Antenna in Windshield - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

4tiresngas · 12-20-2005, 01:39 AM

Does anyone sell windshields for our trucks that have an antenna in them? I don't want the factory antenna sticking out of my cowl. So, I am looking for other options.

*screamin_c102* · 12-20-2005, 01:50 AM

Use a hidden antenna. Several comapanies carry them. I know for a fact that Dakota Digital has them, and I believe I have heard the brand Auto-Loc thrown around here on the board.

I am using the Dakota Digital and have it mounted behind my glovebox.

Linky

*screamin_c102* · 12-20-2005, 01:59 AM

Heres another Ebay Linky

Longhorn Man · 12-20-2005, 05:36 AM

Or just mount your Antenna under the dash or under the cowl.

byrd · 12-20-2005, 09:31 AM

Longhorn has got on easy way there, but would it help/work to attach a piece of wire to the antenna and then to the cab itself to use the whole truck as your antenna? Randy

red71cheyenne · 12-20-2005, 12:16 PM

I once had one on the '71 that was just two pieces of wire you taped to the windshield in a hidden location. Don't buy this one! I got better reception without an antenna. Jeff.

70short · 12-20-2005, 03:45 PM

I installed an antenna under the cowl, I have it grounded to the cab and I get poor reception. I am also trying to find an alternative.

Gary

hgs_notes · 12-20-2005, 05:21 PM

Screamin C10, How do you like the reception on your hidden one?

HG

*screamin_c102* · 12-20-2005, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Screamin C10, How do you like the reception on your hidden one?

HG

Works fine, as far as I can tell. We live in the middle of a valley in the middle of BFE so reception sucks around here no matter what. When I get out on the freeway and towards civilization the reception improves.

It is about as good as the wife Focus.

Bill72BB · 12-20-2005, 08:16 PM

I got one of the after market ones that attached to the inside of the windshield on bottom of the passenger side .
Best radio reception I have had in years.

Longhorn Man · 12-20-2005, 07:17 PM

I had one under the cowl in the old GMC for a while. Didn't ground anything more than what was supposed to be. Had a piece of metal in there with a hole big enough for the Ant mount, had it bolted to the inner cowl, and it was bent over to where the Ant pretty much just laid across the front of the cab. Worked just as good as the one that I replaced it with when that portion of the cab fell victom to rust and the antenna fell into the cab.

GMC Jim · 12-20-2005, 07:35 PM

the radio chassis is grounded by the mounting....The anntenna is not grounded!....if grounded ; the reception will range from no reception to very poor.

Longhorn Man · 12-20-2005, 07:40 PM

I thought I had read that somewhere... but wasn't sure. Thanks Jim.

byrd · 12-20-2005, 11:19 PM

Bill, give up some info on this one. I haven't seen the type you refer to,only just the terrible looking stock ones from the 80's. Randy

72 longhorn BB · 12-21-2005, 10:50 AM

Putting the antenna element under the dash or cowl stacks the chips up against good reception, because you are surrounding the sensing element with grounded (chassis ground) steel.

With a regular FM antenna, the antenna cable is shielded until its connected to the antenna base.

Thats when the cable shielding ends and is grounded to the body, at the antenna mount. (its also grouded at the radio connector, to radio chassis).

At the antenna base, the center conductor (antenna) becomes unshielded, and depending on the antenna (or wire) length, gets tuned to a frequency.

For FM radios, they usually make it a frequency in the FM band that corresponds to where most stations are grouped.

Also, the right packaging length has to be considered and then a happy medium is reached.

Typically in todays cars, that is about 31 inches, but in our trucks, the antenna was telescoping, so the best frequency could be chosen if you knew how to calculate it.

Speaking of calculations, try this website:

http://www.crompton.com/wa3dsp/hamradio/antcalc.html

Oh cra p, I wrote another book (week b4 christmas, office is empty, boring)

What I am getting at is you can literally make your own hidden antenna just by routing the antenna cable up into the cowl, or under the dash, then stripping back the coaxial cable braided ground, leaving about 31 inches (or whatever you desire) bared.

Terminate the shield to chassis ground and try tucking the conductor wire inside the window seal.

Totally hidden! - hey, and it really works too! - just don't let the antenna conductor touch chasis ground, or you will effectiveky shorten the length of the antenna.

Bill72BB · 12-21-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byrd

Bill, give up some info on this one. I haven't seen the type you refer to,only just the terrible looking stock ones from the 80's. Randy

here are some pic of the set up ,don't remember the brand .

49studebaker · 12-21-2005, 07:30 PM

I have one of the hidden antenna's, I believe it's an autoloc. Works really good close in, fades fast when I head out of town, also, it depends which direction the truck is headed. It's a great idea in theory, but I'd do some research, I suspect not all hidden antenna's are equal.

12-20-2005, 01:39 AM	#1
4tiresngas An American Soldier Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Grumolo D' Abadessee, Italy Posts: 503	Antenna in Windshield Does anyone sell windshields for our trucks that have an antenna in them? I don't want the factory antenna sticking out of my cowl. So, I am looking for other options. __________________ Dan dan.brue@us.army.mil

12-20-2005, 01:50 AM	#2
screamin_c102 Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Yoncalla Oregon Posts: 775	Re: Antenna in Windshield Use a hidden antenna. Several comapanies carry them. I know for a fact that Dakota Digital has them, and I believe I have heard the brand Auto-Loc thrown around here on the board. I am using the Dakota Digital and have it mounted behind my glovebox. Linky

12-20-2005, 01:59 AM	#3
screamin_c102 Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Yoncalla Oregon Posts: 775	Re: Antenna in Windshield Heres another Ebay Linky

12-20-2005, 05:36 AM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Antenna in Windshield Or just mount your Antenna under the dash or under the cowl.

12-20-2005, 12:16 PM	#6
red71cheyenne Back in the sticks Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Fordland, MO Posts: 3,188	Re: Antenna in Windshield I once had one on the '71 that was just two pieces of wire you taped to the windshield in a hidden location. Don't buy this one! I got better reception without an antenna. Jeff. __________________ 1971 Cheyenne C-10 w/700R4 and Tuned Port Injection 1969 K5 Blazer w/Tuned Port 2010 2SS/RS Flaming Orange Camaro 2011 K1500 Suburban 2014 K1500 Pickup 2008 Nissan Altima? The wifes' hoopty

12-20-2005, 03:45 PM	#7
70short Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boise ID Posts: 609	Re: Antenna in Windshield I installed an antenna under the cowl, I have it grounded to the cab and I get poor reception. I am also trying to find an alternative. Gary __________________ "72" Red CORVETTE 4-speed 350 "70" Chevy Short Bed early stages of resto. Edel 600 cfm carb Weiand Stealth Intake HEI shorty Headers 4/2 Drop 295 50R 15 TOYO on 10 inch wide corvette rally rims at all 4 corners. "CHEVY RULES"

12-20-2005, 05:21 PM	#8
hgs_notes GEARHEAD Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MN Posts: 6,126	Re: Antenna in Windshield Screamin C10, How do you like the reception on your hidden one? HG __________________ If no one knows what you're doing, they can't tell you you're doing it wrong HG's Dream Car Build - Shelby Cobra Kit Build your own adjustable track bar 71 Long Fleet C/10 72 Jimmy 4x4 (Junkyard Jimmy) HG's Plow Truck '78 K35 Dually Bigass Farm Truck HG's thread of miscellaneous stuff

12-20-2005, 08:16 PM	#10
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	Re: Antenna in Windshield I got one of the after market ones that attached to the inside of the windshield on bottom of the passenger side . Best radio reception I have had in years. __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

12-20-2005, 07:17 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Antenna in Windshield I had one under the cowl in the old GMC for a while. Didn't ground anything more than what was supposed to be. Had a piece of metal in there with a hole big enough for the Ant mount, had it bolted to the inner cowl, and it was bent over to where the Ant pretty much just laid across the front of the cab. Worked just as good as the one that I replaced it with when that portion of the cab fell victom to rust and the antenna fell into the cab. Last edited by Longhorn Man; 12-20-2005 at 07:18 PM.

12-20-2005, 07:35 PM	#12
GMC Jim Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 901	Re: Antenna in Windshield the radio chassis is grounded by the mounting....The anntenna is not grounded!....if grounded ; the reception will range from no reception to very poor. __________________ '71 GMC;fleetside;PB/PS/AC/CC/402 Eng./Custom Paint/110,000act miles/3 fuel tanks(52gal).

12-20-2005, 07:40 PM	#13
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Antenna in Windshield I thought I had read that somewhere... but wasn't sure. Thanks Jim.

12-21-2005, 10:50 AM	#15
72 longhorn BB Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 312	Re: Antenna in Windshield Putting the antenna element under the dash or cowl stacks the chips up against good reception, because you are surrounding the sensing element with grounded (chassis ground) steel. With a regular FM antenna, the antenna cable is shielded until its connected to the antenna base. Thats when the cable shielding ends and is grounded to the body, at the antenna mount. (its also grouded at the radio connector, to radio chassis). At the antenna base, the center conductor (antenna) becomes unshielded, and depending on the antenna (or wire) length, gets tuned to a frequency. For FM radios, they usually make it a frequency in the FM band that corresponds to where most stations are grouped. Also, the right packaging length has to be considered and then a happy medium is reached. Typically in todays cars, that is about 31 inches, but in our trucks, the antenna was telescoping, so the best frequency could be chosen if you knew how to calculate it. Speaking of calculations, try this website: http://www.crompton.com/wa3dsp/hamradio/antcalc.html Oh cra p, I wrote another book (week b4 christmas, office is empty, boring) What I am getting at is you can literally make your own hidden antenna just by routing the antenna cable up into the cowl, or under the dash, then stripping back the coaxial cable braided ground, leaving about 31 inches (or whatever you desire) bared. Terminate the shield to chassis ground and try tucking the conductor wire inside the window seal. Totally hidden! - hey, and it really works too! - just don't let the antenna conductor touch chasis ground, or you will effectiveky shorten the length of the antenna. __________________ Chuck 1972 C-20 Longhorn 402 BB .030" over (409?), curved HEI, RV cam, quadrajet, dual 3" exhaust, TH 400 ported w/shift kit 1999 K1500 Suburban (old style) 5.7L Vortec 4L60E "No matter where you go, ........ there you are" Last edited by 72 longhorn BB; 12-21-2005 at 10:53 AM.

12-21-2005, 07:30 PM	#17
49studebaker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Victor, Montana Posts: 386	Re: Antenna in Windshield I have one of the hidden antenna's, I believe it's an autoloc. Works really good close in, fades fast when I head out of town, also, it depends which direction the truck is headed. It's a great idea in theory, but I'd do some research, I suspect not all hidden antenna's are equal. __________________ 04 4x4 GMC Ext. Cab lifted 71 2wd GMC / Ramjet 350 ready for sheet metal 49 Studebaker pickup

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