Kia Soul Antenna Installation

[DougWare]

Hello,

I just purchased a 2013 Kia Soul. I'm beginning to plan my antenna installation for my 2m/440cm radio. I'm not sure if I'll install my FT-8800 or FT-857 yet.

I can't find a decent place on the back of my vehicle for a lip mount, and I remembered I purchased a nice through the glass mount a year ago I never used. I can't place it on the back glass because of defrosting elements. I was considering placing it on the side rear (the small) windows, but I'm concerned it's 6-8 inches below the roof of the car and the metal frame/roof will be too close to the antenna.

If I go with the FT-897, I'll also install my screwdriver antenna and I'm not afraid to have a hole/mount installed. What is an average rate to have this professionally done? We have a local shop that does that, I think it's where all the local public safety vehicles go to have their antennas installed. Are we looking at the $100 range or the $250+ range for something like that?

I've included a photo of the Soul which shows the window I'm referring to.

Thanks!
Doug

 

[DougWare]

Based on more reading I've done, Im out of luck with a glass mount. My windows appear to be passivated glass.

 

[sirsmiley]

Why not just install it yourself?
Head liners come down in seconds and all you need to do is drill it with a Step Drill Bit

Steel Step Drill Set - 3 Piece, Titanium Nitride Step Drill Bits

Im sure you can pick these up at any hardware store on sale pretty cheap.

 

[DougWare]

I could probably do it, but I would prefer to leave it up to someone who has done it before.

 

[SCPD]

The Kia Soul was one the easiest installs I ever did. I drilled a hole in a roof of a brand new Kia, last year, for Ham friend of mine. Removed the interior dome light, used a spring loaded punch, after finding center, and dimpled the roof. I used a small drill bit to drill a pilot hole and then finished with a Antenex brand hole saw (I highly recommend using these over a step bit) and made a nice clean hole. The hole was then deburred with a deburring tool. I used an old antenna whip to fish the coax between the headliner and roof, pulled the NMO mount into position, ran the coax behind the trim on the B pillar, then under the carpet to the radio body mounted under the seat. He had already mounted the Yaesu FT8800 body and remote faceplate. The whole antenna install took about an hour... that includes soldering the PL259 connector. I'm a perfectionist at heart and I have OCD, as well, so I measure everything four times, triple check everything, etc., etc., and that's why it took so long.