Where to install scanner antenna? - '20 Ford Edge

[CVPI4Ever]

I bought a '20 Ford Edge and am wondering where to mount an antenna for my Uniden scanner on it. I do NOT want to drill into the body and it has the panoramic sunroof so not alot of real estate on the roof.

Where can I mount this thing in the car?

What kind of antenna do I need to buy for my Uniden BCD996XT?

 

[sflmonitor]

I would recommend using a lip mount type of mount like this one. You can use your selection of NMO coax and connector. I would also recommend a quality antenna. I have used the Larsen which is commercial grade and works extremely well. Lately I have also been using this EM Wave which is also commercial grade and gives Larsen a run for its money.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

I would recommend using a lip mount type of mount like this one. You can use your selection of NMO coax and connector. I would also recommend a quality antenna. I have used the Larsen which is commercial grade and works extremely well. Lately I have also been using this EM Wave which is also commercial grade and gives Larsen a run for its money.

I have a lip mount from my old car I traded in, but where to put it?

 

[sflmonitor]

I have a lip mount from my old car I traded in, but where to put it?

Your vehicle is not the most antenna placement friendly, sadly. You may have to sacrifice height and clearance and attach it to the hatchback door just below the rear lights. If you LEDs back there you may get some interference though. Perhaps on the front hood closer to the windshield? I had to do something similar when mounting an antenna on my jeep wrangler.

 

[slowmover]

The vehicle has plenty of sheetmetal holes punched by the factory. An NMO mount antenna is a vehicle upgrade. In a better world it would have been standard.

Half-assed antenna mounts get that result.

.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Your vehicle is not the most antenna placement friendly, sadly. You may have to sacrifice height and clearance and attach it to the hatchback door just below the rear lights. If you LEDs back there you may get some interference though. Perhaps on the front hood closer to the windshield? I had to do something similar when mounting an antenna on my jeep wrangler.

My taillights are LED's. How would it mount on the rear hatch? Never seen that before

 

[CVPI4Ever]

The vehicle has plenty of sheetmetal holes punched by the factory. An NMO mount antenna is a vehicle upgrade. In a better world it would have been standard.

Half-assed antenna mounts get that result.

.

Looked around my car and dont see any holes punched...lol and dont want to punch new ones

 

[slowmover]

Glass? Handles? Locks? Hinges?

It ain’t a Ferrari. It won’t affect re-sale.

 

[sflmonitor]

My taillights are LED's. How would it mount on the rear hatch? Never seen that before

I would attach the adjustable lip mount somewhere near the arrow. It’s not the most ideal and will definitely diminish some signals coming from the front but if you don’t want to drill on roof, the options are really limited. One thing to remember if you go this route, remember to weatherproof the bottom of the NMO mount where the coax connects to the NMO since it will be exposed to the elements and can eventually corrode.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

I would attach the adjustable lip mount somewhere near the arrow. It’s not the most ideal and will definitely diminish some signals coming from the front but if you don’t want to drill on roof, the options are really limited. One thing to remember if you go this route, remember to weatherproof the bottom of the NMO mount where the coax connects to the NMO since it will be exposed to the elements and can eventually corrode.

Will the mount you linked do that? How would you weatherproof? Sorry, never had to do this before.

 

[sflmonitor]

Will the mount you linked do that? How would you weatherproof? Sorry, never had to do this before.

It should work. Your best bet would be to call a ham radio supply store that has them and can tell you exactly which ones will work for your particular vehicle. Some place like HRO or such. As for the weatherproofing, I purchased this coax/NMO kit that is factory sealed. I’ve had it over a year in south Florida weather and it’s holding up great.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

We used to have a HAM radio store here in Central Ohio, but its gone. Not sure where another would be.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Now I just need to figure out where to mount my equipment in the car.

 

[exkalibur]

I don't know if the 2020 is the same, but at the rear of the roof where the factory "fin" antenna is, there's a half-moon shaped piece of sheet metal you can drill into for an NMO antenna (or whatever). I installed an SBB-1 for someone on a 2018 Edge in that spot and it worked perfect.

 

[AK9R]

We used to have a HAM radio store here in Central Ohio, but its gone. Not sure where another would be.

Yes, Universal Radio is closed. The closest stores to you are R&L Electronics in HAMilton and DX Engineering in Tallmadge.

 

[APX8000]

We've installed the Sti-co sharkfin antenna in the factory antenna location on the roof and then mounted the factory one upside down inside the rear hatch on the Edge.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Yes, Universal Radio is closed. The closest stores to you are R&L Electronics in HAMilton and DX Engineering in Tallmadge.

Yikes. Those are 2 hours away easy....lol. Thanks though!

 

[ccsochp11]

We've installed the Sti-co sharkfin antenna in the factory antenna location on the roof and then mounted the factory one upside down inside the rear hatch on the Edge.

Same setup on my Explorer but an all band sti-co