Is anybody aware of a cowl-mount broadcast antenna (non-motorized) for the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic? I'm trying to start with a fairly 'clean' look this time after having a minivan that was a busier radio platform. Haven't had much luck Googling.
Current game plan is a single 144/220/440 tribander on the trunk, and one external scanner antenna primarily for air band. My car has no external broadcast antenna, but I'm thinking that one in the normal right-front spot would serve most purposes for a scanner listening to air, rail & marine, while avoiding the 'two-way radio' look.
Any other scanners are functioning just fine inside with their stock rubber ducks. So...my primary questions:
1 - Is there a cowl-mount broadcast antenna that would fit my body? (would rather have this an a NMO on an L-bracket)
2 - What would be the most and least desirable places to pass cable thru the firewall. I plan to run a double-fused 10 gauge power cable with powerpole connectors, and whatever antenna I manage to put on the cowl.
3 - What's the most preferable way to route cable from the trunk into the car interior? I haven't found anything obvious so far, even after looking at where at least come cables seem to be running from the drivers side of the trunk.
I'm not that anxious to go digging under the floor right now, except where absolutely necessary. Not sure what kind of stuff might be under there. Should be able to route things fairly neatly under floor mats, and possibly with flexible plastic conduit.
But any advice appreciated from folks who've mastered the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic, which I'm thinking would be very similar.
(ironically, I had all kinds of radios in my Toyota minivan, mounted in a surplus Troy console taken out of--you guessed it--a Crown Vic!)
73/Allen (N4JRI)
Current game plan is a single 144/220/440 tribander on the trunk, and one external scanner antenna primarily for air band. My car has no external broadcast antenna, but I'm thinking that one in the normal right-front spot would serve most purposes for a scanner listening to air, rail & marine, while avoiding the 'two-way radio' look.
Any other scanners are functioning just fine inside with their stock rubber ducks. So...my primary questions:
1 - Is there a cowl-mount broadcast antenna that would fit my body? (would rather have this an a NMO on an L-bracket)
2 - What would be the most and least desirable places to pass cable thru the firewall. I plan to run a double-fused 10 gauge power cable with powerpole connectors, and whatever antenna I manage to put on the cowl.
3 - What's the most preferable way to route cable from the trunk into the car interior? I haven't found anything obvious so far, even after looking at where at least come cables seem to be running from the drivers side of the trunk.
I'm not that anxious to go digging under the floor right now, except where absolutely necessary. Not sure what kind of stuff might be under there. Should be able to route things fairly neatly under floor mats, and possibly with flexible plastic conduit.
But any advice appreciated from folks who've mastered the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic, which I'm thinking would be very similar.
(ironically, I had all kinds of radios in my Toyota minivan, mounted in a surplus Troy console taken out of--you guessed it--a Crown Vic!)
73/Allen (N4JRI)