XM Antenna for Scanner?

[AdamDaMan]

Hey guys,

So I'm new to this community and I was wondering if there was any way to use my XM "dome" on my '07 Mustang to get scanner reception. I don't really want a huge antenna or something noticeable because I'm concerned about the looks of the car. I would appreciate some feedback or other antenna mount options.


Thanks!!

[n5ims]

While it may do something for you it probably won't do much. I would almost guess that it would probably it wouldn't be worth the effort to even try to use it. It's designed for much higher frequencies than you'll be scanning. Since an antenna is very frequency specific, having one for the frequency band you're using is quite important so using one that's so far away isn't very useful.

Without knowing where you are located or what system(s) you want to monitor I can't give you any really good suggestions. There are several scanner antennas that look similar to ones for cellular phones (if you're using the right band at least) that would blend in quite well (folks would just think it's for your phone). If you can post what they are folks here can offer some pretty good suggestions. Just remember that although your scanner probably works from 30 MHz or so all the way up to about 1 GHz, you probably only listen to a very small part of that range (and the higher in frequency you go, the smaller the good antennas will be). Use the RR database (RadioReference.com - Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference Database) to help you find where what you want to hear are if you don't already know.

[AdamDaMan]

Thanks for getting back to me so fast. The main frequencies are from 154.190 to 156.000

[nbdyspclk]

you would get better reception for that band by using a am/fm y splitter to make use of already installed factory ant.cost 1.99-5.99

[mancow]

It will do absolutely nothing. That is a 2 Ghz range antenna, likely with a built in preamp and phantom power up the coax.

[fourthhorseman]

You may be abel to get a nice DL NMO mount and use the existing hole..

[n2pqq]

I know there will be lots of disagreement but here is what I do.

I have a mag mount antenna inside the trunk of the car .
The antenna is upside down.

The antenna is stuck to the trunk lid or speaker inside the trunk.

I run the cable inside thru the trunk and along the floor board, cable comes up next to the drivers seat.

Handheld scanner is kept in storage compartment.

Comet B-10 and B-10NMO. Comet B10 antenna

Comet Mobile Antenna Mounts

http://www.universal-radio.com/catal.../so2adapt.html

I use a comet B-10 with the cm5m mount.

You will also need a SO-239 (UHF) to BNC male adapter if your scanner has a BNC connection.

The 16 feet of cable let you do a nice installition.

This is done on a 2013 Nissan Altima

The antenna is invisible and works fine for my needs.

[AdamDaMan]

Does that work? An upside down antenna? Doesn't seem like you would get very good signal..

[n2pqq]

Originally Posted by AdamDaMan

Does that work? An upside down antenna? Doesn't seem like you would get very good signal..

Believe it or not it works fine

[ecps92]

What ? The atoms going to fall out ?
It's the same as a right-side-up antenna

Originally Posted by AdamDaMan

Does that work? An upside down antenna? Doesn't seem like you would get very good signal..

[KB7MIB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

I've heard of repeater antennas having to be installed upside down, due to the takeoff angle being too high.

[gewecke]

To N2PQQ, By sticking a magnet mount antenna upside down inside of a trunk, you're basically keeping your antenna in a faraday cage preventing it from receiving signals. If you receive anything it would have to be very strong signals.

To the op, your XM antenna would likely only work well above 1.2ghz. as others have said.

73,
n9zas