Radio Shack 20-011 Through-glass antenna 800mhz performance

[KI4LIV]

I am looking at one of these antennas to use since I am running out of places to mount a regular antenna (and no, I am NOT DRILLING HOLES IN THE ROOF!!!).

How well (or not) do they perform on the 800mhz band?

Thanks in advance!

 

[rogbak]

I have been using one for about a month now and it works well on the 800MHz band. I am in a very saturated area though,big cities all around me. The only thing I don't like about it is that it whistles at high speeds (45mph and up). It is very easy to take off when going through the car wash. It works very well for my needs, as I didn't want to start drilling holes. If anyone has any ideas on how to get rid of the whistle,let me know.
Thanks!

 

[KI4LIV]

Do you have tinted (factory or otherwise) windows? That was another concern of mine.. I have factory tint.

 

[rogbak]

Yes I have a light grey tint on the back window where the antenna is mounted. It has no effect on my reception. It is a 2002 Silverado.

 

[blinddog50]

Are you mainly going to use it for 800mhz?
I found that if tune it a little it will perform a lot better.
These antennas have been slammed for their performance in the past but with a little bit of tuning I have found they can work quite well.

The easiest way to tune it is to trim the top half( above the coil ) to the same length as the bottom half( below the coil, but above connector nodule).

Plus a lot depends on where you locate it on the vehicle.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi J and readers,

Generally speaking glass mounted antennas don't perform as well as other types. The worst case scenario is metallic tint on the glass which acts as a shield betweeen the couplings. Unless you know how the glass was manufactured it's hard to tell before you mount the antenna and find out it works or it doesn't. Some get lucky with glass mounts, some don't.

You can damp the vibrations of that whistling antenna, can't say how exactly without experimenting with it myself so I'll leave that up to you. Think of it as a piano string, those felt covered wooden thingies worked by the pedal are dampers. A bit of weight or pressure in the right spot will kill the noise.

"The easiest way to tune it is to trim the top half( above the coil ) to the same length as the bottom half( below the coil, but above connector nodule)."
That's the best way I can think of to ruin an antenna. It's pre-cut at the factory and doesn't need tuning.

"Plus a lot depends on where you locate it on the vehicle."
NOW you're talking! Don't forget how you mount it, that's the other half of where.

 

[rgchristy]

We've had one on the side rear window of a Suburban for the past 3 years and it works great. As far as the theory of the antenna goes, I would take a look at this link for why it's designed that way:

http://www.cebik.com/vhf/cc.html

 

[Al42]

As far as the theory of the antenna goes, I would take a look at this link for why it's designed that way:

Except that we're talking about a trapped multi-band antenna, not a phased colinear. They may look alike but the theory of operation is different.

 

[rgchristy]

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[cschmit]

I have one of the Radio Shack Glass mount antennas and with my 396T I have actually found the 800MHz rubber duck antenna from Radio Shack does better in my truck. Probably because I mostly listen to 800MHz freq. but still the glass mount doesn't seem to do to well for me.

 

[fmon]

I recently drove down the highway 90 miles and returned on a slightly different route testing three towers on an evolving statewide VHF Motorola trunking system. The subject Radio Shack through glass antenna is mounted on the right rear side glass on my Saturn LW wagon with tented glass.

The test was with a 2096 in the dash hooked to the through glass and a 96 held at different locations (including standing outside the car) with the stock ducky. In every hit, the 2096 equaled or out preformed the 96.

The antenna has been installed on this car for more then 5 years. 4 years with a 2067 and the last 14 + months with the much improved 2096.

The look alike CB antenna is on the opposite side window and Standing Wave is slightly above 1:1 with 3.5 watts out. However, range is limited.

I'm happy with both.

 

[blinddog50]

Hi J and readers,

Generally speaking glass mounted antennas don't perform as well as other types. The worst case scenario is metallic tint on the glass which acts as a shield betweeen the couplings. Unless you know how the glass was manufactured it's hard to tell before you mount the antenna and find out it works or it doesn't. Some get lucky with glass mounts, some don't.

You can damp the vibrations of that whistling antenna, can't say how exactly without experimenting with it myself so I'll leave that up to you. Think of it as a piano string, those felt covered wooden thingies worked by the pedal are dampers. A bit of weight or pressure in the right spot will kill the noise.

"The easiest way to tune it is to trim the top half( above the coil ) to the same length as the bottom half( below the coil, but above connector nodule)."
That's the best way I can think of to ruin an antenna. It's pre-cut at the factory and doesn't need tuning.

"Plus a lot depends on where you locate it on the vehicle."
NOW you're talking! Don't forget how you mount it, that's the other half of where.

When it it is made at the factory it is designed as the end all, be all of all antennas.
If you listen to the manufacturer's claim, their product can pick up everything from as low as earthworm farts to Bleznak riding around Alpha Centauri.

I trimmed mine to improve 800 mhz reception.
Meter tested it before and after.
It works, and no wind noise.

If low band or VHF is your thing you need to get a different type of antenna.

Although I can pick up NCHP on low band from 40-50 miles away.

But just like real estate....location, location, location.