Disquise CB antenna needed for Ford Taurus or similar

[gary123]

I have scoured the antenna manufacturers and come up dry so I am asking for help.

I have several Ford Taurus (PI) vehicles I need to install CB radios in. We do not want to install an obvious CB antenna. What we want to do is replace the rear roof GPS/AM/FM antenna with a look alike (or close) antenna. We understand that performance will suffer however a lower the profile the happier we will be. We dont care about loosing the existing GPS/AM/FM function.

Note: even oif there isnt an exact one for Ford products we are open to using an antenna for a different manufacture car GM/Chev/Toyota Nissan etc

 

[MrColad]

I'd consult a professional radio shop if I were you but since you asked, start here.

Midland 18-258 Glass Mount CB Antenna

The Midland 18-258 is a 27MHz glass mount antenna for CB radios.

www.buytwowayradios.com

This type of install will not work with metallic tint.

 

[vagrant]

I am not aware of an antenna for 11 meters that is the size of a GPS puck antenna, let alone replaces what is there now.

An antenna that does not look like a CB antenna to me is this magnet mount one for $55. Interesting, it has pretty good reviews as well. The reviewers are realistic though with an understanding of a very short range.

 

[jonwienke]

A GPS-sized CB antenna won't work--basic physics. A VHF-sized antenna will kind of work, if high performance is not needed. But you're kind of looking for dry water.

 

[mmckenna]

Do you plan on transmitting or just receiving?

If you are just receiving, you can use pretty much anything, but understand performance is going to be awful unless it is something fairly long and designed for use on 27MHz.

If you are transmitting, you can get diplexers that will connect between the AM/FM radio antenna, AM/FM radio that allow you to connect a CB, but again, with the little whip on the top of the antenna, it's going to suck.

Low profile and CB don't work.

 

[prcguy]

In the 1970s there were two competing companies made disguise antennas that turned one of the vehicle windows into a "slot antenna" There was a small tuning box that mounted and grounded to one side of a window and a thin wire stretched across the window and grounded to the other side. I think one was called the "Intenna" and I forget what the other one was called. I have an example of each stashed somewhere that I will try and dig out.

I installed quite a few of these in the 1970s and they work surprisingly well. I've tested them several times against a permanent roof mount antenna while the cars drove until they could not be heard and of course the permanent roof antenna went further, but not that much further.
They show up on Ebay here and there if you know what to look for.


Update!

I found the two disguise antennas and one is the "InTenna" made by Microwave Filter Company and the other is "The Insider" made by Scarborough Laboratories, although they are long out of production. Here is a picture of both.

 

[KevinC]

In the 1970s there were two competing disguise antennas that made one of the windows a "slot antenna" There was a small tuning box that mounted and grounded to one side of a window and a thin wire stretched across the window and grounded to the other side. I think one was called the "Intenna" and I forget what the other one was called. I have an example of each stashed somewhere that I will try and dig out.

I installed quite a few of these in the 1970s and they work surprisingly well. I've tested them several times against a permanent roof mount antenna while the cars drove until they could not be heard and of course the permanent roof antenna went further, but not that much further.
They show up on Ebay here and there if you know what to look for.

Car Auto Windshield Vintage Microwave Filter Co. Intenna Antenna 3355 CBA NOS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Car Auto Windshield Vintage Microwave Filter Co. Intenna Antenna 3355 CBA NOS at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[prcguy]

Its nice to see an original in new condition but I think the price is ridiculous.

Car Auto Windshield Vintage Microwave Filter Co. Intenna Antenna 3355 CBA NOS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Car Auto Windshield Vintage Microwave Filter Co. Intenna Antenna 3355 CBA NOS at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[KevinC]

Its nice to see an original in new condition but I think the price is ridiculous.

I found another for $30.

 

[Project4]

For close-in receive only applications, a 3 or 4 foot "Firestik" style whip laying across the rear deck behind the back seat may be adequate. Another option is a cowl mount "disguise" antenna like these on ebay: "Turner SK755 CB Only Disguise (Cowl) Mount Antenna VINTAGE". It will be a noticeable antenna but shouldn't announce "Police" any louder than any other P.I. sedan.

 

[Wauk620]

I'd recommend that you check out President's New York Up CB Antenna. It resembles your vehicle's OEM GPS/AM/FM antenna. It's a good quality dual helical 1/4 wave, about 19 1/2", mag mount, 12' coax and has a 10 year warranty. It's a good compromise between performance and appearance. WRAR311

 

[FedFyrGuy]

Kalibur Magnetic CB Antenna

The Kalibur Low-profile Magnetic CB Antenna is ideal for cars & SUV's. Fast 3-Day Shipping at Right Channel Radios!

www.rightchannelradios.com

 

[K3DHJ]

Group President Electronics USA

president-electronics.us

 

[gary123]

Thank you for all the replies so far. I knew this would be the place to ask.

The president antenna is the style we are looking for. If there is a hard mount version that would be it exactly. I dont know if anyone else makes something similar. We cant use 'standard' fibergalss whip even if its short nor can we use an on-glass. The antenna must be hard mounted.

 

[FFPM571]

What are you planning on using this for?

 

[fredva]

I have several Ford Taurus (PI) vehicles I need to install CB radios in. We do not want to install an obvious CB antenna. What we want to do is replace the rear roof GPS/AM/FM antenna with a look alike (or close) antenna. We understand that performance will suffer however a lower the profile the happier we will be. We dont care about loosing the existing GPS/AM/FM function.

That's an interesting requirement. I usually associate CBs in police cars with highway patrol work. But I haven't seen highway patrol agencies go to that length to disguise their unmarked cars. And I would think for undercover work, police radios would be used.

 

[gary123]

Is a special application. We need interoperability with CB users. But we dont want the big and obvious antennas.

 

[n9mxq]

I've had this in my junkbox forever.. to use your stock AM/FM antenna for CB..

 

[cmdrwill]

Is a special application. We need interoperability with CB users. But we don't want the big and obvious antennas.

Trolling for truckers....

 

[fredva]

Is a special application. We need interoperability with CB users. But we dont want the big and obvious antennas.

Gotcha.