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Re: Rooftop GNSS antenna mounting recommendations

JG
Joseph Gwinn
Wed, Jul 5, 2023 2:12 PM

time-nuts Digest, Vol 231, Issue 4
On Wed, 05 Jul 2023 03:30:13 -0400, time-nuts-request@lists.febo.com
wrote:


Message: 1
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2023 01:22:53 -0700
From: Matt Huszagh huszaghmatt@gmail.com
Subject: [time-nuts] Rooftop GNSS antenna mounting recommendations
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
time-nuts@lists.febo.com
Message-ID:
CA+X8ke5+yyTj9uwRKR_0+MZHZV+d6Bj-Qy==wEwJNMqhoYFdZA@mail.gmail.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Hi,

I'll be mounting a GNSS antenna to my roof for timing applications and
would appreciate recommendations for the best way to do this. The
portion of the roof where the antenna will be mounted is flat. I'd
prefer to avoid drilling or screwing into the roof if possible. But, if
there's a safe and reversible way to do this, I'm ok with that.

I found a method described by sparkfun that involves using an anchor in
a cinder block:

This seems like an easy and low-cost method. Given the weight of the
cinder block, I wouldn't expect the antenna to move. Thoughts? Any
potential problems with this? Other methods that work well?

Tell us more about the flat roof, and also where this will be
installed.

Flat roofs come in some varieties:  Tarpaper, EPDM rubber, galvanized
steel, copper, and so on.  Slope?

As for ensuring that fastener hardware doesn't rust together, the
best approach is to use stainless steel screws with brass nuts (or
vice versa).  This combination will not rust together no matter
what.  Loctite will ensure that it won't unscrew itself, but can be
disassembled with a paint-stripping heat gun.

As for attaching to cinder blocks, the easiest way is to drill a
through hole and attach using stainless steel screws, fender washers,
and brass nuts.  One can also epoxy grout a threaded stainless steel
insert into the cement block, but this is far more work.

Joe Gwinn

time-nuts Digest, Vol 231, Issue 4 On Wed, 05 Jul 2023 03:30:13 -0400, time-nuts-request@lists.febo.com wrote: > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2023 01:22:53 -0700 > From: Matt Huszagh <huszaghmatt@gmail.com> > Subject: [time-nuts] Rooftop GNSS antenna mounting recommendations > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> > Message-ID: > <CA+X8ke5+yyTj9uwRKR_0+MZHZV+d6Bj-Qy==wEwJNMqhoYFdZA@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Hi, > > I'll be mounting a GNSS antenna to my roof for timing applications and > would appreciate recommendations for the best way to do this. The > portion of the roof where the antenna will be mounted is flat. I'd > prefer to avoid drilling or screwing into the roof if possible. But, if > there's a safe and reversible way to do this, I'm ok with that. > > I found a method described by sparkfun that involves using an anchor in > a cinder block: > > https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-build-a-diy-gnss-reference-station/all#affix-your-antenna > > This seems like an easy and low-cost method. Given the weight of the > cinder block, I wouldn't expect the antenna to move. Thoughts? Any > potential problems with this? Other methods that work well? Tell us more about the flat roof, and also where this will be installed. Flat roofs come in some varieties: Tarpaper, EPDM rubber, galvanized steel, copper, and so on. Slope? As for ensuring that fastener hardware doesn't rust together, the best approach is to use stainless steel screws with brass nuts (or vice versa). This combination will not rust together no matter what. Loctite will ensure that it won't unscrew itself, but can be disassembled with a paint-stripping heat gun. As for attaching to cinder blocks, the easiest way is to drill a through hole and attach using stainless steel screws, fender washers, and brass nuts. One can also epoxy grout a threaded stainless steel insert into the cement block, but this is far more work. Joe Gwinn