| Q: |
Can I paint
the antenna base coils, and if so, with what type of
paint? |
| A: |
Antenna Specialists base coil material is
UV-stabilized, extruded PVC. We recommend using a Sherwin Williams material known as
"Polane T". This paint can be used for all of Antenna Specialists radomes and
base coils without electrical degradation. Just make sure you do not use colors that have
been loaded with zinc or other metallic particles used for colorization. Allen Telecom
Inc. also specifies this paint for metallic enclosures on our system products as well. |
|
| Q: |
The newer cement trucks
are using all fiber glass cab construction. What is the best reinforcement procedure for
the fiber glass roof and is there something that can be done to create isolation between
the radio and the antenna? |
| A: |
A metallic plate placed behind the fiber
glass roof will help to restrain the antenna mount. This plate will not have an adverse
affect on the "No-Ground-Plane" antenna's performance. We suggest using the
thick roof mount, K794. |
|
| Q: |
Radios being equipped are
the latest "state-of-the-art" digital, frequency-synthesized (non-crystal)
version. The antenna output exceeds 30 watts and it is shutting down the radio, due to
microphone feedback. Why? |
| A: |
The new radios may not be properly shielded
and certainly may be very sensitive to the fact that they are in the "near
field" of the antenna without the usual isolation provided by the metal roof. There
are only two antenna options here: 1) Move the antenna farther away and
experiment/iterate several locations on the truck to isolate (by distance) the radio from
the antenna, or 2) lay a continuous lining of copper screen material on the interior of
the fiber glass roofline. Ensure that the screen is well grounded to the antenna mount and
it would also be recommended to electrically ground the screen at several locations to any
structural chassis around the perimeter of a truck cab frame. |
|
| Q: |
I have a '97 Honda Accord
with an in-glass AM/FM antenna. There is a small location near the antenna that I can
mount a VHF "On-Glass"® antenna. Is this OK? (Antenna
model is AP-143.) |
| A: |
We do not recommend mounting any high power
radio near in-glass" AM/FM antennas. Coupling could occur between the
"On-Glass" antenna and the AM/FM antenna, which could damage the AM/FM receiver.
We suggest placing the "On-Glass" antenna on a fixed rear side vent or front
windshield. If mounting on the front windshield, be aware of the more recently used
metallic content of various automobile glass. |
|
| Q: |
What is the proper way to
mount and install both the ASP-930 and ASPB574 on a fiber glass roof of an ambulance? |
| A: |
Separate the two antennas physically as far
apart as the installation permits without obstruction from the light bar, etc… For
the fiber glass roof, we recommend backing the mounted antenna with a metal plate for
reinforcement. Nominally, a 12" square or 12" diameter groundplane beneath the
fiber glass will be sufficient to match the VSWR on the 800 MHz ASP 930. As for the
ASPB574 (150 MHz), a metallic screen should be laminated behind the fiber glass to provide
sufficient groundplane. This screen can be either aluminum and the backing plate should
also be aluminum, so as not to promote corrosion. The backing plate should be placed below
the screen so that when the antenna is drawn tight, the screen is sandwiched between the
roof and the plate, providing good ground contact. The screen surface area should be as
close to a 4- by 4-foot area as possible. |
|
| Q: |
Could we issue a
statement regarding the intended use of the repeater? |
| A: |
The ActiveLink has been designed and
FCC-approved for mobile-vehicular applications and single user only. |
|
| Q: |
How does the ASPM1954 (or
any PCS vehicular antenna) plug into a PCS phone? |
| A: |
Many PCS phone manufacturers are not
including a mobile antenna adapter in the phone. Users will need to purchase a car kit
through their local carrier/retailer/installer. The antenna will plug into the car kit and
the phone may then be snapped into the car kit when being used inside the vehicle. |
|
| Q: |
Your Mosaic®
product literature only lists the K-220 magnet mount for use with these antennas. I
need a heavier duty magnet mount. Can I use the K-350 series magnet mount with my Mosaic
conversion antenna? |
| A: |
Yes, but be sure to use the K-350 model only
that comes supplied with a UHF, PL-259 connector. The K-350 is designed to also mate with
land mobile and low band base loaded coil-type antennas that utilize a 5/8"-24
thread. These models include, but are not limited to, ASPS177, ASP-268, etc. By using the
black plastic adapter, the mount can be mated to the ASP-7495, ASP-7925 and ASP-795
conversion antennas, as well. Do not use the K350N,
K350M, K350T or K350P magnet mounts, though. These magnet mounts incorporate the use of
the Antenna Specialists male/female mount and will not mate with the Mosaic base coils
(K-722, K-725, KT722 or KH725). The K350N, K350M, K350T or K350P magnet mounts are
recommended for 800/900 MHz conversion antennas such as ASPA1865, ASPD1865 and ASPG1865. |
