jparks29
John McClane
Well....
In trying to keep my installs low profile.... I've come into a dilemma.
Vehicle is a 2004 F150. Mounting location is passenger side fender where existing FM antenna is, I'll be removing the antenna and modifying the existing mount for either SO-239 or 3/8x24 (NMO is too large to fit on mount area)
I already have a Phantom Elite center of the roof for APRS, which is all but invisible from the street, and a 'sat/onstar' look-alike on the roof for GPS/800.
Currently I'm running a 1/4 wave whip center of roof for VHF temporarily with UHF not being hooked up, but that will be replaced with the Phantom Elite when I get my dual band antenna setup.
I have a few options.... None of which are good...
1. Go with a Sti-co disguise antenna. 500$ - ****ty output - Looks EXACTLY like the factory antenna.
2. Go with 3/8x24 mount , replacing the factory FM mount/whip with 3/8x24 and 19" dual band antenna and center load 'loose wound' coil. First problem is 1/4 wave on VHF and 5/8 over 5/8 on UHF, which leads to problems because there is very little groundplane (being mounted on the edge of the truck), ~50$ - looks aftermarket but not enough to raise eyebrows - Good tx/rx but not great because of lack of groundplane.
3. Go with SO239 mount and an antenna like the Comet SBB5 which is 1/2 wave on 2m (which reduces/eliminates the need for a groundplane). Also replacing factory fm ant mounting hole. OBVIOUSLY aftermarket, and @ 39" and a wide base DEFINITELY something that would be questioned. About 60$, best TX, highest profile.
4. so239 mount fiberglass whip, dual band, looks like .. well.. a fiberglass whip.... definitely thicker, but could be played off as being factory... since the factory fm antenna mount has a shroud which encloses the base, meaning just the antenna would stick out, making it look somewhat factory. ~40$ ... ...presumably 1/2 wave on VHF because of 2.5db gain (stated), so similar in performance to #3 (theoretically)
Thoughts?
BTW. Here's a pic of the truck to get an idea.
Single CH, dual band Orion setup..
In the middle of the install, still finishing things up....
In trying to keep my installs low profile.... I've come into a dilemma.
Vehicle is a 2004 F150. Mounting location is passenger side fender where existing FM antenna is, I'll be removing the antenna and modifying the existing mount for either SO-239 or 3/8x24 (NMO is too large to fit on mount area)
I already have a Phantom Elite center of the roof for APRS, which is all but invisible from the street, and a 'sat/onstar' look-alike on the roof for GPS/800.
Currently I'm running a 1/4 wave whip center of roof for VHF temporarily with UHF not being hooked up, but that will be replaced with the Phantom Elite when I get my dual band antenna setup.
I have a few options.... None of which are good...
1. Go with a Sti-co disguise antenna. 500$ - ****ty output - Looks EXACTLY like the factory antenna.
2. Go with 3/8x24 mount , replacing the factory FM mount/whip with 3/8x24 and 19" dual band antenna and center load 'loose wound' coil. First problem is 1/4 wave on VHF and 5/8 over 5/8 on UHF, which leads to problems because there is very little groundplane (being mounted on the edge of the truck), ~50$ - looks aftermarket but not enough to raise eyebrows - Good tx/rx but not great because of lack of groundplane.
3. Go with SO239 mount and an antenna like the Comet SBB5 which is 1/2 wave on 2m (which reduces/eliminates the need for a groundplane). Also replacing factory fm ant mounting hole. OBVIOUSLY aftermarket, and @ 39" and a wide base DEFINITELY something that would be questioned. About 60$, best TX, highest profile.
4. so239 mount fiberglass whip, dual band, looks like .. well.. a fiberglass whip.... definitely thicker, but could be played off as being factory... since the factory fm antenna mount has a shroud which encloses the base, meaning just the antenna would stick out, making it look somewhat factory. ~40$ ... ...presumably 1/2 wave on VHF because of 2.5db gain (stated), so similar in performance to #3 (theoretically)
Thoughts?
BTW. Here's a pic of the truck to get an idea.
Single CH, dual band Orion setup..
In the middle of the install, still finishing things up....
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