• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

2017 Tahoe PPV - Lowest Profile UHF Antenna

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Messages
8
Hello all,

Well, Chevy did me a disservice with the 2015+ Tahoe PPV. On the 2007-2014, the raised "rails" in the sheet metal on the roof were staggered so that the center line was flat. On the 2017, one of the "rails" runs right down the center line of the roof. I was planning on mounting a covert little UHF puck antenna back there, but since I can't stand things that aren't centered, and the mounting surface is elevated in the middle, that won't work.

I'm trying to find some other ideas for an antenna that is as low profile as possible, to mount 3/4 of the way back on the roof. It can't really be any wider than a Laird Phantom. In fact, I would just use a phantom, but I wanted to keep it shorter than 3" and their UHF options aren't quite as short as the 800 mhz versions.

I am investigating factory On-Star replacement antennas with UHF, but so far I can't find one that keeps the factory GPS/On-Star connection while adding UHF.

Any ideas? Thanks everyone!
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,617
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
The Larsen LP450NMO are 1.5 inches high, but 4.5 inches in diameter, so fitting it in between ribs would need to be checked.

These really low profile antennas come at a cost. When you try and stuff a vertical antenna that needs to be around 6 inches tall into a 1.5 inch tall patch, it doesn't work as well.

As for the concerns about looks, have you considered mounting two 1/4 wave antennas on each side, and just using one? A simple 6 inch tall 1/4 wave antenna will work better than a 1.5" tall antenna.
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Messages
8
Laird Phantom Elite centered on the rib. its barely 3 1/2 tall other than that .. Not much, also all 15+ tahoes have the center ribs not only the PPV. https://www.talleycom.com/images/pdf/ANXETRA4703.pdf

I like the Laird Phantom Elite - what if I was to mount it up front on a L-bracket, like this:

http://i.imgur.com/OPNqfj2.jpg

Would that give it enough of a ground plane, assuming the bracket is screwed into the quarter panel?

I know the roof is obviously the most ideal spot, but with that rail down the middle, so another thing I'm considering is a "puck" antenna, but painted silver to match the car and mounted at about the b-pillar, where the ridge in the roof stops. That might look a bit goofy though, with an antenna so far forward on an otherwise slick roof.
 

KM4WLV

Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
1,050
Location
Rockwell (Rowan County), NC
I like the Laird Phantom Elite - what if I was to mount it up front on a L-bracket, like this:

http://i.imgur.com/OPNqfj2.jpg

Would that give it enough of a ground plane, assuming the bracket is screwed into the quarter panel?

I know the roof is obviously the most ideal spot, but with that rail down the middle, so another thing I'm considering is a "puck" antenna, but painted silver to match the car and mounted at about the b-pillar, where the ridge in the roof stops. That might look a bit goofy though, with an antenna so far forward on an otherwise slick roof.

How much power are you going to be running through it/what type of radio? I've seen that done before, but the L-Brackets aren't quite as low profile as the roof would be even with it being off center. I can appreciate your feelings on that. My OCD gets me on things like that every time LOL.
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Messages
8
How much power are you going to be running through it/what type of radio? I've seen that done before, but the L-Brackets aren't quite as low profile as the roof would be even with it being off center. I can appreciate your feelings on that. My OCD gets me on things like that every time LOL.

It's a Motorola XTL2500, UHF. 45 watt I believe.

I suppose I could get a "hockey puck" antenna on the roof and paint it it silver like the car, farther up front where the roof is flat...but that's by the B pillar which is a pretty visible spot.
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,164
Location
Texas
Panorama Sharkee. You loose the functionality of the Sirius but retain GPS and cellular. Also gain wifi (2.4/5 GHz). It'll fit in place of the OEM on star antenna. Looks more like the antenna that goes to the GMT900 models and not the newer KM2's but most will just see it as the OEM anyway. The one on my 2013 Sierra is mounted above the rear dome…only one person has ever called me out on it not being an OEM antenna.

otSO23U.jpg

Mine has the triband whip on it but there are dual band and single band whips available (including nitol options).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Messages
8
How much power are you going to be running through it/what type of radio? I've seen that done before, but the L-Brackets aren't quite as low profile as the roof would be even with it being off center. I can appreciate your feelings on that. My OCD gets me on things like that every time LOL.

My thought regarding the L-Bracket is that it'd be a black antenna mounted on a black panel, and while it is 3" long, it doesn't protrude from the roof so it wouldn't be that conspicuous. I just hate random "lumps" on the roof...especially off-center lumps.



MCore25 - is the Panorama Sharkee you're referring to up on the front of your roof, or are you referring to the one on the back of your roof?
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,164
Location
Texas
My thought regarding the L-Bracket is that it'd be a black antenna mounted on a black panel, and while it is 3" long, it doesn't protrude from the roof so it wouldn't be that conspicuous. I just hate random "lumps" on the roof...especially off-center lumps.



MCore25 - is the Panorama Sharkee you're referring to up on the front of your roof, or are you referring to the one on the back of your roof?

It is the one on the rear. The front is the OEM OnStar antenna (which I believe uses a 3/4" hole.
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Messages
8
As for the concerns about looks, have you considered mounting two 1/4 wave antennas on each side, and just using one? A simple 6 inch tall 1/4 wave antenna will work better than a 1.5" tall antenna.

It's a great idea, but I'll be parking in a garage with very limited overhead space. a Phantom will fit, but a 6" 1/4 wave won't.

What if I hid a 1/4 wave behind the D-Pillar, above the brake lights? It has a plastic cover. Though that might not be great for 360 degree field...
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,164
Location
Texas
It's a great idea, but I'll be parking in a garage with very limited overhead space. a Phantom will fit, but a 6" 1/4 wave won't.



What if I hid a 1/4 wave behind the D-Pillar, above the brake lights? It has a plastic cover. Though that might not be great for 360 degree field...



Nitol whip…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,617
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
It's a great idea, but I'll be parking in a garage with very limited overhead space. a Phantom will fit, but a 6" 1/4 wave won't.

What if I hid a 1/4 wave behind the D-Pillar, above the brake lights? It has a plastic cover. Though that might not be great for 360 degree field...

No, because having it right up against the sheet metal like that is going to reflect most of the signal back into the radio. Not a good plan.

Are you sure your vehicle will fit in the garage, but a 6" whip is really a showstopper? That sounds a bit extreme to me.

The flexible whip might be your best choice. Anything else is going to be a compromise or a very poor performer.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top