Heat!
- Thread starter Larry780
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DJ11DLN
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Get a better-quality antenna, like a Laird or a Larsen. Or some better quality adhesive to put it back together with.
mmckenna
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Yeah, avoid Tram, Browning, any of the no-name brands, Cheap Chinese Antennas, etc.
Laird, Larsen, PCTel, etc. You may pay a bit more up front, but it'll likely outlast your car. I have 30+ year old Larsen antennas still going just fine.
jhooten
Member
Had a tube of Liquid Nails handy the other day. Used it on the magnet in the antenna on the work truck. It hasn't broken loose since. Now I just need to replace the foil tape next time I see on of the AC guys leave some lying around.
Yeah lol I tried gorilla glue got my hand stuck together that's about it lol
Thanks guys I'll look into a laird next . I had a scanner antenna for 15 years before it broke , can't remember the name of it . I wish I could remember it.
lu81fitter
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If you are serious about things, just drill a hole and use an NMO mount. Works better, won't fall off, and with a good quality antenna (Laird, Larsen, etc.) it will outlast your vehicle and will look better than having a cable running across the roof and through a door. A properly installed drill through NMO will not detract from the vehicle value and will not leak. Just drill it and forget it!
DJ11DLN
Member
I don't know for sure but I think I'd lump Hustler with Tram, Browning, et al. The brands listed above are known to be good quality, why take a chance? Yes they do cost a bit more but in this case you do indeed get what you pay for.
lu81fitter
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What are you wanting to listen to? What bands? I know that Laird, Larsen, and PCTel make good antennas for most anything.
I have bought several antennas from these guys. Good stuff!
The Antenna Farm, Your two way radio source
It's worth a look. Like others have said, spend a few bucks more and you won't have to worry.
I have bought several antennas from these guys. Good stuff!
The Antenna Farm, Your two way radio source
It's worth a look. Like others have said, spend a few bucks more and you won't have to worry.
I fully realize that Tram isn't the most sensitive or quality-oriented antenna around but I have used one for almost 10 years with success. No doubt, this is the exception to the rule. Furthermore, I only use it about 8 or 10 times a year on road trips. Right now, I use it with both the 436 and the SDS100. I feel certain that I'm missing some calls but nothing nearby. And, on the road, it's probably not that big of a deal because any signal I pick up is fleeting would likely be completely out of range in 10-15 minutes, anyway. I'm not trying to follow any action. It's strictly entertainment.
Any markings on the antenna have long-since disappeared but I do know it's the VHF/UHF/800mHz one
Any markings on the antenna have long-since disappeared but I do know it's the VHF/UHF/800mHz one
DJ11DLN
Member
That's fairly light-duty use, and while he didn't state it, I get the idea that the OP is referencing his daily driver. I have a cheap antenna on my '17 Terrain (Spectrum Force magmount), not specifically because I don't put a ton of miles on it so much as that I am scared to death of dropping the headliner with all the electronics and sidecurtain airbags and all the rest that lives up there. I ordered a spare when I bought it because I don't expect it to outlive my ownership of the car.
The pickup I beat around in every day has a Larsen NMO in the middle of the roof with a Larsen tri-band on it. I do expect that setup to outlive the pickup, which I'll likely run true to form and drive right into the ground to the point that keeping it roadworthy isn't economical anymore. A hole in the roof with a plastic plug in it won't matter to whatever teenage kid buys it for his or her first vehicle.
mmckenna
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I've done installs on Terrain's. No issue with mounting a NMO dead center of the roof. You don't need to drop the headliner.
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I've always had a mobile installation in all of my cars since the early 70s. I always used an MMO mount drilled into the car. That may not be practical if you have a leased car but there are ways a body shop can make it look like it never happened.
The antenna I've used for a long long time is the Larsen tri-band and about I'm guessing 6 months or so ago maybe longer I got the new Larsen tri-band antenna that has the heavy duty mount and a spring.
Those suggesting you drill a hole are on the money. Center of the roof is perfect. Of course you're going to want to rewire with low loss coax. RG58 is probably used on all mounts but if you're primarily listening to UHF or 7 - 800 megahertz you will get Improvement by low loss coax.
You're absolutely right. It is light duty but it has served me well. I do not mount it on the roof. Rather, it's magnetic and I put it on the right rear of the hood, about 8-10 inches in front of the passenger the door. I have a ham antenna on the roof and when on the road, I usually go a full 50W. I know it's unlikely but I don't want to blow out the scanner. It cost more than two of the ham radios.
Anyway, my point is, there's a market for the Tram when it comes to light duty, infrequent use. It seems like I paid about $12 for it so I got my money's worth a long time ago.
DJ11DLN
Member
I try to know my limitations and I don't believe that I'm that skilled. I've thought about taking it to the local radio shop and having them do it but frankly the Spectrum Force surprised me with how well it performed.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Fair enough. If it works, it works.
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At least you know, if it doesn't work to your satisfaction there's always other options to look at if you need it to.
There's so many factors and variables involved here.
Your skill-set will only improve if you attempt what you don't think you can do... How do you think we got our skill set? LOL.
DJ11DLN
Member
I get what both of you are saying. I have done "blind" installs where the headliner didn't get dropped though I personally like to do it and make sure that things are the way I want them before it gets buttoned up, also to secure the co-ax because it can rattle between the roof and the liner on rough roads. And on a different model (like my old Trailblazer) where it's just too big of a PITA to drop the liner, I'd blind install it and not worry. That's what I did with that one and it was never a problem (though I could hear the coax rattle once in awhile). I was told that there's a lot of "stuff" in the pillars and above the headliner that doesn't like to get disturbed. Maybe I need to do more research. At age 55 this was my first-ever new-from-the-dealer vehicle, I've always bought somebody else's junk and wrung it as far as I could, so I'm just a leetle bit picky about it.
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