Gbcue
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| Through The Glass Antennas
Besides Larsen, has anybody had any experiences with the Antenna Specialists APS151 or Opek VUG-270 through the glass antennas?
Thanks!
Reference: »www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantm.html
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tobicat
join:2005-04-18
Tombstone, AZ
| I have not used those specific antennas but have used threw the glass antennas in the past and they all worked ok.
I think the problem would be your particular car. All of my current vehicles have all sorts of stuff embedded in the glass.
heaters, compasses, dimmers, thermostats and who knows what else.
That stuff might interfere with the antenna and even worse the rf might screw up the eclectics of the vehicle.
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burner50
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| said by tobicat  :I think the problem would be your particular car. All of my current vehicles have all sorts of stuff embedded in the glass. --SNIP-- compasses, dimmers, thermostats and who knows what else. Please explain those electronics in glass, maybe cite an example? I've never heard of it.
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Gbcue
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| said by burner50 :said by tobicat :I think the problem would be your particular car. All of my current vehicles have all sorts of stuff embedded in the glass. --SNIP-- compasses, dimmers, thermostats and who knows what else. Please explain those electronics in glass, maybe cite an example? I've never heard of it. I know some cars that have windshields coated with metal but never any side or rear windows.
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wenter99
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Albuquerque, NM
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| reply to Gbcue
If you want an honest unbiased opinion from a NON-KNOW-IT-ALL, they all work about the same. Glass mounts are not very efficient compared to a permanently mounted antenna. Even a door or fender bracket mounted antenna would be functionally better than a glass mount.
Larsen is good and sturdy with high quality adhesives that stay stuck when installed properly. Antenna Specialist is cheaper and less sturdy, but seems to work as well and will stay put when all installation instructions are followed and glass is thourghly cleaned before installation. Otherwise, either should work equally well as far as emitting and receiving a signal goes.
I've never used the OPEK so I can't comment on it.
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Splitpair
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join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne | reply to Gbcue
For VHF my experence is the A/S is not too good.
Wayne |
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mr weather
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join:2002-02-27
Mississauga, ON
| reply to Gbcue
said by Gbcue :I know some cars that have windshields coated with metal but never any side or rear windows. Some automotive glass contains a minor (less than 20%) metallicized tint additive that will all but render a glass-mount antenna useless.
My experience has been glass-mounts are okay on 800 MHz, marginal on UHF and lousy on VHF.
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KA3SGM
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| reply to Gbcue
At less than 440 MHz the "Thru-Glass" antennas aren't terribly efficient, (they are capacitive coupled through the glass) but for Cellular Service at 850MHz, or a 1.2GHz(23cm) setup they work fairly well.
I don't use one myself, but I know of at least 1 fellow Ham that has done well with the Through-Glass setups, mind you, at the higher frequencies.
I personally would steer away from any type of Through-Glass type mount, due the the reduction in performance.
As a note:
ANY type of window tint, usually involves formulating some sort of metal oxide particulate into the glass, which will undoubtedly decrease the antenna performance.
Most State Inspection programs require the Windshield, and the Front Drivers side/Passenger side windows to have LESS THAN a 30% tint, making them the best places to install Through- Glass Antennas.
Oddly enough, most states will allow you to literally use a sheet of plywood as a back window, as long as you have both Left and Right Side View mirrors(and aren't stupid enough to back-up into something)
If you absolutely need to use a through-glass mount, make sure that there are no AM/FM radio antenna, or Defroster wire traces within the path of the antenna coupler system, or you will obtain the absolute worst performance possible.
Again, I would absolutely avoid installing such an antenna on any dark tinted portion of glass.
Usually the Front Windshield is best, because the auto manufacturers typically tint the rear windows the most.
I paid a reputable local 2-way radio shop to install 2, 3/4" NMO through hole roof mounts on my 1997 Chevy Tahoe (1 cellular, 1 2m/70cm), and they have worked out absolutely perfect(I reworked them both with Times Microwave LMR-240 Type COAX, prior to installation).
That is 12 years of excellent performance, and ZERO water leaks.
That is what I call professional, and they guaranteed their work, so any water damage would be an insurance claim against them.
Be prepared to pay at least $125 per drilled mount that you have installed professionally.
On my newer 2007 GMC Yukon, I still use a magnet mount Diamond DPK-4NM-N base, and a Diamond NR200NA 2m/70cm/23cm whip.
I still haven't worked up the courage to have a few permanent mounts installed, due to the truck having a Sunroof, Air Conditioning Ducts, and a DVD Entertainment System installed in the headliner, that might potentially be obstructing or interfering with the antenna mounts.
73, KA3SGM
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Gbcue
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| If anything, the best would be to mount antennas on the luggage rack cross bars but I haven't found the mount to do that with.
They're quite rare.
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mr weather
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join:2002-02-27
Mississauga, ON
| Diamond makes luggage rack mounts: the K540 or the K550.
My last few vehicles have had permanent 3/4" NMO mounts. I realize some don't want to drill holes but nothing beats their performance.
No paint scratches from dirty mag mount bases, no worries about your antenna flying off in a crash.
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KA3SGM
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| said by mr weather :Diamond makes luggage rack mounts: the K540 or the K550. No paint scratches from dirty mag mount bases, no worries about your antenna flying off in a crash. Just don't accidentally drive into a parking garage with a low ceiling.
TWANG, TWANG, TWANG.....
OUCH!!!!
Lots of potential sheet metal damage can happen in there, and completely write off any survival of the antenna itself.
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mr weather
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join:2002-02-27
Mississauga, ON
| Well, if you're that completely clueless of the height of the antenna on your roof you deserve what you get. 
Shock springs FTW.
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burner50
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| said by mr weather :Well, if you're that completely clueless of the height of the antenna on your roof you deserve what you get. Shock springs FTW. Not being an idiot FTW.
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SmokChsr
Who let the magic smoke out?
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join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL
| reply to Gbcue
It depends on your window glass. Yeas ago, before the factory starting using the metallic in glass tinting I used many ASP151's and they worked quite well. I haven't used any lately because they don't work on many new windows.
Overall I'd rate ASP as the best mobile antenna out there. Some of the others have gotten better over the years. Maxrad is a brand I don't recommend, I usually refer to them as NOrad. |
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