2003 Chevy Silverado antenna install question

tom IL · Post by **tom IL** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 2:12 pm

I have a 2003 Chevy Silverado and I have been getting by with a dual band mag mount for my ham rig but I want to put something a little nicer on. I want to do a no holes mount so I have been thinking about using a glass mount. The problem I have is that my truck has factory tenting on the rear windows with a rear defroster and the manufactures information I can find on-line kind of frowns on installing thru either let alone both. Any one know if this is really a problem? Any alternatives that aren’t too involved and don’t involve holes? Thanks.

KG6EAQ · Post by **KG6EAQ** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 2:40 pm

What's wrong with holes? They do a much better job. I know lots of people that have plugged antenna holes on the roof and not had a problem returning them off lease.

NodrogCop · Post by **NodrogCop** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:10 pm

I have an 01 Silverado, and tried the window antennas. I wouldn't even consider it, and I don't have the rear defrost to worry about.

I hemmed and hawed for a little while, but thanks to some encouragement and suggestions from here on Batlabs, went ahead and drilled not one, but two holes. The reception is fantastic.

If you've bought the truck and plan to drive it until it dies a slow, painful death, I would say "just put the holes in". If you're leasing, I'd still do it. As KG6EAQ has pointed out, there are a lot of people who have returned them off lease without a problem.

The other option is fender mounts. Used them as a temp mount until I had time to drill the holes. I wouldn't suggest them either. Much better than the window mount, but not close to the roof mount in terms of performance.

My somewhat "rookie" 2 cents worth.

Gordon

tom IL · Post by **tom IL** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:38 pm

Drilling is not the issue, garage clearance is, I have to take the mag mount off to get in so a roof mount is a little bit of a problem. Any other ideas? Thanks for the help.

jcobb · Post by **jcobb** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:53 pm

I haven't had as much trouble with the glass mount antennas as others here have stated. I ran both a VHF and UHF glass mount Antenna Specialists antennas on my previous Bronco, and had acceptable results.

I didn't run high power units (25-30 on VHF and 20-25 on UFH); mine was a dual band radio. I got acceptable VSWR on both antennas.

You might look at putting a glass mount on the passenger side windshield. I did that with a cell phone antenna. That way it is out of the way of the wipers, and usually doesn't have as much tinting to go thru. If you use one of the 1/4 wave glass mounts, I don't think you will have much height to contend with. You'll just have to look at the available options in glass mounts, and measure what you'll get at that upper corner of the passenger side windshield.

Just my 2 pesos worth.

Jack

tom IL · Post by **tom IL** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 11:42 pm

Thanks, I think that may be my best option, it’s just going to take more work to run the cable since the radio is under the back seat. Oh well.

Post by Pj » Thu Sep 11, 2003 1:16 am

One thing not mentioned so far is the lip mount on the hood. I have used 6M to 800 antenna's on the suburban and have not had a problem. Its easy to line them up across from the AM/FM antenna so you have a nice clean look, plus since it screw into the engine compartment on the inside, you will never know that you had something mounted there.

I have two mounted and you can sorta see them at:
http://pages.cthome.net/pjh76/trk41a.jpg

USPSS · Post by **USPSS** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 6:30 am

How about a nice COMPROD am/fm identical DISGUISE Antenna, that way you have nothing additional, it works well, the am/fm still works well and the value of the vehicle is not compramised. Also when you are ready to turn it in you just unplug the radio and go, nothing else.

They are about 285.00 so that may be a factor but they DO work WELL.

c17loadsmasher · Post by **c17loadsmasher** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 1:59 pm

My VHF whip (18") is mounted to the center of my Vector lightbar, on the large metal plate that serves as the cover for the 'electronics' that control the lights. It's about 5" too tall to get in my garage, but once inside, and it clears the door (even in its retracted position), it stands straight up. It makes a nice clanging noise as it hits the crossmembers of the garage door. I hope the little metal ball on the end of it isn't terribly important....because it's been torn off...hehe.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 2:08 pm

Well, why don't you just do the best of both world. Drill a hole for an NMO mount in the middle of your hood! Then the height won't be a problem AND you get the permanant mount!

tom IL · Post by **tom IL** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 3:54 pm

nm fire you are joking right??? I had almost forgot about lip mounts, that sounds like it may be a great solution. Again running the cable will take some time so it will probably have to wait a wile but I think it will work nicely when I get around to it. Thanks for the help everyone.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 6:56 pm

I put holes in my 03 suburban without a blink. My other vehicles all had 3/4 NMO mounts on them. I took extra care to do the job perfectly and used the highest quality mounts and cable. It was worth the time and effort on this truck and the antenna install is outstanding.

I considered using a lip or L-bracket mount on the driver's side fender for a LB antenna.

Simply put it tjust looked stupid with the body lines of the truck and especially the hood. Our trucks are similar so I doubt it would look any better on your ride than it did on mine.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 2:58 am

There many many hood lip mounted low band antenna on lots of suberbans and tahoes around here, they seem to look fine.

Post by Pj » Fri Sep 12, 2003 4:19 am

When I had my low band in the truck, I did that too. Doesn't look bad at all. Just get a stiff antenna so that it doen't flop around all over and hit your windshield. I used a comtelco antenna, and it was perfect.

TomSlick · Post by **TomSlick** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 5:32 pm

How about one of Diamond's antennas with the foldover feature? I drilled the roof of my CR-V and originally had a small UHF antenna there, but decided to switch to a gain dual-bander. I chose a Diamond NR770HNMO. It's 40 inches long, but folds over just above the base coil so I can fit in parking garages. (You do have to remember to get out and fold it, but I think it's a good compromise.)

Here's a link to a catalog page:
http://www.rfparts.com/diamond/

CPD534 · Post by **CPD534** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 9:59 am

I have thought about this question regarding new Silverado for awhile since I am planning to get one in the future. I had thought of the idea of putting a tool box in the back of a truck and possably drilling and installing hole mounts in the tool box. Granted that the cab would block the front direction alittle, would this possably work?

Another plan I came up with, which would be harder, is to get a two bar roll bar and install and put some type of flat metal peice on one of the bars and install the antennas on it. That would put them up above everything else. I'm not sure if the roll bars are flat enough to install a hole mount in the top unless you put some type of flat metal on it.