Securing UHF aerials

Michael,

I use a GME 4018 antennae on a screw base and I unscrew the whip when I'm around town and not using the radio. I keep it under the back seat ready to put back as needed. This was initially so I can park at work but also as a secirity measure.

Peter

Drill and tap a hole thru the antenna base and mount, secure with a grub screw.

Wouldn't you like to castrate these bastards.
That's precisely why I now have cheap (Supercheap) spotties. Had my good Cibie Super Oscars nicked. They DID have grub screws.
I suppose I can look forward to losing my CDMA and UHF antennas too.
Grrrr.

G'day Michael,

For your situation, if you never remove the antenna yourself then loctite may be an option?

I use a flexible dipole design (stubbie whip) gutter mounted. For a start, it is not a fancy antenna and is only $28. It is also "one piece" where you have to chop the cable and unscrew it from the gutter. Although it is pretty inconspicuous when upright, the mounting hardware allows me to lower it into the gutter when parked so it does not catch the eye. Check the link below, 2nd last antenna on the first page.

Prestige Comms

cheers,

Jeremy.

Hi Micheal,

That just happened to a mate of mine the other day too. They took the top part of the antenna, screwed it off etc. Did they take your entire antenna or just the top part?

The base of my anetnna will need tools to have it stolen but the top part just screws right off. I was wondering if there would be any adverse effects if I just superglued the two parts together, any opinions out there????

Michael,
I have a connector for joining coax cable (from Dick Smith's) and filled it up with araldite to keep it waterproof and just screw it on instead of the aerial when driving around town. Works a treat.

I had my aerial secured grub screw filled hole , everything,, they couldnt take it, so they broke it, wouldnt you love to be in a locked room with them for just 5 minutes,

Clive

You can make a small cheapy antenna for about $5 out of bits - will do ok for around town - being obviously home made and very basic, might also be un-attractive to the dirtbags - whatever type of mount you have, get a suitable female connector and build in a 150mm bit of straight wire. Works for me in the metro area - this length is close to 1/4 of the wavelength for channel 20. My connector is the same as the coox end plug - I did have a page explaining my build ... will see if I can find it and publish it soon at http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/darian

Around town I use a unity gain stubby job. Only about $10 so no great loss .. and probably not so attractive to the mongrels. Also works well in convoy or hilly situations. Keep the long one under the back seat for when needed.

Make it too hard and they'll probably do some damage out of spite.

Cheers

Agree with others. I keep a $14, 6 inch rubber "stubbie" antenna on while in town. If it gets flogged then you just replace it, mutter some words uncer your breath, and move on with your life. The dirtbags are not worth the stress!

I have a good $70 6db 1 metre antenna that lives in the car and this is put on when on a trip - a 30 second swapover. Good for out in the plains.

Having said that, the 6 inch rubber ducky is quite adequate for convoy work or around town and is not so prone to being wiped off by low branches so it stays on most of the time anyway.

Cheers
Muddy

i soaked mine with locktite. But i caught a parrasite trying to pinch my bull lights a few year ago. being a truckie i sleep lite. snuck outside baseball bat in hand. got about ten feet away from him sitting on the ground with his legs under the front of the car. as i stepped on the gravel he tryed to get up. i took a big step forward and aimed for the suckers head but with him gettin up i got him between the shoulder and the elbow. i could still hear him squillen two houses away. thinken back a head shot would of took his head rite off. LOL, EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY. good luck with ya arials mate.

RFI make a flat "patch" aerial that just sticks to the inside of your window glass. Gain is only 3-6dB, but that's fine for convoy duties.

Can't be stolen without ripping off the entire window or car......

Just a thought.

Cheers
Chrispy