Vehicle & Technical > Discovery
Bull Bars
Wireless:
--- Quote from: "J.D." ---I have a set of Disco bull bars off my Disco, they have a rust hole in one of the bars, (about 1") long and one of the brackets is twisted slightly, but other that that the are fine and nothing a hammer and a vice couldnt sort out.
Free, collected from Winchester.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the very kind offer, amazing people on this forum.
But before committing to a particular design, I'm going to have to look at a few websites showing them fitted, plus actually see a few Disco's close up with them fitted, otherwise fitting of the antenna mount/antenna might be made more difficult.
I might even have to come to a Mud Club meet and take a look around!
Tyke:
You a radio ham? . . . . most of us just bolt on anywhere suitable . . . . . certainly good enough for normal off-road coms.
Wireless:
--- Quote from: "muddyman" ---I am only a M3 :( so still got lots to pick up. Bull Bars have a look on ebay.
--- End quote ---
Well NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation suits low power, 10W is all that's needed for communications up to 150 mile, it relies on a take off angle for signals at between 60 to 90 degrees and is best suited on low dipoles or inverted-V wire antennas. So not expensive either!
As you can imagine, NVIS antennas are a challenge when mobile, but the usual solution is tilted whips.
As an M3 you've access to NVIS frequencies (in UK) of 160m to 40m, so there's nothing special about it, Allied Ground Forces first used NVIS during the invasion of Normandy in 1944, so it's really old technology.
Here's a few links you might find interesting,
http://www.raynet-hf.net/tiki-index.php
Here's an explanation of NVIS Propagation;
http://www.raynet-hf.net/tiki-index.php?page=WhatisNVIS
Here's someone's 4x4 you might recognise;
http://www.raynet-hf.net/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=4
Drat, you all know my first name now...
73 de Wireless
Wireless:
--- Quote from: "Tyke" ---You a radio ham? . . . . most of us just bolt on anywhere suitable . . . . . certainly good enough for normal off-road coms.
--- End quote ---
There's a bit of science as to where you should best mount an antenna for maximum performance, generally the centre of the roof is best for VHF/UHF & CB, but this may be impractical due to trees while off-road.
Using NVIS HF you can get a much better unbroken coverage for very little power, and although CB is on HF frequencies, it's to high a frequency to utilise NVIS Propagation, so CB at a legal 4W is a case of fingers crossed when it comes to comms over virtually any distance or topology.
Most of you have probably realised this, but found CB to be more effective over PMR446, which also a compromise because it's hand-held low power (500mW), and may have poor component and antenna design depending on the lottery of what you've bought.
The 10W VHF/UHF that muddyman is using with proper vehicle mounted antennas, is so much better that you'll always wonder why you ever opted for CB/PMR446.
For those Groups wishing to provide an Emergency 4x4 Response, getting Licensed as Radio Amateurs is not as hard as it used to be, and would immediately link you with the local RAYNET Group Control that your County Council Emergency Planning Officer relies upon to provide Emergency Communications; just ask muddyman how easy it is to get a Licence.
If anyone requires any information regarding Amateur Radio Licensing, I am quite happy to direct you to both your Local Amateur Radio Club for Training/Exam, and your Local RAYNET Group, just send me a PM with your Location.
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