Scanner antenna in car trunk?

[dic]

Excuse me for asking a question that I know has been answered in this forum, but I cannot locate the original post.

I use an Austin Spectra antenna on an Austin trunk "lip" mount with a Uniden BC250D.
I have had no problems with the antenna, the mount or the scanner.

I am replacing the trunk mount and believe I read in this forum a discussion of mounting a scanner antenna IN the trunk of a vehicle for stealth (which is not my intent, but why advertise?)

Questions:

Would my antenna mounted in the trunk (in whatever fashion is most efficient--suggestions appreciated) be SIGNIFICANTLY more effective than mounting my antenna on the trunk lid or the front right fender?

If, in fact, this would be possible and a good idea, would a magnetic mount be preferable to some sort of drilled permanent mount?

Lastly, I have had the Spectra for many years and have no issues with it, but may very likely be behind the curve on good mobile scanner antennas. Should I look somewhere else? In my extensive travels, I scan nearly every band from Lo band through trunked 800.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Dic
N1XBA

 

[ka3jjz]

The Spectra is generally tuned for just the public service bands (and you can cut the whip to make it a bit better on VHF Lo), but yes, there are more broadbanded antennas out there. Comtelco sells one (it's advertised on this site from time to time), NilJon, Antenna Specialists and I'm sure many others. I'm quite sure someone will jump in with a recommendation. I use the Spectra since that's generally enough to cover what my old trusty 245 can cover (it works OK on the VHF air band - nothing to write home about, but I have several approach and departure routes close by, so hearing flights from BWI is a cinch).

Mag mounts are, to me, OK for temporary use, but as a permanent solution - unless you put something underneath the magnet, it can scratch the hxxx out of your vehicle if you need to remove and then put the antenna back (since I sometimes go to the city, it's unwise to leave your antenna showing...). Too over time the magnet can weaken, and there goes your antenna (I've already had this happen). Actually the best mount is at the approx center of your vehicle - a roof mount, if one can manage that.

I couldn't think of a worse place for an antenna than in the trunk. I can't imagine how that would even be efficient - all that metal surrounding the antenna. It's not quite a Faraday cage, but probably as close as one will come without constructing one (not an easy task).
Even in your car, the glass is not much of a hinderance to RF.

73s Mike

 

[GrayJeep]

Magnets, antennas IN the trunk

Aside- Magnets like to be attached to something. Putting a "keeper" onto the mag mount's magnet will keep the magnet from weakening. Yes, really. I use a large steel can lid such as the bottom out of a large coffee can as my keepers. My RS mag mount antenna still holds on at 90 mph airspeed even though it's a decade old.

Antenna in the trunk- One wouldn't expect to hear much if the antenna were enclosed in a metal box, which is what a trunk generally is. However, some vehicles like hatchbacks might have enough window area that it won't totally block signals. My '84 Cherokee had a fiberglass liftgate and big windows and the magnetic antenna stored in the back actually worked reasonably well. Fiberglass is transparent to radio. The frequencies of interest also vary. 800 Mhz signals will probably be heard better thru the windows than 42 Mhz.

But putting an antenna as high and clear as possible is always better.

NW0U

 

[K7MRT]

I've seen antenna's mounted in the trunk of an undercover PD car. The tip of the antenna is then "poked" thru the rear window deck lid. So when you look at it, all you see is maybe an 1 -1.5 inches of antenna sticking up just in front of the rear deck mounted high brake light. I thought that was pretty slick, assuming it works.

 

[mjthomas59]

I can't say that i've ever actually seen an antenna poking through the rear deck of a car. Not saying they don't exist, but i wouldn't see why they would need it. There are those super short VHF antennas that are only say 3 inches tall, but there really is no point in having a 30 inch antenna in the trunk with only the top 2 inches of it visible through the glass. Depending on the circumstance, a handheld unit will do you more good than something like that. If you really want stealth and aren't concerned with long range reception just buy a good handheld scanner w/ aftermarket antenna. You might check radial larsen for something more stealth. They do make some low-profile antennas that unless you were in the know, you wouldn't have a clue what they were or what they were for. Just a thought... good luck

 

[N_Jay]

What you are probably seeing is a UHF or 800 MHz 1/4 wave whit mounted ON the rear deck. (on the metal under the cardboard/carpet)

This is very common

 

[dic]

Thanks

I know it sounded crazy to ask (being surrounded by metal and all), but I could have sworn I saw something somewhere about a stealth antenna in a car trunk.

I haven't had any problems (at all) with my previous setup, so the antenna will be on the front fender soon.

Thanks for your answers and your time.
It is appreciated.

Dic

 

[jonny290]

If you guys are seriously interested in a stealth antenna, look into building DDRR antennas.

You can enclose them in a housing and it basically looks like a black pie plate on your rooftop.

Construction is not for the faint of heart, however.

As for 'sneaky' places to put antennas - Just visualize the antenna as needing 'air'. Define this 'air' as "A clear shot outside the vehicle using line of sight."

If the antenna's 'suffocating', then chances are you'll have terrible reception.

The more metal you have out in the open away from shielding, the better.

Granted, there are going to be exceptions, but we don't need the 'but I have this and it works OK" crew in here. It's good practice to mount antennas high and clear; that way when you progress to learning about transmitters, you don't have to relearn everything.