Metallic silver paint over Larsen lo-pro???

[tunnelmot]

Here's the facts: Wifes' car. GMRS. Larsen blade NMO antenna. New install.

Here's the question: Can I/Should I paint the radiating blade? Has anyone tried it? Paint color is a metallic.
If I paint with the metallic paint am I just encasing the low-pro blade in a Faraday cage?

Wife is on board with her install but asked if I was able to paint match the Larsen.

 

[prcguy]

I would not do it but you can run a test to see what will happen. Wrap the antenna in some clear plastic sheeting then connect to something for receiving where you can monitor signal strength very accurately and mount it to an old pie tin, etc, for a ground plane. I Would also check the match with an antenna analyzer. Then start spritzing on some paint over the plastic to see if reception is affected and if so, how much. When you get a couple of coats on it check the VSWR again. I'll bet the metallic paint will degrade performance a little and change the VSWR but you will never know until its tested.

If its a complete failure and the paint ruined the performance, at least the plastic will protect it so you can sell or use on another vehicle.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

spray a small disposable plastic microwavable food container with the paint. Just a small area 2 x2 inches. Put in the microwave oven and turn on. If it remains cold without drama, you are OK. Standby with fire extinguisher.

 

[a417]

Get that clear antenna look, yo.

 

[mmckenna]

Get that clear antenna look, yo.

 

[a417]

<snip>

that's better than the catalog shots!

 

[mmckenna]

that's better than the catalog shots!

Yeah, took me a while to get a shot that showed the mesh inside.
Scored that for free at the Larsen booth at IWCE a few years ago. Used it on 800MHz for a while at work.

 

[a417]

Yeah, took me a while to get a shot that showed the mesh inside.
Scored that for free at the Larsen booth at IWCE a few years ago. Used it on 800MHz for a while at work.

your street cred must have skyrocketed.

 

[jonwienke]

A solid color may or may not have any noticeable effect, depending on the pigment, but metallic paint is almost certainly going to cause problems on an antenna.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Depending on the vehicle after its on the roof she will not even notice it up there.

 

[mmckenna]

Depending on the vehicle after its on the roof she will not even notice it up there.

I've always found that a 1/4 wave antenna is about as low profile as you can get.

If it really needs to disappear, then some of the 'shark fin' type antennas can make it look like the satellite radio antennas on some newer cars.

 

[a417]

Depending on the vehicle after its on the roof she will not even notice it up there.

I agree, that's why black lo-profile antennas disappear so well on rooftops.

 

[cmdrwill]

Black quarter wave NMO antennas also disappear...

 

[tunnelmot]

I agree on all. Wifey prefers the Larsen shark fin nmo. While she realizes the advantages of my planned UHF install, low-pro and stealth is still priority. Will keep the sub updated.

 

[tunnelmot]

A solid color may or may not have any noticeable effect, depending on the pigment, but metallic paint is almost certainly going to cause problems on an antenna.

I thought the same. Will follow up.