one, maybe. If I end up using only one of the holes, I might just cover the other one with a shark fin, looks better than a plug.

The one in the back seems to be right inbetween the C-pillars, I wonder if typically a cable like that would be run down these C-pillars, behind the trim or so?

Ron

 

[nofaz]

We'd usually pull down the headliner on the drivers side and route the cable either to the front using the A pillar or the rear using the C pillar. Police radios and higher power commercial units were a split mount affair with the controls up front and the actual 'radio' located somewhere in the rear. Under dash units needed the cable routed up front. Usually the coax is routed under the drivers side of the dash and to the radio mounted there.

Most NMO cables are either 16 or 18 feet long and are about the size of a pencil (RG58 cable) so usually not too tough to hide.

We'd bring them out the bottom of the pillar and get under the carpet/floor mat. Be careful when routing them to avoid getting crushed under the seat brackets or sill plates. Also route around the foot wells as everyday use will eventually ruin the coax.

 

[Ron C]

We'd usually pull down the headliner on the drivers side and route the cable either to the front using the A pillar or the rear using the C pillar. Police radios and higher power commercial units were a split mount affair with the controls up front and the actual 'radio' located somewhere in the rear. Under dash units needed the cable routed up front. Usually the coax is routed under the drivers side of the dash and to the radio mounted there.

Most NMO cables are either 16 or 18 feet long and are about the size of a pencil (RG58 cable) so usually not too tough to hide.

We'd bring them out the bottom of the pillar and get under the carpet/floor mat. Be careful when routing them to avoid getting crushed under the seat brackets or sill plates. Also route around the foot wells as everyday use will eventually ruin the coax.

The hole inbetween the C-pillars is in the middle, so that's only 3 feet or so away from the C-pillar, so that might be a good idea to get it down there. I didn't open that hole yet, so I don't know if there already is a cable or not.

 

[nofaz]

If there was cable there I doubt the connector would still be on it. The NMO mount only comes out the top, you can't pull it inside. I'd just buy and new cable and maybe use the old one as a pull for the new one. Done that lots of times when the old mounts would get broke off and need to be replaced.

Be careful pulling the trim off. Not a big deal if you break a clip but if you damage the plastic it gets expensive.

Gotta get some sleep, will check in tomorrow.

 

[iLikeEggs]

I had two NMO mounts on mine when I got it. The coax was cut in the headliner on both though. This was not a problem.
I was able to access and replace both mounts and run my new coax by popping out the dome lights. (No tools needed.) I was able to run fresh coax from the NMO mount at the center and rear roof locations all the way to the A-pillar and down under the dash.
Just make sure that you use some duct tape to hold the coax down otherwise it may rattle at certain RPM's.

 

[Bass]

I used one of my holes for an antenna for my dual band 2m. Used the furthest to the rear (I know, I know, terrible ground plane!) but it matches my agencies antenna locations. The CDMA cell booster is going to use another hole, whenever I decide to pull the trigger on that.

 

[Ron C]

I had two NMO mounts on mine when I got it. The coax was cut in the headliner on both though. This was not a problem.
I was able to access and replace both mounts and run my new coax by popping out the dome lights. (No tools needed.) I was able to run fresh coax from the NMO mount at the center and rear roof locations all the way to the A-pillar and down under the dash.
Just make sure that you use some duct tape to hold the coax down otherwise it may rattle at certain RPM's.

That sounds like it is not a lot of work at all. I am planning to run a cable, for at least am antenna for CB

 

[Ron C]

If there was cable there I doubt the connector would still be on it. The NMO mount only comes out the top, you can't pull it inside. I'd just buy and new cable and maybe use the old one as a pull for the new one. Done that lots of times when the old mounts would get broke off and need to be replaced.

Be careful pulling the trim off. Not a big deal if you break a clip but if you damage the plastic it gets expensive.

Gotta get some sleep, will check in tomorrow.

I noticed trim is expensive. My SSV was missing a few pieces, a few bolt covers and the rear trim of the center console was broken (during shipping). The seller refunded me for the trim, but still $80 for a 8x12 bezel???

 

[iLikeEggs]

I noticed trim is expensive. My SSV was missing a few pieces, a few bolt covers and the rear trim of the center console was broken (during shipping). The seller refunded me for the trim, but still $80 for a 8x12 bezel???

I found a radio bezel on ebay for around thirty bucks. You just have to keep looking, you will eventually find a deal. I don't know why people ask ridiculous prices for those.

 

[Ron C]

I found a radio bezel on ebay for around thirty bucks. You just have to keep looking, you will eventually find a deal. I don't know why people ask ridiculous prices for those.

What I see on Ebay often times comes pretty close what it costs new. So I ordered the DIC switch and bezel new.

 

[Ron C]

Hello,

I have been looking around about what antenna to use, for CB more than likely. It seems that an 8ft one would be best, but 'da Hoe' being 6ft, the antenna an additional 8 ft, I'd probably be whacking pretty much every overpass around here. So there are also 4ft ones LE apparently uses them, that seem to work well. Is there anything else, preferably shorter than 4 ft, that would work, without some electronics even?
Just wondering, don't know a whole lot about these things. I do have an 6 ft CB antenna on my Jeep, but mounted on the rear, so it does reach that high.

Ron

 

[Bass]

Your best bet would probably be a thinner whip style, maybe tied back (or forward depending on where you mount it. Maybe look for low profile (if they even exist) 6m and or 10m antennas.

Study for a couple days and get a tech license! Longer range, short phone call capabilities (depending on repeaters in your area), and or super long range (other side of the world) if there are nodes near by! A lot of fun as long as you don't just focus on the local guys who "went to the store today to get my foot medicine. Have to call to ask them which foot to put in on again in the morning..." type conversations

 

[Ron C]

Your best bet would probably be a thinner whip style, maybe tied back (or forward depending on where you mount it. Maybe look for low profile (if they even exist) 6m and or 10m antennas.

Study for a couple days and get a tech license! Longer range, short phone call capabilities (depending on repeaters in your area), and or super long range (other side of the world) if there are nodes near by! A lot of fun as long as you don't just focus on the local guys who "went to the store today to get my foot medicine. Have to call to ask them which foot to put in on again in the morning..." type conversations

Hahaha, yeah true about the local chats... I thought about getting a license for more serious stuff.

 

[iLikeEggs]

My CB is third on the list after my ham and GMRS. I use it occasionally so i didn't want a third permanently mounted antenna.
So I bought a K40 signal kicker magnetic mount which I just keep in the back. I ran the coax thru the rear side panel and under the seats to the front of the console. The K40 will put out like crazy with its 48" whip. Do a search. Wilson 1000 is similar and performs well also.

 

[Ron C]

My CB is third on the list after my ham and GMRS. I use it occasionally so i didn't want a third permanently mounted antenna.
So I bought a K40 signal kicker magnetic mount which I just keep in the back. I ran the coax thru the rear side panel and under the seats to the front of the console. The K40 will put out like crazy with its 48" whip. Do a search. Wilson 1000 is similar and performs well also.

I have seen (and read about) these 48" whip antennas, LE uses those too apparently/allegedly ... this is what I found.
https://www.wearecb.com/maxrad-mlb2700-nmo-cb-antenna.html

 

[nofaz]

My Yukon is white and with all 3 antennas on fools a few people on the highway into thinking I'm the HP! I'd like to post a picture of my install but not sure how to go about it.

I also used some tape to hold the coax to the roof and cut down on noise as it rattles on the rigid headliner. I had some of the aluminum tape that's used on heat ducts. It's very wide and very sticky!

 

[CrashTestDummy]

You can just see the two antennas on the roof of our Tahoe in this picture:

The truck had two plugged holes when we got it. Since they were cheap plastic plugs, I removed them and installed some stubby antennas. The one above the B-pillar is white, and the other one you can see if you follow the C-pillar up to the roof. It's black.

Yes, people do slow down when we pull onto the freeway.

 

[iLikeEggs]

I have seen (and read about) these 48" whip antennas, LE uses those too apparently/allegedly ... this is what I found.
https://www.wearecb.com/maxrad-mlb2700-nmo-cb-antenna.html

View attachment 188239
My K40 CB antenna. Laird GMRS antenna in the roof center and MFJ dual band on the fender.