Any suggestions/photos of how to attach the base & radio to a car rack?

[Patrick Garner]

Our survey vehicle is a Subaru with a roof rack. I'd ideally mount the T2 base to a clamp or Seco quick change adapter that was permanently fixed to the rack. Scanning clamps etc on line I can't find anything that seems ideal--everything is intended to mount on a tripod or pole. Even JAVAD under its accessories has nothing suitable.

Suggestions? How do you guys secure the radio & base? (I'm in an urban area with a lot of curious folks who might spot these neat toys & wonder if there'd be a gain if they trucked them down to a local pawn shop.)

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

It's not so much the 1/4" thread, as the T-2 uses, as it is the infinite variety of roof racks, non roof racks, etc.
I would not suggest leaving the t2 attached to the roof, while driving.
I would suggest a trip to the hardware store, and that simple is good.
One user put a hole plumb through his car roof, and put a screw up through. To access the lower end of the bolt, you have to have the car open.
Being a common size, should help. (the 1/4" thread) however, life does offer us opportunities to do stuff.
So far, I am a purist... I have been placing the base on the same point (with tripod and tribrach) for ever... old habits, I suppose.
I figure when the software settles down, and is not changing as fast, then I'll do it.
N

 

[Patrick Garner]

Hardware store in the works. I actually like these small challenges. And like browsing through nuts and bolts. I'll plan on posting photos of whatever I do!

 

[Adam]

Here is how I have my truck setup. The T2 goes on the quick connect on the left. Notice the wire cable with the lock. I drilled a hole in the gusset of my T2 and have wire cable ran thru the hole so I can lock it down.
The radio gets locked in the toolbox.

 

[Patrick Garner]

Adam: Serious lockup. Thanks for the photos. The antenna extension is ingenious.

 

[Patrick Garner]

Which I guess leads me to an obvious question... Is the antenna setup a home-brew or something JAVAD furnishes? Locking the radio up is a great solution but requires an antenna extension.

 

[Adam]

The antenna, ground plane, and cable are available thru Javad. The pole shown is an 8ft two section carbon fiber pole, so I can raise the antenna on up if I need to.

 

[Shawn Billings]

Pat is using a Spread Spectrum radio. Adam is using a UHF radio. Pat, you would need a different solution for the radio antenna. You would need a coax cable (available from Javad) to go from radio to antenna. And you would need some way to mount the antenna.

 

[ndoring]

Sorry that this question is not related to the original post. Is there not concern of the base moving due to wind, etc.., when attached to the vehicle? Learning about GPS in the past there was always emphasis on setting the GPS over a stable point for repeatability and the option to check our work if something went wrong. We were also taught that the base setup itself should be stable to ensure an accurate reading. I tried finding another post that discusses this but have not been successful.

 

[Patrick Garner]

Is there not concern of the base moving due to wind, etc.., when attached to the vehicle? Learning about GPS in the past there was always emphasis on setting the GPS over a stable point for repeatability and the option to check our work if something went wrong. We were also taught that the base setup itself should be stable to ensure an accurate reading. I tried finding another post that discusses this but have not been successful.

If working from an autonomous position, repeatability seems unnecessary unless your project requires extremely high precision. And I think a parked car would be sufficiently stable for most work. Correct me if I'm missing anything.

 

[Adam]

I haven't seen any problems with it. I am picky about my parking spot though.