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Antenna pucks? What are and what are their use?

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As a 3 time buyer of breadlove puck mounts, i do not recommend them, poor build quality.

Now I've not owned breedlove products, but I am aware of their products, and at least looking at them online they look like they are very well made. You are the first person I have ever seen say they are low quality. Everyone else I have ever seen talk about these across multiple forms practically swears by them. So, in your words, in what way are the breedlove mounts low quality? Are they failing on you in some way? Is water leaking into the vehicle when it rains? I would love to hear the experiences with said mounts that makes you disagree with literally every other comment I have heard about these mounts.


The DB
 
Now I've not owned breedlove products, but I am aware of their products, and at least looking at them online they look like they are very well made. You are the first person I have ever seen say they are low quality. Everyone else I have ever seen talk about these across multiple forms practically swears by them. So, in your words, in what way are the breedlove mounts low quality? Are they failing on you in some way? Is water leaking into the vehicle when it rains? I would love to hear the experiences with said mounts that makes you disagree with literally every other comment I have heard about these mounts.


The DB
I can only speak for the "high power puck mount" he sells. He puts delrin on the bottom of the mount and all three purchases it was not flat, the delrin was thicker on one side and thinner on the other so the mounts did not sit flat. Also half the length of the mounting bolt threads are thru the delrin, they strip out in time, happened to mine. Major failure point (No need to put delrin on the bottom of a puck mount). Also every mount i had the center threaded brass insert started pulling thru the delrin. And no i dont over tighten my antennas, only hand tight. They just are not up to par with the competition. (Puck mount makers). Side note, you wont catch any heavy hitter mobile's running breedlove puck mounts including me. They just dont cut it
 
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I can only speak for the "high power puck mount" he sells. He puts delrin on the bottom of the mount and all three purchases it was not flat, the delrin was thicker on one side and thinner on the other so the mounts did not sit flat. Also half the length of the mounting bolt threads are thru the delrin, they strip out in time, happened to mine. Major failure point (No need to put delrin on the bottom of a puck mount). Also every mount i had the center threaded brass insert started pulling thru the delrin. And no i dont over tighten my antennas, only hand tight. They just where not up to par with the competition. (Puck mount makers). Side note, you wont catch any heavy hitter mobile's running breedlove puck mounts including me. They just dont cut it

Thank you for your reply.


The DB
 
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Interested R rated puck install. I definitely think that the all-thread is very cheesy and could be done differently.

 
The Threaded Rod to bolster the ribs was a good show, but to keep it simple - it is necessary to reinforce the base metal roofline, top notch for the application. However the inductive effects the straps add tend to work against the RF currents - so to use the braid straps was a greater step than needed for MOST people.

upload_2021-3-23_20-47-49.png
Anyone whom has used higher power - the RF skin effect that occurs - the heating also occurs in the paint - so the paint can discolor from the RF heating in using the skin effect.

So if you are looking 1KW or more, you may need to add this metal skin to the outside then bond at the edges - this would help in preserving the rust prevention from the RF heating and losses - but all the work with 1KW - if you're going that route - money is not the problem - the supports, bonding and return routes back to the amp is the major concern - attention to the details is their route, nothing else matters.

This may be going too far for some, but when you use higher power levels - this makes more sense and any effort you can add to the bolstering is needed, recommended and if not used, can make the install an EPIC fail - unless you have heavy AWG roof metal - like those in military - you will need to follow these steps in one fashion or another.

So to me, I don't need to bookmark the vid, but it does allow, confirms to, me, this install acts as the backup reference to show that when you're doing installs for the long haul - hi-performance end - the base, cornerstone, ground work - is extremely important to make the system work, and can be done to last the lifetime of the vehicle. Can't say it any simpler than that.
 
A series of short straps (RF Bonds) panel-to-panel — thence to frame (BOF vehicle versus unit body) — has been my plan based on reading and work thus far.

Getting across glued metal panels (videographers point) is what to look out for, and to be sure of remedy as I see it (without going into his approach).

.
 
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Getting across glued metal panels (videographers point) is what to look out for, and to be sure of remedy as I see it (without going into his approach).

It is a concern when you LEASE a vehicle, for some dealers, this totals out the vehicle due to the rebuild involved to get it back to resale. Many unscrupulous dealerships just claim the lease is violated the contract nulled and the lessee is now stuck with a very big bill - at the dealerships' leisure.

When you own outright, the sky's the limit.

Literally...
 
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So watching this thread, watching other CB related YT videos, I have come to the understanding that I have truly ventured into a hobby that will continue to mystify me. My quest to have an adequate operating radio, maybe with a little power, has led to more confusion than anything. Will I go crazy in-depth like BBI for his breadlove puck, probably not. Will I consider adding a grounding strap from the grounding point on the puck down to the frame, maybe. Once I get the antenna mounted and tuned I report back.
 
Hope you’ll link his future videos on RF Bonding, Amp Install, etc. Pictures & videos have their place. Agree — or not — it’s fruitful to view the work of another as well as review their results.

Here is another update on his installation. Now its bonding and grounding the vehicle and how he does it. Remember folks this is his style of doing it. Im sure there are other ways but this is how he likes to do it. He explains his reasoning and what he has found to work for him.
 
This is a better video — IMO — as it showcases building the braid + cable components, then how to attach and weatherproof.

Could have been a 15’ video. (Reading this BBI?)

The difficulty is in knowing beforehand what to cover and when. A script. Written word is king. Pictures only illustrate.

Writing IS thinking. “Just winging it”, is not best practice.

WHERE

WHAT

HOW

Waiting for the host to find words is tedious. 1.5’ to do a 12-15” video?

There soon comes a day energy isn’t so easy. Get best habits now (if serious about wanting to disseminate information bundled as knowledge).

Didn’t say not worth watching. Points made and emphasized is second tedious aspect. Can be done where writing a script in outline form is ready to use.

I almost always avoid videos as it’s so damned slow compared to reading.
Offers no real advantage. Except cheap illustration.

Reverse the emphasis. Camera time is far too long.

Get ahold of a training video, BBI, and time the way it’s formatted.
Repetition twice or thrice?

End summation of pics with review of what where how.

Bond HERE for THESE reasons

Build THIS for THESE reasons

Attach THIS WAY for THESE reasons.


.
 
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