Low profile VHF antenna

[sefrischling]

My pickup doesn't fit in the garage, so not an issue for me. My wife's car is a Ford Escape, and it's got a 1/4 wave VHF on the top. It hits the garage door. No where near as tall as a suburban, but still, it hits. After doing this for 5 years, I've seen no issues at all with the antenna or the mount. Maybe a slight mark on the inside of the garage door where it hits, but that's it.

I have a Yukon XL (GMC Suburban) ... what 1/4 wave do you have that it has never snapped off? As you point out my truck is talker than then Escape, but I have broken 3 antennas in parking garages over the past year or two.

 

[SCPD]

Go with a quarter wave, W9BU. I can get in line saying the VHF fat hockey puck antennas are basically a waste of money. We put one made by Antenex on a truck, and that thing was basically a dummy load, in my opinion. You'll get better range by putting a quarter wave on, and if it's too high, bending it back 45 degrees.

 

[mmckenna]

There's a soft top version of this Austin antenna that's flexible with a heavy duty whip coating. I read a review long ago and it solved problems for a guy who couldn't take the scraping noise when entering/exiting his garage. He was also quite happy with it's performance.

Austin Antenna 500C Series Information Page

Or just put some heat shrink tubing on it on a standard 1/4 wave.

 

[mmckenna]

I have a Yukon XL (GMC Suburban) ... what 1/4 wave do you have that it has never snapped off? As you point out my truck is talker than then Escape, but I have broken 3 antennas in parking garages over the past year or two.

Either the standard "chrome nut" style or the Larsen NMO-Q's.

Both of them are slender enough whips that they'll just flex out of the way. The chrome nut types are a bit better at this. Worst I've ever had happen was one go through a car wash and it bent over about 15 degrees. Easy to bend back. Anyway, when you can buy a new one for less than $20, it's cheap and easy to just swap them out.
The current set up on her Escape is the Larsen NMO-Q. been up there for several years with no issues.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

W9BU, is this low enough for you (of course they go to about a 45º angle running at highway speeds)?

The Panorama sharkie would work well too. I've got one but not a LMR antenna to screw into it (it would still be a quarter-wave in length though).

Pass a black tahoe with a knob antenna…yup, I'd do it. Reason being, the special services package (or whatever they call the "police package") doesn't have the luggage rack on the roof. 98% of consumers who buy Tahoes for personal use don't delete said luggage rack. Also like most police package options, very rarely to they stick with OEM wheels. I've seen some undercover/unmakred vehicles done right but most aren't.

 

[mronn]

W5PKY - What kind of antenna is that?

 

[nd5y]

Probably a STI-CO Flexi-Whip.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Yup. Here is the one on my new truck.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mronn]

Those are the same thing?

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Those are the same thing?

Essentially. The new truck has a Panorama Sharkee (quad band cell, GPS, 2.4/4.9GHz, and various whip selections). Mine has a Nitol VHF whip currently. One day it'll get the tri-band whip (which doesn't flex like that).

The Sti-Co Flexiwhip is a Nitol whip for a regular NMO base.

 

[mronn]

Thanks!

 

[mformby]

I would go with the Stico flexable whip. This one really works well and they will replace it if you break it.

Stico Flexi Whip Antennas, Accessories in Orchard Park NY | Sti-Co

None of the plastic stubs work well. They just have a PC circuit that tells it that it is a VHF without the physical length. You need the physical length of at least 18" (quarter wave).