Professional installer recommendation?

This is the place to discuss generalized scanner questions and information for San Diego County. Whether it's radios, antennas, or other general scanner related topics, you can talk about it here.
astrodanco
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:04 am

Professional installer recommendation?

Post by astrodanco »

I'd like to have one or two permanent NMO antenna mounts installed on the roof of my wagon. However, it would probably be better to have an experienced professional do it rather than me. Can anyone suggest a good installer in the San Diego county area (preferably in North county) that would do a good job?

On a related topic, can anyone recommend a good VHF-LO (39-43 Mhz) antenna for CHP reception? I really don't want to mount a 6 foot long ball mount "tuna pole" whip on my car. Is it possible to receive CHP well with anything shorter? Which antenna does CHP itself use on their cars?
318
Posts: 40
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:05 am

NMO Mounts

Post by 318 »

In my opinion, it's not hard to do the NMO installs yourself. I put 8 holes in the roof of my Expedition with a 3/4" step-drill. http://scandiego.com/318/ It worked great.

If you don't want to do it yourself, I would find a friend who has done it before, or go with Day Wireless. (My personal favorite San Diego area radio shop.)

www.daywireless.com

San Diego location:

Phone: 858-576-1116
Fax: 858-576-1126
7323 Engineer Rd., Suite B
San Diego, CA 92111-1409

Driving Directions:

From Fwy 805, take Clairemont Mesa Blvd exit heading East. Turn Right on Shawline. Turn Right on Cardin. Turn Left on Engineer Road.

They are always very friendly and helpful. Not too expensive. Very professional. I have never had a problem of any kind with these guys.

CHP uses Antennex Low Band antennas. I can't remember the model number. I bought one new on Ebay, and use it on my Expedition. If you look closely at the pictures in the link above, the Antennex is the one closest to the rear of the SUV. I tried looking a little on the net for a link to the company website, and couldn’t find one after a few minutes of searching. If you enter www.antennex.com , you get a magazine type website about antennas. Hmmmm...

~318

BTW: You mentioned Western Radio in another post... I don't believe they are around anymore.
astrodanco
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:04 am

Re: NMO Mounts

Post by astrodanco »

318 wrote:In my opinion, it's not hard to do the NMO installs yourself. I put 8 holes in the roof of my Expedition with a 3/4" step-drill. http://scandiego.com/318/ It worked great.
I was looking into drilling 3/8" holes upward from locations above the interior dome lights and then using using a 3/4" Greenlee knockout hole punch to finish the job. But the possibility of my screwing up scares me.
318 wrote:BTW: You mentioned Western Radio in another post... I don't believe they are around anymore.
Not me. Must have been someone else? Thanks for the installer recommendation. :)
Mikey
Posts: 117
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:21 pm

Post by Mikey »

http://www.antenex.com/ ;)

I picked up a couple Antenex ABSCANC scanner antennas ( http://www.antenex.com/c_search.asp?txt ... R+ANTENNAS but all black) and a couple small Antenex GMB8PI NMO mag mounts ( http://www.antenex.com/c_search.asp?txt ... TIC+MOUNTS in black) and have been very happy so far. I've only had them a couple of weeks, but they seem to perform quite well (and look good to boot!) I travel quite a bit so having small (will fit in carry on luggage) antennas I can slap on rental cars is a good thing :D

I've ordered all of my Antenex stuff from a place I googled up called Radio Outfitters ( http://www.radiooutfitter.com ) and have been extremely pleased with them as a retailer, plus their prices are almost half the listed Antenex prices ... The ABSCANC was $18.47 and the GMB8PI was $18.46.

- Mike
318
Posts: 40
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:05 am

Post by 318 »

Danco... Sorry about that, it was El Pablo that mentioned Western Radio. (I posted that last reply at 4am after having been up for 20+ hours!) About the step-drill, yes... you could screw it up, you have to be careful. I had no problems, you have drop down the headliner, and pay attention to what your doing. You'd have to be a true bone-head to screw up making holes in a roof with a step-drill. There are other options like a hole saw (the worst option) and a punch set (a better option).

Thanks for the good info Mike, I suppose it didn't occur to me last night to drop one of the 'N's in the name. :oops:

~318
fotoguy
Posts: 46
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 1:31 am

Do it your self or...

Post by fotoguy »

I posted in a diffrent area but. One shop in town does alot of work for local fire and hams. http://www.code3communications.com/index.html

I did all my work just take the time to plan it out and before you drill put masking tape over and around the drill site, This helps preserve the paint and catch hot burs. Not too hard to do yourself ....Look if 318 can do it...I would think anyone could. :wink:

DONT USE A hole punch!!!!! Buy the Drill from a radio shop or online.....$20 bucks worth every penny!!!! Plus its a tool for the toolbox.
astrodanco
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:04 am

Re: Do it your self or...

Post by astrodanco »

fotoguy wrote:DONT USE A hole punch!!!!! Buy the Drill from a radio shop or online.....$20 bucks worth every penny!!!! Plus its a tool for the toolbox.
Umm. why do you say that so boldly and with such certainty? After doing my due dilligence, the concensus on the net seems to be that, so long as you have inside access, using a Greenlee knockout hole punch produces a much cleaner hole than a drill alone does. Could you please explain in detail the reasons why you disagree?
318
Posts: 40
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:05 am

Post by 318 »

Uh, Ya fotoguy, just what is your major problem with punch-sets?

I hear they do make a very clean hole. I prefer the step-dill/unibit personally.

This subject was brought up on the Batlabs forum recently: http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... ht=#180706 You may notice I also posted my opinion on that thread as-well. I think the final consensus there was that the punch-set and the step-drill works very well.

~318
WEbmaster

Western Radio

Post by WEbmaster »

I was told it reopened at a new location.... Not 100% sure but I got something in the mail a few months back..... :wink:
the installer
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:09 pm

Punch vs. Drill

Post by the installer »

The punch is the better method. The Step Drill tends to heat the metal causing greater chance of distortion to the area.... If my Engineers every used a step drill I would have fired them. Do not get me wrong if the step drill is all you have the by all means but it is always best to use the right tool for the job.... :oops:
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