[Scan-DC] Glass-mount antennas?

[Joel Kahn]

Andy:

I have had glass mounted antennas (antennae?) on my last 3 vehicles. For
endurance, they are fine. The adhesive is made to be permanent and you
need a good putty knife & razor blade combo to get them off.  The
re-install kits come with new adhesive pads, but they are not easy to
come by.  Take a few minutes to plan and layout the installation before
you begin.  I usually rough lay the interior first (where the wires will
be routed) from the window to the front.  Make sure that where you put
both side of the antenna are clear (no obstructions from frames or
body).  When I am ready, I mount the interior piece first, but I have
placed little dots at the outside corners with a marker pen.  It doesn't
seem to matter if you have the wire pointing up down or sideways on that
piece.  Then I do the outside, it is easier to line up on the interior
piece, than to hang upside down and contort on the inside trying to
match the outside!

 

As far as reception, since they are broad band in nature you can tune
them for more specific listening, but I have never had any complaint
about the RS one that I have, which is at least 10 years old and has
been on my last 2 vans.  The glass tinting should not be a factor
(unless you have the metallic, self installed version). What you do have
to be careful of, though, is not to cover any of the defroster wires, as
they will degrade your induction signal.  I monitor everything from low
band to 800 and mine pulls in signals that the BC396T factory antenna
cannot, although I have had really good luck with that one, too.

 

When I go to the Jersey shore, I start getting NJSP Troop A signals
about 30 miles north of Baltimore on the glass mount. And I am still
hearing Anne Arundel County when I am near Bethany Beach DE.  Some of
that may be the radio, but a good part must be the antenna, too.

 

 

Joel R. Kahn