Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Anyone else here running a glass mount antenna? I picked up a Larsen dual-band glass mount for the 2m mobile in my 4runner. Listened to 2m repeaters a bit on the way into work this morning (weather related - we're getting a mild snowstorm today.)
Sound was not that good. I know my signal's getting out because I can hit repeaters but I'm not sure how much of my signal is getting out. I tried a couple of QSOs but got no response.
After I got the antenna I read through the installation instructions and it says not to use it on windows that are tinted or have a metallic film - well, the 3rd gen 4runners have a dark factory tint, don't know if it's metallic or not but it is a dark tint. I have it mounted on the driver's side back window, low on the glass. The antenna is about 19" long with a center coil.
Anyway, I'm just wondering if there's any way to "tune" a glass mount like this. I don't have an SWR meter though I might get one.
BTW, before anyone asks, the reason I went with a glass-mount was simple: It was the easiest way for me to get a 'permenent' antenna onto my vehicle and the easiest to install (no drilling, no passing a wire through the body or firewall, etc.) The other reason I went with the glass mount is that I park in a garage and the glass mount allows me to keep the antenna mounted 24/7 (as opposed to my mag-mount which I have to take off when going into or out of the garage.)
Sound was not that good. I know my signal's getting out because I can hit repeaters but I'm not sure how much of my signal is getting out. I tried a couple of QSOs but got no response.
After I got the antenna I read through the installation instructions and it says not to use it on windows that are tinted or have a metallic film - well, the 3rd gen 4runners have a dark factory tint, don't know if it's metallic or not but it is a dark tint. I have it mounted on the driver's side back window, low on the glass. The antenna is about 19" long with a center coil.
Anyway, I'm just wondering if there's any way to "tune" a glass mount like this. I don't have an SWR meter though I might get one.
BTW, before anyone asks, the reason I went with a glass-mount was simple: It was the easiest way for me to get a 'permenent' antenna onto my vehicle and the easiest to install (no drilling, no passing a wire through the body or firewall, etc.) The other reason I went with the glass mount is that I park in a garage and the glass mount allows me to keep the antenna mounted 24/7 (as opposed to my mag-mount which I have to take off when going into or out of the garage.)