Vehicle Communications: Mobile Antennas

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Mobile Antennas — Types, Uses & Tips

Automotive communication installation supplies and tools enable upfitters to properly install any type of mobile antenna required to address today's sophisticated mobile communication needs. You'll find everything for mobile antenna applications all under ONE roof at TESSCO.

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Fleet Management | Mobile Command

Mobile Antennas

  View entire mobile antenna product offering

Finding the Right Mobile Antenna 

Featured Mobile Antenna Products

GPS / Cell / PCS Multiband  Antennas

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Mobile Mark CVS-U15-2A-2C

This Cellular/PCS/GPS tri-band covert strip antenna is slightly larger then a pack of gum but sacrifices nothing on performance. Providing low noise with excellent filtering, GPS performance is 26 dB with a 5dBi gain antenna.

2.4 GHz Mobile Antennas 

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PCTel MLPV2400NGP

The MLPV2400NGP is a low-profile vertical antenna that provides wideband coverage of 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz frequencies without the need of a ground plane.

VHF / UHF Dual Band  Antennas

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Laird C150/450C Dual-Band Antenna

This dual-band antenna covers both the UHF and VHF bandwidths. Features 2 dB gain on VHF and 5 dB on UHF. Use with a dual-band radio or two separate radios. This antenna is for use with Motorola style mounts.

700 MHz Antennas 

Featured Item
Larsen 14" Glass-Mount 3 dB 786-846 MHz Antenna

The Larsen KG3E786UD 14" glass mount 3 dB 786-846 MHz antenna features a 5/8 over 1/2 wave collinear design whip with a Super Flex enclosed coil. The antenna's impedance matching circuitry with outside radiating element enables low impedance signal transfer. It includes a 14-foot RG58/U cable wired directly to coupling box. Connectors are also availble.

Tools & Installation Supplies

Automotive communication installation supplies & tools enable upfitters to properly install any type of mobile antenna required for address today's sophisticated mobile communication needs. You'll find everything — thousands of choices from many trusted brands —all under ONE roof for any type of mobile antenna application right here at TESSCO.

Tech Tips for Successful Installation

A successful installation means that all product instructions are read, the right tools are available, and best practices applied.  Below are a few tips to ensure your antenna performs as specified.

Permanent-Mount Antennas

One way of ensuring proper grounding of your antenna system is to clear the paint on the underside of the mounting surface, such as the roof or trunk, with a medium-grit sandpaper. The NMO mounting hardware is designed to "cut" into the paint — however, paint thickness and total applied mounting torque may cause insufficient grounding conditions. The VSWR of the mounted antenna is the primary indicator that the ground is poor.

Make sure that you don't saw or drill through any headliner material.  This can be done by removing the material or by limiting the depth of the cut by wrapping the saw blade or drill with tape to limit penetration to a specific depth.

When installing an antenna on a metal surface of a vehicle, protect the area that you will be drilling the hole with masking tape.  This will prevent the hot shavings from a drill or hole saw from penetrating the painted surface which can cause rust later on.

Glass-Mount Antennas 

Glass mounts have very specific instructions for preparing the glass for an on-glass antenna and should be strictly followed.  The most important instructions are as follows: clean the glass, avoiding ammonia-based cleaners; ensure that the glass temperature is  close to room temperature (70 degrees); then after install, the whip should remain off, and the mount dry for 24-72 hours.

Avoid placing a glass-mount antenna on a heavily tinted area of the glass. The metal in the tinting will degrade the signal and reception.

Avoid mounting over the grid wires of a rear window defroster.

Antenna Tuning

Many users trust that the cutting charts provided with an antenna are absolute.  It should be reinforced that cutting charts are guidelines.  Ground plane size (a car versus a van), antenna mounting locations (the roof versus the trunk), and even mounting types (permanent roof mount versus magnetic mount or trunk lip mounts) all have an impact in the tuning of an antenna.  Using the cutting chart with an economic SWR meter will help ensure the antenna is tuned correctly.

Antenna Installation Tool Suggestions

Cordless Drill	Hole Saw Kit	Split Point Drill Bits	148pc Tool Kit
Long Nose Pliers	Velcro Fasteners	Ecoline Glass Cleaner	Black Cable Ties
Allen Hex Key Set	Upholstery Tool Set	Alcohol preps	Cable Clamp
Heavy Duty Vinyl Tape

For more information contact TESSCO
at 888-256-9220 today.

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