[Scan-DC] Glass-mount antennas?

[Andrew Clegg]

Does anyone have any experience with through-the-glass scanner antenna
mounts? The reason I ask is that my car is too tall to fit in my parking
garage with any antennas on top. It just clears the ceiling by about 2". So
I have been using mag-mount scanner antennas, and putting them on/removing
them when I drive out of/in to the garage. It's a real pain.

I have thought about trying the through-the-glass type mounts, like those
used for older car cell phone antennas. Apparently they work by inducting
the RF from the antenna, through the glass, and onto the cable on the other
side. I have my doubts that this could work well, especially on tinted
windows, but this type of antenna was heavily used back when cell phone
coverage was spottier and good external antennas were needed, so there must
be something to them. I have noticed them even recently, installed on tinted
windows. I think OnStar might still be using them in some of their luxury
car installations.

RadioShack sells such a scanner antenna (20-011), and I thought if I put one
on a rear side window of my SUV, I could put it low enough not to have to
remove it. But the mounting process seems semi-permanent, so I don't want to
try it unless someone can recommend it. The reviews on the RS web site are a
mix of good and bad.

Anybody have any first-hand experience with these types of antennas? Anyone
know if the factory window tinting on Ford SUVs is metallic?

Thanks,
Andy