Stealthy amateur radio install

[Green1]

Most of my vehicles in the past have all had ham radios in them, the one exception is my last vehicle my Tesla, where I only put one in temporarily for special events. Now that I'm back to a more utilitarian vehicle, I thought it was time to install a ham radio in it.

Design goal was to be minimally intrusive, and relatively stealthy. To that end, the radio body is located behind the back seat, mounted directly above the factory amp. The head is located in the media cubby where I removed the wireless charge pad to make room, and when I close the cubby you can't see it at all. I lay down the factory FM antenna under the plastic cowling below the wipers, and replaced it with a UHF antenna mount. In the city I use a quarter wave in that location which isn't that different from some of the stubby antennas that various people put on. On special events or road trips I can easily unscrew it, and put my big antenna on. I can't leave it on in the city though, because there's no way it'll fit in my garage that way.

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[The Weatherman]

Very nice! Neat and clean install.

 

[HHI-Lightning]

How has your FM radio reception been while the antenna is under the cowling?
I’d like to consider doing this to get the antenna out of site. Of course, I’d have to come up with a filler / cover for the standard install spot.

 

[Green1]

How has your FM radio reception been while the antenna is under the cowling?
I’d like to consider doing this to get the antenna out of site. Of course, I’d have to come up with a filler / cover for the standard install spot.

To be honest, I don't know. I'm pretty sure the last time I listened to FM radio in my personal vehicle was a decade ago. That said, it seems like lying it down there would at least leave me some option rather than nothing. Based on my general radio experience, I would say that it'll probably be fine with stronger stations, or around town, however don't expect it to work in the middle of nowhere. It may actually not be much worse than the built-in antennas on many vehicles these days that don't have real aerials.

As for a filler, I suspect a pop bottle cap painted black, would probably fit about right, it's just a matter of keeping it in place. While I waited for my antenna to arrive, I had just the coax mount there with a threaded cap screwed onto it, and it sat perfectly flush with the plastic cover, and actually looked pretty good.

 

[GDN]

How has your FM radio reception been while the antenna is under the cowling?
I’d like to consider doing this to get the antenna out of site. Of course, I’d have to come up with a filler / cover for the standard install spot.

There are a few threads on short antennas and what others have done. I believe a few have noted the size of small bolt/screw they put in when removing the antenna completely.

 

[bmw325_num99]

That is nicely done.

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