This is one of the most frequently asked questions the team at DX Engineering receives when helping customers find the best solution for installing a mobile radio (transceiver) in their vehicle. The good news is that there are multiple options.
Location: You can install a mobile radio antenna on the roof, a fender, trunk, or window glass. As Mark, K8MSH, notes in his OnAllBands article, “Guide to Choosing the Right Mobile VHF/UHF Antennas and Mounts,” performance can be improved by mounting the antenna in a higher position and providing as much metal mass under the antenna as possible. Mounting directly to the vehicle body is your best choice for improving the ground connection, but it won’t be an option if you’re dead set against drilling a hole in your car or truck (or if you’re leasing the vehicle).
Mounts: There are several different mobile antenna mounting choices for operators who don’t want to drill. These include magnet mounts (optimally placed in the center of the roof), mirror and roof rack mounts, easy-to-place hatch/trunk lid mounts, fender/bracket mounts, and glass mounts, which often come as a kit with mount and half-wave antenna.
When researching what mobile antenna mount options suit your needs, visit DXEngineering.com. You’ll find mounts from leading manufacturers that come with cable assemblies to attach to your mobile transceiver. Also available are cable assemblies (no mount included) for drilled holes or specific mounts.
If you’re unsure what’s the preferred ham radio antenna mounting solution for you, your best option is to consult an amateur operator—like those at DX Engineering—who have years of experience with installing and operating a mobile radio in a vehicle.
