Mounting an antenna (basic hardware/how to questions)

Great response, 43CT016. Thank you.
I bought some amalgamating tape some time ago, not 3M but I presume it’ll do the job. Soldering isn’t one of my greatest strengths so the simpler the better for me. Who knows, maybe it’ll all come flooding back to me from my CB days.
I called a number of local antenna guys who pretty much all said (with the exception of 1 very rude guy who won’t be getting my custom) give us a call when you’ve bought all your equipment and we’ll come out and look to give an accurate quote, which makes sense.

Thanks to Mike I’m going to go with his suggestion of the Messi and Paloni Ultraflex 7 coax. I shall probably purchase a couple of their connectors too.

I guess the next thing I need research is a power supply.

Thanks again for your input.

I run the M&P UF7 inside the shack, but run LMR400 (and LDF450) outside as it’s lower loss.  It’s just less flexible and a pain to work with, but probably similarly priced and both are really good mid-range coax.

Just be careful with the M&P connectors, as they are a bit fiddly until you’ve done a few.  Check out the YouTube howtos from the factory, as they give a great demo on how to fit them.

Thanks. I watched their video already. They make it look easy but I’m sure it’ll take me a couple of practice goes.
I think I’m going to run the coax straight from the antenna through the wall to the rig with a downward facing face plate on the interior wall if that makes sense.  I don’t really want to have to do more S0239 connections than I have to, to plug it into the wall. Do you think that’s unwise?

Whoop! Thanks to all for your help so far. The M&P UF7 coax, power supply, SWR meter, patch cable, antenna and dual band transceiver have been purchased and delivered. I have a brave man coming tomorrow to erect the antenna on a separate new pole and bracket above the TV aerial. Exciting!!

I’ll have one PL259 to fit on the transceiver end of the coax and then I’m good to give it a test run.

I really hope there’s no interference with the TV! (And fingers crossed my coax length estimation isn’t too short!)

Good luck with your antenna installation tomorrow. Hope it all goes well for you and you are able to give new setup a trial run.

Well, I was a little conservative with my coax estimation and it only just reaches where I wanted my radio to be. Schoolboy error as I hadn’t accounted for how high the antenna would be positioned above the gables. Originally I had cocked up the PL259 connector at the transceiver end and was getting an SWR of over 3. Not good. Went and investigated the connection and found a stray bit of inner coax. Refitted it (still yet to solder the centre pin) and I’m getting 1:1.3.

But I’m set up and…. Wow. Just wow. Better than I could have anticipated. Lots of locals to listen to but had a good few  radio checks.  One at 21 miles and one at 50 miles (the latter was on high ground mobile) as the crow flies.

I just want to thank you wonderful people who responded to my post and provided really valuable advice, recommendations and opinions. All gratefully received. I’m most pleased.

Nice one, enjoy!

Brilliant news, really pleased to hear that it all worked out for you in the end. Enjoy your new setup.
Can you give a brief summary of what your final setup is? I’m sure others would be interested to hear what you finally decided on.

73 Derek

Sure thing.
Messi and Paoloni Ultraflex 7 coax with M&P PL259s. 
Diamond x50 antenna. Photo attached.
CRT Micron transceiver.
Sharman LM-30 power supply.

Thanks for your prompt reply.
Antenna installation looks great.
I have the Anytone variation of your CRT, the Anytone AT-778UV, very happy with it.

Thanks, DerekF.
I’m mostly pleased with the radio but some people tell me the audio is a little quiet on narrow band setting. I’ve seen a couple of suggestions of drilling out the microphone hole on the front cover of the mic as they can be misaligned. I’ll think on that one.
Numerous 20+ mile contacts made last night so signal wise it’s doing great, and I only come off low power when I have to.
Looking forward to working some repeaters. Fingers crossed for the foundation!

Edit - Foundation exam passed.  Bring it on!

Congratulations on passing your Foundation exam, you’ll be keenly waiting to receive your new M7... callsign.
I’ve seen the microphone hack (fix) on various YouTube videos but so far I’ve resisted modifying mine.
Enjoy the new bands available to you.

73 Derek

Thank you, Derek. I’m tempted to buy an identical microphone to mod so I can sell the original setup as good as new if/when the time comes. We’ll see.

Nicely installed. It doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, no one should complain, and it should do very well up and out in the open like that.

About the mic, I don't know if the CRT Electro mic is interchangeable with the one on the CRT Micron. It looks like it has the same connector. Someone else here might be able to confirm. Just putting the idea out there as I have had very good audio reports from the Electro, you could maybe try buying one of those mics and trying it to see if it's any louder for you.