See full version: Testing for a Ground
If your mount is treated with a powder coating, there's a good chance the coating is preventing the mount to ground. You'll need to scrape away some of the coating in order to create a metal-to-metal connection or run a grounding strap to the body. [links]
Keeping the probes pushed firmly against all surfaces, note the resistance reading on your multimeter. here
Image 3: Measuring from the Grounded Battery Terminal here
Image 1: Measuring from the Mount (Top- and Center-Loaded Antennas)
Your antenna mount needs to be properly grounded for your antenna to function correctly. Without a solid ground, you're bound to get high SWR levels and extremely poor performance. Depending on where you have your mount installed and what your mount is made of, paint or a powder coating on the mount can prevent the mount from properly grounding to the vehicle.
If there is little or no resistance, then you know the circuit is complete and you have a solid ground. If you're troubleshooting, you can continue with the knowledge that a grounding issue isn't your problem. If, however, the resistance reading doesn't change at all from the default open circuit setting, you don't have a solid ground, which is likely causing high SWR readings. You'll need to further isolate the problem in order to fix it. here
Lance also included some written instructions.
I think the idea is that you’d use this somewhere where a convenient ground plane is not available, like out in the field somewhere. more
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Removing the disc is equally easy. Here’s all you have to do: here
Here’s a question for you: If you’re installing a cell booster in your vehicle, and it has an aluminum body, how do you install the outside antenna? The antenna is magnetic, but it won’t stick to a vehicle with a body made of non-ferrous material. So what do you do?
There is always the NMO (Non-Magnetic Option) antenna. NMO antennas work very well, but they have a trade-off. Installation involves drilling a hole in the vehicle roof or trunk lid.
The weBoost solution is an adhesive disc, which now comes in the box for those booster kits that include a magnetic antenna. The double-sided adhesive disk adheres to aluminum vehicles and firmly holds the antenna in place.
2. Then clean the area around the disk to remove dust and anything else that might scratch vehicle’s paint during removal. here
I used a stake hole mt. with a 102" steel whip. It worked very well and the SWR was around 1.5:1.here
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Yes you will most likely need to ground the metal tool box to ensure it has a good ground. Although it is also highly likely just the bolts alone are enough to give you a ground.
You could run some star washers too between the bed and the tool box where the bolts go thru to ensure you have a good bite.
The stake hole mount was the type that has two bars underneath that are drawn up by 4 screws to clamp to the underside edge of the stake hole. here