‰  NOW 35 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM JULY 2015  QST  PAGE 66‰

HINTS KINKS STEVE SANT ANDREA, AG1YK, HK ARRL. ORG ANTENNA SAVER MOUNT, 12
V POWER DISTRIBUTION STRIP, AND AUTO POWER ON TAP  VERTICAL ANTENNA TRUCK
MOUNT  MOUNTING A VERTICAL ANTENNA ON A TRUCK CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE,
BECAUSE UNTIL NOW THERE JUST WASNT ANY GOOD LOCATION TO MOUNT IT.  MOUNTING
IT TO THE BED WASNT A GOOD OPTION BECAUSE MOST OF TODAYS TRUCK BEDS ARE
INSULATED FROM THE FRAME.  IF YOU MOUNTED THE ANTENNA VERTICALLY, YOU STOOD
A GOOD CHANCE OF BREAKING IT OFF ON A LOW HANGING TREE.  ALTERNATELY, YOU
COULD TAKE IT DOWN AND REMOUNT IT EVERY TIME YOU WANTED TO USE IT, BUT THIS
IS INCONVENIENT.  MOUNTING IT TO THE BUMPER WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE
TAILGATE OR LOADING/ UNLOADING ACTIVITY.  AFTER SOME CONSIDERATION, I CAME
UP WITH THIS SIMPLE AND RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION SEE FIGURE 1.
USING THIS METHOD, A VERTICAL ANTENNA CAN BE MOUNTED SAFELY AND CHEAPLY
WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A WRENCH AND A QUICK TURN OF A NUT TO PUT IT UP
USING THREE SIMPLE AND READILY AVAILABLE ANTENNA BRACKETS.  MOST TRUCKS
HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED STAKE HOLES IN THE SIDE OF THE PICKUP BED.  I INSERTED
A PIECE OF SQUARE PIPE INTO THE STAKE HOLE.  I ANCHORED THE PIPE WITH
SCREWS THROUGH THE TRUCK STAKE HOLDER FROM INSIDE THE BED, AND THEN CUT THE
PIPE TO A HEIGHT JUST BELOW THE TOP OF THE TRUCK.  TO MOUNT THE ANTENNA TO
THE PIPE, I WENT TO THE LOCAL CB SHOP AND BOUGHT THREE ANTENNA HOLDERS SEE
‰  END OF 35 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ