Glass antenna set up

stingray327 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2013, 4:52 PM

This antenna doesn't even compare with the old AS Mon 31 or is it 51? I see it on news cam vans but this company Antenna Specialists is no longer around and antenna is discontinued. I have been having satisfactory results with a glass mounted antenna on hatchback that is taped on with connector on other side of glass.
Which window set up is the best one these days?

W2NJS · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2013, 5:20 PM

Properly installed, thru-glass antennas work well. You must not install it over defroster wires or on highly tinted windows. You also have to properly ground the unit from the matching box to the car's ground, and then you must carefully match the antenna to the system using either a good SWR meter or, better yet, a good RF watt meter. If you do the install right you should end up with an SWR of well under 2:1. I believe that several manufacturers still make these units for various frequency ranges, one of them possibly being Radiall-Larsen.

stingray327 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2013, 5:55 PM

SWR, matching? I thought that only applied to CB transmission antennas?
Can you recommend where now these days I can find a windshield antenna that isn't too long maybe 12 inches at most?

VO1GXG · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2013, 11:07 PM

Some vehicles have metal particles in them which cause glass mount antennas to be completely useless. if you have a car that has tinted windows and was made in the last 4 or 5 years you're out of luck, for receiving it will work ok but not the best. They units always come with a metal wire that will clip over the connector for a ground plane. That being said when they work they work!

Tram still makes a very good glass mount antenna as well as browning and Maxrad.

stingray327 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2013, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VO1GXG

Some vehicles have metal particles in them which cause glass mount antennas to be completely useless. if you have a car that has tinted windows and was made in the last 4 or 5 years you're out of luck, for receiving it will work ok but not the best. They units always come with a metal wire that will clip over the connector for a ground plane. That being said when they work they work!

Tram still makes a very good glass mount antenna as well as browning and Maxrad.

That is the current set up I have on one of my cars but it will works fine. windows are tinted with defroster wires running across.

where can you find these better glass mounted antennas like Tram, Browning or Maxrad?

W2NJS · #6 (**permalink**) 01-06-2013, 8:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray327

SWR, matching? I thought that only applied to CB transmission antennas?
Can you recommend where now these days I can find a windshield antenna that isn't too long maybe 12 inches at most?

No, it applies to ALL transmitting antennas, CB, amateur, commercial, cellphone, etc. It doesn't apply as much if all you're doing is monitoring/receiving, but it still pays to do the install the right way if you want the best possible results. The question of the usefulness and value of thru-glass antennas gets asked on this Board about once every two weeks and it always get the same answers which, boiled down, are: 1. Yes, they work, and 2. But they have to be properly installed, and 3. The people who say they don't work don't understand how they work which is why their installations get screwed up.

QwKiE · #7 (**permalink**) 01-06-2013, 9:31 AM

I have an HP1 useing a 20-011 radio shack glass mounted antenna in my car. With or with out my GPS it receives very good but like was stated before you need to read and install the antenna the right way. With the new systems they have today you can receive very good signals from much further away.This antenna works good for 25 to 1300 mhz.

stingray327 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-07-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2NJS

No, it applies to ALL transmitting antennas, CB, amateur, commercial, cellphone, etc. It doesn't apply as much if all you're doing is monitoring/receiving, but it still pays to do the install the right way if you want the best possible results. The question of the usefulness and value of thru-glass antennas gets asked on this Board about once every two weeks and it always get the same answers which, boiled down, are: 1. Yes, they work, and 2. But they have to be properly installed, and 3. The people who say they don't work don't understand how they work which is why their installations get screwed up.

Just need to find a store that may sell a variety of them.

biomedbob · #9 (**permalink**) 01-07-2013, 2:40 PM

I had 3 through glass antennas on my VW rabbitt convertible back when I lived in Florida. One was for 2 meter, one for CB and one was marine.

They worked great, but the installation has to be done to go the SWR down to a minimum.

They were on the side windows due to the fact the the back window collasped when the roof was put down.

stingray327 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-07-2013, 9:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QwKiE

I have an HP1 useing a 20-011 radio shack glass mounted antenna in my car. With or with out my GPS it receives very good but like was stated before you need to read and install the antenna the right way. With the new systems they have today you can receive very good signals from much further away.This antenna works good for 25 to 1300 mhz.

This is probably the one I am using now. The only problem I have with it is that it has loosened up so the antenna will not stay straight up just sags at an angle a little. I tried to tighten phillips screw on it but it doesn't work and won't tighten any further.

stingray327 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-07-2013, 9:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biomedbob

I had 3 through glass antennas on my VW rabbitt convertible back when I lived in Florida. One was for 2 meter, one for CB and one was marine.

They worked great, but the installation has to be done to go the SWR down to a minimum.

They were on the side windows due to the fact the the back window collasped when the roof was put down.

So how does one get the SWR down? trim the antenna and use an SWR meter?

W8RMH · #12 (**permalink**) 01-07-2013, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray327

This is probably the one I am using now. The only problem I have with it is that it has loosened up so the antenna will not stay straight up just sags at an angle a little. I tried to tighten phillips screw on it but it doesn't work and won't tighten any further.

I had this problem many years ago. I put a lock washer on the screw and that did the trick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray327

Just need to find a store that may sell a variety of them.

The Antenna Farm has the TRAM 1199 for $19.95.

W8RMH · #13 (**permalink**) 01-07-2013, 10:50 PM

Deleted/Duplication

fulfordr · #14 (**permalink**) 01-08-2013, 11:15 AM

The Tram 1199 doesnt look much different from the Radio Shack 20-011,but the price is alot cheaper than Radio Shacks.

QwKiE · #15 (**permalink**) 01-08-2013, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray327

This is probably the one I am using now. The only problem I have with it is that it has loosened up so the antenna will not stay straight up just sags at an angle a little. I tried to tighten phillips screw on it but it doesn't work and won't tighten any further.

That is why you need to read instructions, if its mounted backwards it will come loose as you are driving if its the right way it will stay tight as you drive.

Most rear windows do have like 3 spots that are clear for mounting an antenna with no problems.

stingray327 · #16 (**permalink**) 01-08-2013, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QwKiE

That is why you need to read instructions, if its mounted backwards it will come loose as you are driving if its the right way it will stay tight as you drive.

Most rear windows do have like 3 spots that are clear for mounting an antenna with no problems.

In that respect, there was nothing in the instructions as to which angle to mount. Now with the antenna all the way down it will either be on right side or left side of car. If mounted the other way the antenna would be facing the hood or hatch down and end up in that position from driving because of the position of the antenna so the way it was mounted was the logical way to mount it so it drops side to side rather than front to back.

QwKiE · #17 (**permalink**) 01-08-2013, 1:25 PM

The antenna should be installed so as to the antenna can be set forward, or so it can be set to the back of the car . If you put the mount on the wrong way and you stand the antenna up straight the wind will will push the antenna back and the screw will losen. If you have it on the right way the screw will stay tight so then the antenna will always be straight up from the base. Like I said if you read the 20-011 instructions it always did say that in the directions. Also no through the defroster and avoid the tint. My car and I have seen many others that have like 3 spots that you can mount to a good spot on the rear window for an antenna.
3 years with this antenna never came lose and has stuck to the window with no problems so far. Comes off only when I go in to the car wash.

jaskel · #18 (**permalink**) 01-13-2013, 4:58 AM

Hi all, I have a new car but I dont want to mount 2 big antennas on it, so I was going to buy a on glass antenna for the Uniden 396XT. ill mainly be listening to NSW GRN (415-420 mhz) and Airband with NO transmitting.

Im interested in peoples experiences with these antennas, the pros and cons and the range compared to a full size antenna.

Any brands better than the other??

Thanks all

Jas

stingray327 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-13-2013, 3:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QwKiE

The antenna should be installed so as to the antenna can be set forward, or so it can be set to the back of the car . If you put the mount on the wrong way and you stand the antenna up straight the wind will will push the antenna back and the screw will losen. If you have it on the right way the screw will stay tight so then the antenna will always be straight up from the base. Like I said if you read the 20-011 instructions it always did say that in the directions. Also no through the defroster and avoid the tint. My car and I have seen many others that have like 3 spots that you can mount to a good spot on the rear window for an antenna.
3 years with this antenna never came lose and has stuck to the window with no problems so far. Comes off only when I go in to the car wash.

I do have the antenna mounted so when car is driving forward the antenna will not go down to the rear of car or the front. For some reason of late it will fall slightly to the right or the left.

W2NJS · #20 (**permalink**) 01-13-2013, 5:17 PM

Jaskel wrote above:

"Im interested in peoples experiences with these antennas, the pros and cons and the range compared to a full size antenna.

Thru glass antennas in common use are quarter-wave on VHF and 3 to 5 db gain on UHF. I have no experience with 800 mHz units but odds are that they're also available with gain configurations. Other factor affecting range will be the power you use. From that point on it's up to you figure out. Also, these antennas ARE full-size units, so that part of your question is moot. An additional factor to be considered is how competently the installation is done. Read above in this thread for details about that.