Antenna in interior of your car

ryanerb · Post by **ryanerb** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:48 pm

i want to use a pcr1000 and need an antenna. however, i dont want an NMO mount, so i was just thinking of putting an antenna on the inside of the car. will i get fine reception? what would be a good antenna to cover 0-1300? thanks -Ryan

Cam · Post by **Cam** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:17 pm

Well that will work better then say just not using an antenna at all. I guess it depends on what you want to do with it. I would think that there is something between a hole in the roof and an antenna inside of your call. If I were you I'd look at maybe a truck tip mount or magnet mount. If you really want to have the antenna inside, then mount in up high so it can "see out".

How do you like the PCR-1000?

Cam

ryanerb · Post by **ryanerb** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:42 pm

well... i could do a glass mount i guess. i dont have the pcr1000 yet, but im hoping to get it soon.

gws · Post by **gws** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:05 am

Since thats a DC to light radio, do you have a specific set of freq you plan on using it for ? If your looking at HF then attach it to your broadcast band antenna (assuming its not an amplifed one). Otherwise you get what you get with an inside antenna.

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 8:33 pm

You're asking how to make an Indy car out of a wheelbarrow!

How about a random wire length + tuner + artificial ground unit

or

Delta or gamma feed the body and use a tuner? "Scratch around" until you hit an impedance point that does something.
It might work. Try it. Who knows....you might make a liar out of me (or a genius!) Grounds have been proven to be quite good radiators. A few years ago, I strapped a gamma feed onto a lightpole in a shopping center for HF and it worked great.

ryanerb · Post by **ryanerb** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:13 pm

alright, some of that is pretty complicated for me. just want it to listen to some 800mhz, some uhf, vhf, and some low band like 42mhz. -Ryan

Post by **Code3Response** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:30 pm

I should hope you wouldnt transmit on a PCR-1000. Ill teach you about positive and negative wiring Ryan

Leadenwah · Post by **Leadenwah** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:08 pm

Grove Enterprises carries a " ParaDynamics " (brand) inductive antena coupler which allows you to use the automobile's existing AM/FM antenna for scanners and other receivers.

The device does not seem to affect AM/FM reception and simply plugs in line from antenna connector to radio. Very easy install ( once you get to the vehicle's radio ).

As was mentioned above, it really depends on the target band, but for the VHF-LowBand area this might be of some value.

Frankly, most of the on-glass antennas are pretty lame for low band monitoring unless you go with one made sepcifically for low band and those are pretty long and vulnerable.

With the tinting and defroster coils embedded in many rear windows these days, you're going to have additional challenges for an interior antenna. The tray just under the rear window is the logical location for an interior antenna if only to keep it out of harm's way. You can always experiment with an antenna on a heavy magnetic mount on that tray to anchor it by weight

Good luck,
Geo

USPSS · Post by **USPSS** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:39 am

HOW DOES ONE TRansmit on a PRC-1000

Code3Response Posted:

Joined: 03 Sep 2001
Posts: 1467
Location: Central CA
Posted: 21 Jan 2004 21:30 Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I should hope you wouldnt transmit on a PCR-1000. Ill teach you about positive and negative wiring Ryan
_________________
Matthew Frank
Code3 Response
http://www.code3response.com
BAT-4200

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Gerbil · Post by **Gerbil** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:08 pm

USPSS wrote:HOW DOES ONE TRansmit on a PRC-1000

Code3Response Posted:

Joined: 03 Sep 2001
Posts: 1467
Location: Central CA
Posted: 21 Jan 2004 21:30 Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I should hope you wouldnt transmit on a PCR-1000. Ill teach you about positive and negative wiring Ryan
_________________
Matthew Frank
Code3 Response
http://www.code3response.com
BAT-4200

Back to top

how does one properly quote?

Aces-Warehouse · Post by **Aces-Warehouse** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:15 pm

if you're really worried about appearance, you can either use a split to conver your existing AM/FM radio antenna into an antenna for your need and still have AM/FM out of it. Also there is some antenna like the rear defrost units and so fouth.

Heterodyne · Post by **Heterodyne** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 4:57 am

Drilling holes for just a scanner antenna? There are other options!

Seeing as though the PRC-1000 is just a scanner, you can definitley get away with one of these babies:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=14956

Radio Shack used to carry a nifty scanner antenna mount that clipped onto the top of your glass window.. Just slap it on and roll the window up. Yuo then put your regular BNC scanner antenna on the mount outside of your car - works great, and no suction cups.

Or, get a mag-mount scanner antenna on your trunk, run the cable through into the trunk, through the backseat and to the unit. Make sure you put a piece of cellophane under the magnet, though or it'll do a number on your paint.

It'll receive a million times better than just sitting on the seat next to you.

thehead7 · Post by **thehead7** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:49 pm

What you might consider, in lieu of drilling a hole in your car for an NMO, get an NMO mount that does not require drilling. I've got a trunk lip mount in NMO that has a dualband antenna attached. I know it holds securely at 115mph and doesn't do too bad on the paint (it has rubber to keep from marring the paint, but it'll still do a little finish wear). It attaches to the vehicle with two hex set screws and takes about 30 seconds to remove if you need to for some reason. I don't like mag mounts greatly because it leaves the feedline exposed, and if you tap it on something overhead, they can come off (I've only had this happen once, though).

As far as a particular antenna to use? Well, there's a lot out there. I have not looked at putting a scanner in the car, so someone else probably has better ideas for that specifically.

-Head