I have a very nice looking dodge truck and don't want to make it look like a porcupine. I listen to CHP when I drive in California. What I am looking for is a low profile 39/42/45 Mhz antenna for monitoring CHP dispatch such as the look of the ETRAB 1500 or similar. Any ideas anyone? On the Submarine we had an antenna that covered low band very well with a very small antenna...anything anyone has seen or built?
42 Mhz antenna low profile
- Thread starter wb6sub
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I use an Austin Spectra. Quite low profile. The upper whip can be tuned via a cutting chart for 42Mhz. I am pleased with the performance. All band coverage and can transmit in 2m and 70cm. Not cheap, but it does work. NMO mount.
scottyhetzel
Member
+1. I concur and run the same antenna. If you want a low band only, run the Larson wideband vhf low antenna. I bought a antennex low band antenna years ago...it pulls in low band super great, but it's very tall since it's a 5/8 whip. So for non porcupine look go with the Austin spectra. Paint it flat black....looks less noticeable in my opinion. However you need to drill and roof mount it...you need a good ground plane for the low band to pull signals in.
Using Austin Spectra with 5" mag mount, seems to work great, newbie, so no comparisons.
reconrider8
Member
I like my Larsen nmo40 its kinda high but works wonderfully well
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
It's a bit longish, but Larsen put out (used to put out - not sure if it's still available) a 6m magnetic mount that works just fine as a VHF lo receive antenna. I used it with a old Regency portable in the car during the last cycle, and regularly copied California from Maryland...Mike
jcop225
Radio Zoomer
All the replies so far haven't exactly been low profile simply because such a mobile antenna doesn't exist to my knowledge. It's a combination of physics and lack of demand from low band users for such antennas.
The only remote option for a low profile antenna near that range would be to attempt to modify and electrically shorten a compact CB antenna. I can't imagine this would be very successful due to the low quality at the CB price point. And then you would have a CB antenna on your truck...
I think your best bet is to get the longest antenna you're comfortable with, put it has high up on the vehicle as possible, with the best ground plane possible. I imagine if the CHP relies on this system as their primary communications then the infrastructure is well built out and you'll be able to hear them even with a compromised setup.
RE. the submarine. I have no experience with such an antenna but my guess is the design relied heavily on being part of a large metal hull submersed in salt water, and may not be practical on a car or truck.
The only remote option for a low profile antenna near that range would be to attempt to modify and electrically shorten a compact CB antenna. I can't imagine this would be very successful due to the low quality at the CB price point. And then you would have a CB antenna on your truck...
I think your best bet is to get the longest antenna you're comfortable with, put it has high up on the vehicle as possible, with the best ground plane possible. I imagine if the CHP relies on this system as their primary communications then the infrastructure is well built out and you'll be able to hear them even with a compromised setup.
RE. the submarine. I have no experience with such an antenna but my guess is the design relied heavily on being part of a large metal hull submersed in salt water, and may not be practical on a car or truck.
N5TWB
Member
I've received the Oklahoma Highway Patrol at 44 MHz with a 19" quarterwave for VHF-Hi. You can try it for under $20 so I'd say give it a shot. It will at least be lower profile than the first response recommending the Austin Spectra.
There are lowband radom type antennas around, but the FD's here that have used them usually went back to conventional antennas because even high performance radios they were junk, would be worse with a scanner
Right now I have a antennex 40 meg coil but am looking for low profile tuned for 42.12. I purchased a new coil for 37 Meg that I was planning on cutting down to frequency so I could use a short whip but not sure if this will work for receive? Any input would be great but I agree low band and low profile don't jive!
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