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Post Info TOPIC: Antenna Location for UHF and Cel Fi Go
RoboLB


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Antenna Location for UHF and Cel Fi Go
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i,

I've read some great threads here and watched a lot of YouTube videos on the importance of antenna location.

In simple terms, up high and unobstructed.  I'm planning to use our Campervan for a few trips that will combine some working whilst on the road.

I'm lucky in that I can work remotely.  And it also gives me the chance to drop in and visit a few regional 'clients'.

 

Hence, the Cel Fi go.

 

So where to mount the external Cel Fi antenna?

We don't have bull bars, and I wasn't intending to add any.

And from what I've read, that's not a great installation location anyway.  (Car body shielding signal)

 

Which leads me to the roof, or some kind of mount high up on the back doors maybe?

The roof already has aircon and solar up there, and I'm not that keen to go drilling lots of holes.

So maybe a small rack of some kind?  Any suggestions?

Could almost just be a light bar I guess?

Ideally the antenna would fold down when not in use.

 

Any suggestions on Cel Fi mounting locations would be most appreciated.

This is the Campervan in question.

 

 



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Mike Harding


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On a metal vehicle the best place to mount an antenna is the middle of the roof.

However, for reasons which escape me, some people don't wish to drill a hole in the roof of their $120,000 vehicle!? :)

The next best place is somewhere with a decent amount of metal directly underneath it - this acts as a "ground plane" and will improve Tx and Rx. Bull bars, mirror brackets (trucks) are really poor places to put an antenna.

As you have gone to the expense of the Cel Fi thingie it's probably worth paying a professional to install an antenna as at cellular frequencies something like a poorly crimped connector can lose half your signal.



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RoboLB


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Thanks Mike. Will definitely get a professional install.



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Rob
yobarr


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RoboLB wrote:

Thanks Mike. Will definitely get a professional install.

 Hi Rob. This is my setup, and it works brilliantly. As you suggest, the aerial easily folds down if desired although I leave mine up full time. Gets tangled up in the occasional drive-through bottle shop but no big deal. Top of aerial is about 3500mm above ground, and I have a wire to another booster in the van. Cheers

 

F40F8BB3-91F1-4082-AFE0-254153B84AEB.png

 

BFDACFA2-19FF-4E6F-ADC0-C9C68AE3089A.png



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RoboLB


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Looks like the go.
Though my roof height is already about 3.3 m.
So needs to be folding!

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Rob
yobarr


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RoboLB wrote:

Looks like the go.
Though my roof height is already about 3.3 m.
So needs to be folding!

Hi Rob. Folds down easily as just under the GME label is the hinge, with the release button just under that. Bit of a PITA releasing it way above head height, but in my case I simply stand on the running board of the car. Cheers



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