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Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 10:40 pm
by mikegilbert
I finally got around to installing my XTL5000s in my daily driver. I've decided to ditch my NMO Antenex lip mount, grow some NMO balls and "Drill, Baby, Drill!"
My problem lies in where to install the NMO mounts. my plan is to put a UHF Antenex Phantom Elite and a unity gain 1/4 wave VHF antenna on the car. Ideally, I'd like to mount them on either side of the existing roof-mount FM antenna. My concern is the aluminum roof rack will interfere. Mounting them on the trunk would be easier, but their performance would be compromised.
Since many of you do this for a living, what say you?
Thanks!
Used a Panavise 75138-200 mount for the 03 head.

Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:32 am
by KX5MOT
I had two antennas mounted in almost the same location shown on the trunk lid on my Mustang. I drilled the holes and used a black 1/4 wave for VHF and a black Larsen open coil for UHF and I was quite pleased with the performance and they weren't all that noticeable either as far as stealth goes. I think the antennas on the trunk would be satisfactory.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 3:42 pm
by mikegilbert
Thanks, Jon! I'm going to skip the roof and stick 'em on the trunk.
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:03 pm
by escomm
Ya, trunk should work OK. Probably a glass B to drop the headliner and the pillar covers to route the coax if going through the roof
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:20 pm
by mikegilbert
Yeah, It was a PITA to drop it last time. The factory FM antennas suffer from corrosion, so I had to replace that several years ago. Not something I was really looking forward to.
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:50 pm
by FireCpt809
We do almost all our radio antennas on the trunk at my shop.. thats 600 cars a year and never have had any complaints
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:35 pm
by mikegilbert
Thanks for all the feedback, guys!
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:23 am
by JeffFireRadio
Nice job on the antenna graphics, btw.
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:49 am
by ILuvXMRadio
Mike, can you share a picture of the back side of your o3 mount? I'm curious how/what you used on the panavise.
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:17 am
by Tom in D.C.
Mike,
Be advised that Comtelco makes a UHF hockey puck antenna in black or white for about $38 net direct from the factory. I've used them and they work well, plus they claim 3DB gain. In the white version your UHF antenna at least would be hard to see. NMO base too, of course.
And I'm curious, too, about your 03 mounting. I run a trunk mounted 7500 and 03 head with the 03 lying flat on a standard mic clip on my Outback's shifter tunnel. Also, are you using two of the 03s?
Regards,
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:37 pm
by Pj
The mount looks similar to the ones that
www.pro-fit-intl.com has for custom OEM mounts. I've used one for various cellphones and their custom lip mounts.
Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 9:39 am
by banks
ILuvXMRadio wrote:Mike, can you share a picture of the back side of your o3 mount? I'm curious how/what you used on the panavise.
I believe it might be an 'adjustable mounting bracket' that Panavise sells which allows you to offset from the original mounting position. Drill a couple holes for the mic hangup and you're set.
http://www.panavise.com/index.html?page ... datarq=177
I'm using the proclip version - but it's the same idea.

Re: Antenna placement questions.
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 9:14 am
by ILuvXMRadio
Banks... How do you have your 'mic' wired for the O5 head in the console? Do you have a part number for the proclip product?