Concealed Mobile Antenna

[MississippiPI]

I am looking for ideas for a concealed mobile antenna that will work on Ford Explorer. I have a Taurus with small, looks like unmarked police car if you know what I mean--looking for something that will work that will not look like a police or scanner antenna--any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated..Thanks

 

[RolnCode3]

How small does it have to be?

You can either do the Antennex Discadoos or the Radiall/Larsen discs. They're both pretty low-pro. They can also be painted.

The Antennex Phantoms are pretty small too. If you have the channels and raised areas (for lack of a better word) on your roof, mounted properly, one of these might be hidden pretty well on an Explorer.

Also, what band do you need to listen to? There is a VHF-low that someone posted about before, but it's kind of unwieldy/big. Guess it can go under a vehicle, though. Other bands seem to have more solutions.

 

[unitcharlie]

MississippiPI: recently i had to replace a couple of rat shack antennas (that literally disintegrated--as in fell apart at the insulators--while driving down the road at highway speeds or better)... i tried scanner master first (since they are a sponsor) but nothing fell into my budget there. i have a tighter budget with which to play now than when the original gear was purchased.... i finally ended up at the universal radio website and bought two PMM3B antennas---everything including tax and shipping $28.85..... when the antennas arrived i was shocked that they were so small.... little more than a foot tall and they look like cell fone antennas.... i have been listening for about a week and have heard things i haven't heard in a long time in the car.... doesn't hear below 100 megs, but i don't monitor any systems that low so it was cool....

here is the link:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants/1190.html

 

[tglendye]

Sounds like an AM/FM radio antenna splitter would work well for you. Try this link (I hope it works):

http://www.scannermaster.com/store/...a=sortbyc=d/va=scat=Mobile Mounting Gear.html

Your car radio antenna doubles as the scanner antenna. I've used them in a couple of vehicles in the past and they worked well. I don't remember them costing so much, though. I thought it was more b/n $20-30.

Make sure you get the splitter and not the coupler

 

[nexus]

You could also check with STI-CO http://www.sti-co.com/

They make concealed antennas for public-safety operations. They also
include wide-band antennas.

 

[LarrySC]

I installed this for a PD Detective: Ran RG-58 out of scanner to a splitter. Ran two [2] pc's coax under dash to each moulding just inside of windshield. Skinned ea wire [leaving the poly on] where there would be appx 15" of antenna on each side. KISS. It really worked good and you COULD NOT see it.

 

[RolnCode3]

In a PM, he is specifically asking about low band and VHF, not so much the 800 area. The other low-profile antenna I once saw a post about (besides the STI-co one) is this:

http://www.untenna.com/

 

[Concrete1]

Here's another inexpensive Splitter from your AM/FM antenna that should be OK...

https://www.webtrix.net/shopcart/ad...mp;cat=Scanner+to+AM/FM+Splitter&search=1

 

[tglendye]

Here's another inexpensive Splitter from your AM/FM antenna that should be OK...

https://www.webtrix.net/shopcart/ad...mp;cat=Scanner+to+AM/FM+Splitter&search=1

That one looks good... it should pick up both low band and vhf-hi good.

 

[PointMan]

Ive had decent results from the FM radio splitter setup, before I completely removed the FM radio and installed a TK-880 GMRS radio and a BCT-7 where the enormus GM brand FM radio was housed. Since then, Ive just used a motorola to BNC adapter. While comparing the FM music radio antenna to the NMO mount 5/8ths wave 462 mhz antenna, ive noticed about half the range using the FM antenna. For VHF stations, Ive found that the difference is about the same. For VHF low, it doesnt work as well as a trimmed CB antenna.

Overall the type of FM antenna on your car will vary from other models. Mine is a 1992 chevy, and the FM antenna is rather poor compared to a NMO mount antenna tuned to the right length. I plan to get a similar GM antenna, cut the old one for 153 MHz, and see how much things improve. I wonder if the factory coax is any good? Its possible that it is losing quite a bit of signal, or maybee its even dry rotted or pinched.

Overall the FM antenna coupler is a good compromise when you dont want a bunch of extra antennas.

Myself Im always interested in the low profile set ups used by local and federal law enf. Some of the stuff sounds beyond belief, but of course its hard to come by, with the exception of the paragraph in every edition of police call, that mentions a FCC capable car with DC to Daylight monitoring capability, all 100% sterile on the outside (Rat Shack... LIE? Noo!)

 

[JoeyC]

The splitters that allow you to use your car antenna with the scanner are GARBAGE and a waste of $$