‰  NOW 40 WPM  ‰  
DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF LED YOU USE.  ED.  AND INSULATED WITH HEAT SHRINK
AT THE TOP END OF THE STRIP TO INDICATE WHEN THE POWER IS ON.  THE
DISTRIBUTION STRIP IS MOUNTED VERTICALLY UNDER A SHELF WHERE A SHORT IS
UNLIKELY.  PLASTIC PROTECTIVE SHROUDS COULD BE ADDED TO PREVENT SHORTS, IF
DESIRED.  CLOTHESPIN SPREADERS  I DESIGNED A FAN DIPOLE FOR 40 AND 20
METERS.  I NEEDED A WAY TO SUPPORT THE 20 METER ELEMENTS UNDERNEATH THE 40
METER WIRES.  FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN 3, 

FIGURE 2.  TWO OF THE THREE WERE DESIGNED TO MOUNT ON THE HORIZONTAL PIECE
OF A TRUCK BODY AND ONE WAS A 90 HOLDER.  ONE OF THE HORIZONTAL TYPES WAS
MOUNTED TO THE VERTICAL PIPE IN THE STAKE HOLE.  BECAUSE THE TRUCK BODY IS
INSULATED FROM THE TRUCK FRAME, I ADDED A PIECE OF RIBBON CABLE AND A PIECE
OF HEAVY GROUND WIRE, CONNECTING BOTH TO THE FRAME AT A CLEAN GROUND
LOCATION.  I WRAPPED THE RIBBON CABLE WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE SO IT WOULD NOT
RUB ON THE TRUCK BED OR CAB.  THE SECOND HORIZONTAL TYPE HOLDER IS MOUNTED
TO THE FIRST THROUGH THE ANTENNA MOUNTING HOLES.  THE 90 HOLDER IS
CONNECTED TO THE OTHER HOLDER WITH A SINGLE 7/16 INCH BOLT THAT COMES WITH
THE HOLDERS.  LOOSEN THE BOLT AND PULL THE ANTENNA STRAIGHT UP OR AT ANY
ANGLE AND TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO HOLD IT FIRMLY IN PLACE.  LOOSEN THE BOLT
AGAIN TO LAY THE ANTENNA DOWN TO ANY ANGLE, AND THEN TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO
SECURE IT.  WHEN IN THE LOWERED POSITION, I MADE A LITTLE LOOP OF BALING
TWINE TO SECURE THE END AND PREVENT IT FROM BOUNCING AROUND.  ONE WRENCH IS
ALL THATS NEEDED TO RAISE OR LOWER THE ANTENNA, QUICK AND EASY.  QUICK AUTO
POWER TAP  THE FUSE TAP SHOWN IN FIGURE 3 IS A FAST AND EASY TO USE DEVICE

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 40 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ