[Scan-DC] Glass-mount antennas?

[Andrew Clegg]

Thanks to everyone for their on- and off-list feedback regarding 
through-the-glass antennas. Although not optimal, it sounds like it may be a 
decent option for me.

Happy listening,
Andy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <oldsdoug at hotmail.com>
To: "Andrew Clegg" <w4jecom at w4je.com>; <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 8:28 PM
Subject: RE: [Scan-DC] Glass-mount antennas?



Hi Andy, I have one of the RS antennas on the Impala... can't tell you much 
about the tinting on the Ford SUV, but the antenna works adequately in the 
Impala, with little effort on my part.  Having said that, tho, I suspect 
that the signal strength of most systems around here is strong enough that 
not much of antenna is needed anyway.  I've never made any effort to tune 
this antenna for use with the BC-796, so I bet the SWR is all over the 
place... and I also wonder, given that the 796 receives everything from VHF 
low band through 800 meg digital, how good the coverage is over that whole 
spectrum.

I suspect that the glass-mount one would work as well as the mag mounts for 
most of the local stuff... I have an old Regency Z-60 VHF-UHF scanner that 
lives in the Tahoe, and that works well on high band in the area with a hunk 
of wire stuck in it, which is the reason that I think it's more a matter of 
local signal strength than antenna.

The glass-mount one on the Impala has been on there for at least a year and 
a half if not more, and shows no signs of loosening... and that car is often 
driven at warp speeds for trips of up to 3 hours in duration, so I can speak 
for the tenacity of the antenna!  I wondered about how well the inductive 
antenna would work also, so it was awhile before I decided to ante up the 
$35 for the Radio Shack one.  So... it works OK but is a little pricy... but 
I suspect that if you just stick the inside part on and don't even install 
the antenna outside, it may work just as well... hope this helps, let me 
know what you think.

Regards,

Doug

> From: w4jecom at w4je.com
> To: Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:38:23 -0400
> CC:
> Subject: [Scan-DC] Glass-mount antennas?
>
> 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
>
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