Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1

    Default Hidden scanner and cb antennas through soft top?

    I am going to get a scanner, most likely the bct15x, and I am wondering about antennas.
    this is going to be a stealth install in a convertible with a roll bar.. I am thinking for the scanner I could use a small 18in wide band in the car due to the convertible top not being much of an impedance.. this would keep it hidden. I would also like to pick up some CB when stuck in accident traffic though.. I would rather not have an outside antenna and would like as good a range as possible.. I have seen people use portable scanners in car and get fairly good CB reception but I am a novice to all of this. I have also heard that running too close to the roll bar might give me very bad SWR numbers. I just keep thinking I can make this work?
    Last edited by guitarist155; 01-09-2012 at 03:52 PM.

  2. #2
    Experienced
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Peoples Republic of NY
    Posts
    231

    Default Re: Hidden scanner and cb antennas through soft top?

    SWR is Standing Wave Ratio which is a measure of reflected Rf energy. It only applies when you TRANSMIT. So thats not an issue here. Flat sheet metal on vehicles acts to create a mirror image in a mobile install to make an antenna electrically correct with a 50 ohm impedance since most antennas especially CB are not physically correct. Using an 18 inch antenna is a stretch even if its only to receive CB. Your best option if your priority is stealth is to look in HAM catalogs like HRO and AES where they have disguise antennas.

  3. #3
    Advanced Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Northern New England
    Posts
    130

    Default Re: Hidden scanner and cb antennas through soft top?

    Do you want a single antenna for receiving? Or one for the scanner, and one for the CB?

    Just for receiving, I would make a dipole and hide it in the roll bar. Heck, you could probably do a true 1/4 wave on 27MHz if that is where you plan to do most monitoring.

  4. #4
    Professional
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Lufkin, TX
    Posts
    878

    Default Re: Hidden scanner and cb antennas through soft top?

    You will also want to consider polarization. Most CB'ers that are on the road use antennas that are vertically polarized. If you put a dipole in the rollbar, it would be horizontally polarized, decreasing your reception by about 3-5 db depending. Might be ok for most, but you definitely wouldn't hear any weak signal stuff.

    You could, in theory, even hide a 27MHz folded wire dipole in the rollbar, but I doubt it would work. If your rollbar is metal, there goes your reception and your SWR.

  5. #5
    Radar Fanatic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    OHIO
    Posts
    1,848

    Default Re: Hidden scanner and cb antennas through soft top?

    What about through a plastic OE rear wing on a metal body convertible? Like the Camaro convertible for FM antenna.

  6. #6
    Professional
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Lufkin, TX
    Posts
    878

    Default Re: Hidden scanner and cb antennas through soft top?

    Quote Originally Posted by NormSky View Post
    What about through a plastic OE rear wing on a metal body convertible? Like the Camaro convertible for FM antenna.
    This would work... if you had a spoiler, you could fashion a folded dipole in the fiberglass spoiler and it would work fine. Just be horizontally polarized instead of vertical, but it may not make much difference to you.

  7. #7
    Lead Foot
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fort Worth, TX
    Posts
    343

    Default Re: Hidden scanner and cb antennas through soft top?

    You might consider using a coupler that allows your scanner to use the car's standard AM/FM antenna. Here are two inexpensive possibilities from Scanner World:

    1) PDC634MB AM/FM AUTO ANTENNA SCANNER COUPLER WITH BOTH BNC AND MOTOROLA CONNECTORS

    2) ANT63MOT AM/FM AUTO ANTENNA SCANNER COUPLER WITH MOTOROLA CONNECTOR

    I'm sure there are probably others available from other sources, as well.

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. Soft Ware 3.851
    By BrownOut in forum Valentine One
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-24-2009, 06:47 PM
  2. 2.4 Soft.ver
    By ZR1jag in forum Blinder Laser Jammers
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 09-11-2009, 12:45 PM
  3. V1 soft update vs V1 new unit
    By doba_s in forum Valentine One
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 08-15-2009, 04:13 PM
  4. Can any one help me to upgrade soft on Escort 8500 (x50?)
    By dishplayer7200 in forum Introduce Yourself
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-03-2009, 03:49 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •