[Antennas] Antenex Low Profile antennas, Antenna or dummy load?

[Philip]

Hi All,

I never did get around to installing any FM rigs in my Screw (F-150 Super 
Crewcab).  I'm now considering it and am seriously looking at using "low 
Profile" antennas for two reasons.
1.  NOT attract attention to the radio installation.
2.  Easy drive-through the car-wash without having to remove the antennas 
(the vehicle is rather tall).

A couple of antennas that I'm looking at are the Antenex TRABT1420 and 
TRAB4303 models for 2M/70CM respectively.  These are very small antennas 
that look more like XM radio or GPS antennas etc. and wouldn't protrude from 
the top of the cab very far.  Now, I know that there isn't any such thing as 
a free lunch and DON'T expect tremendous DX or far fringe repeater access 
from them.

See them here. http://www.antenex.com/index051206.htm  Click on AMR, then 
Amateur.  It's in their "Phantom" antenna line and I wonder if "Phantom" 
really stands for "Non Existent" (as in Dummy Load).  My questions are.

1.  Has anyone here used either of these antennas?  If So, how was their 
performance?  Did they behave as a fairly decent antenna, or more like a 
dummy load on an HT??

2.  Does anyone know of other "Low Profile" 2M/70CM antennas that might be a 
better choice? IF the performance of these antennas aren't worth their 
rather steep prices I will probably just go with standard  1/4 wavelength 
whips, but REALLY prefer something sleeker (I have far more money wrapped up 
in this truck than in any previous vehicle).

73 de Phil,  KO6BB
DX begins at the noise floor!

THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:   http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
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Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh