Qualcomm Antenna

dhalltoyo · Apr 12, 2008

The roof of an Aerocell cargo body is not metal so can you mount the QC antenna (dome) inside the cargo box?

I remember seeing a straight truck getting the antenna put inside the cargo box because it had a non-metallic roof and I wonder if any Aerocell owners could help me with this question.

greg334 · Apr 13, 2008

Yes, it is done that way.

If you get an aerocell SRW body, the antenna unit will go right on the existing roof of the cab that is covered.

dhalltoyo · Apr 13, 2008

Greg,

I believe you were referencing the roof over the seats in your post.

This is a full walk through. The roof of the cutaway chassis is literally "cut-a-way".

I thought I saw a QC bracket on the side wall, up against the bulkhead, in a straight truck. I believe the installer told him that it would work just as well because the roof was non-metallic.

Any idea as to where they would mount the QC on the above unit?

Moot · Apr 13, 2008

I don't think the QC antenna makes use of the vehicle's metal for a ground. But if it did you could always run a heavy gauge wire from the antenna to the frame.

You can bolt it right to the roof or use Terry's method. He cut a hole slightly smaller than the widest part of the antenna dome where the metal ring joins the two halves. The antenna's weight is supported by the metal ring. The dome is then covered by a standard skylight type vent cover. This set up will give you more overhead clearance. The clearance lost inside shouldn't matter as I see you have a roll up door. Just make sure there is enough space between the door and the antenna when the door is in the up position or mount the antenna forward of the door travel.

Is that a picture of your new ride? Can you share some more details and photos. From the looks of the stepwell at the side door it must be a dually. When you can, I would like to learn more as I am sure others would.

dhalltoyo · Apr 13, 2008

Nada.

It is a stock photo used as an example to see if anyone out there could tell me where, or if, the QC can be mounted inside and under the non-metallic roof.

Moot, if I got a hardwood floor in the van before my wife gets hers in the kitchen, I'd be living in the van permanently!

I will post some info about the new ride as it becomes available.

We are still working out some details.

The full cutaway roof (as in the photo) will be there, the side door would not be there and there would be a solid bulkhead 5 feet behind the seats. The bulkhead would separate the bunk area and the cargo bay.

Moot · Apr 14, 2008

David, I misunderstood your question. Reading it today I believe your concern is for the ability of the antenna to send and receive from inside the box. Sorry I had ground plane on the brain. Call an authorized Q.C. repair shop. Maybe they can help.

Will this be over 10,000 GVWR? DuraMax?

greg334 · Apr 14, 2008

David,
Yes, you can install it inside the box, qualcom will say you can't for a lot of reasons - already asked them. An authorized installer may say you can. I have seen a few of them in the SRW box on the roof of the cab that was not removed.

The Dome on the Antenna is either high impact plastic or fiberglass, the one I destroyed was fiberglass, the replacement that they didn't mount right was plastic.

The issue really is if Unicell can work with you to build a mount into the front of the box, modifying the box roof to either mount the Antenna unit in the box out of the way or figure out how to mount it without actually making a mess out of the box. Believe me you don't really want your box hacked by the hands of an installer - get the manufacture involved.

LDB · Apr 14, 2008

I worked with a Landstar driver during Katrina that had the translucent roof on his D unit. His QC dome was inside the cargo box. It worked fine because the roof wasn't enough to impede the signal. If I'm reading the inquiry correctly, the first and most important part of the question is whether the signal will be acceptable inside the box. That may be answerable only by an actual testing of it based on exact roof material composition, thickness etc. but I don't know. I do know it's possible in some situations but have no idea how to determine it other than actually trying it. It would certainly help aerodynamics and mpg if it could be inside. Good luck with it.

dhalltoyo · Apr 14, 2008

Leo,

That's where I saw the QC mounted inside a straight truck cargo box. As you know, I was at Landstar for a short period of time. Their QC installer was a contractor, but he was very diligent and did quality work.

With the 3/8" wood panels mounted to 2 x 2 aluminum uprights, I am thinking they will use the same mounting platform as used on the front of a straight truck's cargo box when installing the QC on the outside. That platform is lightweight and the QC antenna does not weigh much either. The "L" shaped braket should mount against the wall near the roof line. They could easily mount a couple of 2 x 2's boards across the aluminum uprights and then attach the platform to those 2 x 2's if they thought the up and down motion of the truck would pulled out of the 3/8" side panels.

LDB · Apr 14, 2008

The guy I know had his mounted on an inverted L bracket to a side post. There was about an inch or two between dome and roof material. I'd think mounting and wiring it would be a non-issue with the only question being signal strength through the roof material.