Antenna Question

[sal94]

Can someone please tell me what those antennas that stick to the window of your car and where I can get one for a Motorola radio?

Sorry if this is the wrong forum or if this was already answered somewhere else, but I'm new to this forum.

 

[n5ims]

Those "window" antennas are called "glass mount" and are pretty easy to find (even Radio Shack has them). Just Google "Glass Mount Antenna" will get you over half a million to look at.

Please note that an antenna doesn't know (or care) what brand the radio it attaches to (or even if that radio is analog or digital), but it does matter quite a bit what BAND that radio is on. An antenna for VHF-Hi (150 MHz give or take) will work on those frequencies just as well using a Motorola radio, an EF Johnson radio, a Kenwood radio, an Icom radio (etc.) but only if those radios are VHF-Hi band radios. If they're for a different band (say VHF-Low - 46 MHz give or take) they will not work well and could even damage the radio.

If you can list what frequency or frequencies or even what band (or bands) your Motorola uses, we may be able to answer your question.

Just be aware that a glass mount radio may limit your power if you transmit since they generally only handle rather low power levels. Depending on your "Motorola" radio, you could easily transmit with enough power to exceed the antenna's maximum and cause damage to the antenna, radio, or even window glass.

 

[sal94]

I already understand VHF vs. UHF. The radio is all 153-155.xxx frequencies. And most frequencies on it use a repeater system. Right now I just have the wire going from the radio to the part of the glass where the antenna was. I guess I was going a little to fast on the highway one day and it was gone... but anyway...

Thanks for the help. I really just need the name so I could look it up. Thanks again

 

[davidgcet]

when you get the new one you MUST replace both the inside and outside pieces unless you get the exact same one you had. it will require tuning, if you don't tune it you risk burning up the antenna or the radio or both. if you just don't want to drill a hole, get a trunk lid mount you will love the range boost it has over a glass mount. range wise the only thing worse than a glass mount is having no antenna at all.