Aptera and CB?

[romad275]

Is anyone else here on the wait list for the Aptera Solar Charging autocycle? I'm now projected to get mine in 2026, so I am looking at how I might be able to use my President Bill with it. The primary hitch is the inner body is made of carbon fiber while the outer body is another composite, and is also completely covered on top with solar cells ("hood", dash, roof, and hatch). Unless I fabricate something to bolt to the frame near the rear wheel, I can't see how to get a ground plane for an antenna.

Years ago there was, IIRC, something called an "Inside Antenna" but I now only see mast type ones that have to mount to the metal body of a vehicle. Does anyone know of something that might work? What about Midland's window mount antenna?

 

[slowmover]

Search Intenna

 

[romad275]

In-Building Wireless Solutions Where You Want It | Intenna Systems LLC

Just seem to focus on WiFi systems now as I didn't see any thing about a CB antenna. They do have "Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)" but that is also WiFi related.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

"The Intenna" Invisible CB Mobile Antenna | eBay

If you felt we did not reach your expectations, allow us to fix the problem within reason before giving a negative review. after receiving the product. There is also a minimum.

www.ebay.com

 

[slowmover]

Search this forum (sorry). A number of posts.

 

[romad275]

"The Intenna" Invisible CB Mobile Antenna | eBay

If you felt we did not reach your expectations, allow us to fix the problem within reason before giving a negative review. after receiving the product. There is also a minimum.

www.ebay.com

Thanks! I'll get it to have on hand for when I get the Aptera next year.

 

[romad275]

Search this forum (sorry). A number of posts.

Thanks, I will as I have a few questions.

 

[slowmover]

It’s a slot antenna

 

[Token]

I have been watching this car for the past 19+ years, literally. I started paying attention to it in 2006, wishing it to market. No joy so far. Yes, they are close now (I saw it running on the test track north of Cal City). With that said:

The CB Intenna (linked on Ebay in this thread) is something of a disappointment. I have used one. Does it work? Yes. Is it better than nothing? Sure, but that is not a great grading scale.

Realistically, due to the Apteras design, you are going to have to do something custom if you want it to be affective at all.

The body is all carbon or composite, or covered in solar cells, so there is probably little can be done there. Who knows, maybe the solar cells will make a decent ground plane? But I would not bet on it.

The chassis / frame is aluminum, so you can work with that. However, it ends short of the outside lines of the bodywork, and well short of the back wheel. Maybe something on a wheel pod or upper suspension arm?

The various mules seen so far have all had individual configurations. They seem to be closing in on it, but until we see the final production version, there just really is no way to tell what might be available or work.

T!

 

[romad275]

I have been watching this car for the past 19+ years, literally. I started paying attention to it in 2006, wishing it to market. No joy so far. Yes, they are close now (I saw it running on the test track north of Cal City). With that said:

The CB Intenna (linked on Ebay in this thread) is something of a disappointment. I have used one. Does it work? Yes. Is it better than nothing? Sure, but that is not a great grading scale.

Realistically, due to the Apteras design, you are going to have to do something custom if you want it to be affective at all.

The body is all carbon or composite, or covered in solar cells, so there is probably little can be done there. Who knows, maybe the solar cells will make a decent ground plane? But I would not bet on it.

The chassis / frame is aluminum, so you can work with that. However, it ends short of the outside lines of the bodywork, and well short of the back wheel. Maybe something on a wheel pod or upper suspension arm?

The various mules seen so far have all had individual configurations. They seem to be closing in on it, but until we see the final production version, there just really is no way to tell what might be available or work.

T!

The one you saw at the Honda track is one of the Production Intent vehicles, made with all PI parts. The current cells on the PI are glass encapsulated, but Aptera Solar has developed a polymer encapsulation that will probably be used on the actual production vehicles.

Yes, fabricating something that mounts to at least the rear wheel framing is probably the permanent solution. Basically it will be an L-shape bracket that stops just below the rear of the body with a 6" diameter (or square) steel plate that my K40 magnet base can mount to. This way the bracket won't block access to the NACS port. Alternately, I might be able to attach the K40 base to the lip of the hatch and maybe run a grounding wire down to the frame from inside; it'll have to have several feet of slack for opening the hatch, though. As for the "Intenna" that will mainly be used temporarily until I have figured out a better solution; most likely just for trio from Carlsbad back to Prescott.

 

[jcrmadden]

I had to look this thing up (never heard of her).

Just for reference...





I love my CB. I think ever vehicle on the road should have one (including the autocycle).

Still, something about putting a CB in this feels... Odd.

Hat's off all the same (kudos).

Extra style points available if it looks like this...

 

[romad275]

That interior shot is extremely old - it is from the first concept of over 16 years ago. Go to Aptera Motors for current pictures.

Sorry, I'll stick with my President Bill.

 

[Token]

That interior shot is extremely old - it is from the first concept of over 16 years ago. Go to Aptera Motors for current pictures.

Sorry, I'll stick with my President Bill.

One of my concerns with the Aptera is going to be RFI and how that plays with a radio you have installed.

Every EV I have ever seen, be they BEVs, PHEVs, or even Hybrids, cause some level of RFI in radios. My Mustang Mach-EX (I have part time HF, full time VHF and UHF in the car) causes pretty heavy RFI on 160 meters, but drops off as you go up in frequency. Noticeable on 80 meters, might kill very weak contacts, there but no real issue on 40 meters, etc. The first place I installed the HF antenna at (custom mount, but think rear hitch mount) it was worse, I moved the mount (off center, towards the passenger side) and reduced the noise.

My wifes Escape PHEV causes some mild RFI at HF, not really noticed at VHF / UHF.

I have not done a dedicated CB install on any such vehicles yet, but there is some potential noise that might have to be addressed.

T!

 

[MrWensleydale]

Hey @romad275,
Greetings from another Aptera owner. I've been considering a CB for this myself. It will be fun to listen in on the conversations as you tear down the highway in the funkiest and most efficient car in the world.

Here is an old post from the Aptera forums on that.

I am considering getting an No Ground Plane [NGP] antenna for that. Maybe something like a 4-foot Firestick. Then you have to get the right NGP coaxial cable for that, because the special cable serves as the ground plane.

I am wondering about flexing the antenna around the front of the dash so it doesn't block the solar panels there, if that can be done. It could possibly go inside the very top of the front windshield. I wonder if the front hood frunk is all composites and it could go in there. People on the forum considered placing it near the rear license plate, but since Aptera improved its aerodynamics with the help of AirShaper, I'm not sure there is space for it there.


Everyone else reading this,
This car is so crazy efficient that you wouldn't want to put anything on the outside of the car anywhere. If you put both your hands out the window, that doubles the drag of the car. The Aptera uses only 100 Wh/mile, which would be like getting 350 MPGe in a car powered by gasoline.

www.aptera.us

 

[romad275]

Hey @romad275,
Greetings from another Aptera owner. I've been considering a CB for this myself. It will be fun to listen in on the conversations as you tear down the highway in the funkiest and most efficient car in the world.

Here is an old post from the Aptera forums on that.

I am considering getting an No Ground Plane [NGP] antenna for that. Maybe something like a 4-foot Firestick. Then you have to get the right NGP coaxial cable for that, because the special cable serves as the ground plane.

I am wondering about flexing the antenna around the front of the dash so it doesn't block the solar panels there, if that can be done. It could possibly go inside the very top of the front windshield. I wonder if the front hood frunk is all composites and it could go in there. People on the forum considered placing it near the rear license plate, but since Aptera improved its aerodynamics with the help of AirShaper, I'm not sure there is space for it there.




www.aptera.us

Is your order an LE? What is your projected delivery date? IIRC, I started that thread in the old Aptera forums. Anyway remember there isn't a frunk as the motor and other items are located under the front panel, plus it is a solar panel. I'll check out the NGP antennae, but I'd really prefer using my K40. BTW, where are you located?

 

[MrWensleydale]

K40 is going to mount where? No matter what, isn't it going to add drag that you don't want?
I've been experimenting with a Midland 75-822 inside my regular car, but the shorty antenna does almost nothing at all. Turns out that with the shorty hooked up to the BNC connector, you can't plug into 12V. You have to use batteries with that. It has a coax connector as well, but I don't have an antenna for that.

 

[romad275]

I plan on seeing if I can make an "L" bracket that will bolt to the rear wheel frame that will have a flat steel plate to which the K40 magnet base will adhere. Sort of like this: ___|

I plan that the base and load coil will low down so only the thin whip will be above the rear hatch line. The drag should be minimal but even with it the Aptera will be extremely more efficient than any other EV out there. Of course it all depends IF they actually deliver. The latest design change adding a 2-speed transmission might add another delay of a year or two unless they leave it off the LE.

As for an antenna, you could consider a glass mount one and put it on the to right corner of the windshield. That is how I would probably go if I couldn't move my K40 between vehicles.

 

[MrWensleydale]

Remembering what I read in the Aptera forums, you seem very attached to the K40. Why?

A bracket on the rear wheel is going to bounce around a lot more than the roof of your old car. I'm not sure if the magnet will hold up to that even if the ground plane would work properly, not that I know.

I'm thinking of letting go the whole CB thing altogether.

 

[romad275]

Because I have had it for years. I bought the entire K40 package together: K40 CB, K40 Mic, & the antenna when they first came out. I needed the smallest radio and at that time it was the K40. Since the radio died, I bought a President Bill radio and with the easy quick mount, I'll probably replace the Cobra 75WXST in the Miata also as I just have to install a quick mount. Have to decide exactly where though.

The bracket would be attached to the rear FRAME not the suspended wheel assembly. Have you ever removed the 4.5" diameter, 34 oz K40 magnetic base from a vehicle? It has a 120 lb pull and that equates to a magnetic force of 533.76 Newtons. I'll just have to make sure the bracket and its attachment to the frame can handle it.

Today I mainly use the CB on long trips so I could end up not installing it on the Aptera and just use CB in the Jetta Wagon TDI and Miata.