Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

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SpectraBob
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:37 pm
What radios do you own?: PM1500, XTS2500, PM1200, Astro

Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

Post by SpectraBob »

I'm trying to install a CB radio and antenna for my son on his 2003 Mustang, as he wants to use it just for fun. The problem is that the entire deck-lid is made of fiberglass, and not a stitch of metal. Does anyone have any good ideas out there for creating an artificial ground-plane for the antenna to reflect off of, without being too ugly or obtrusive?

Thanks!
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Bill_G
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Re: Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

Post by Bill_G »

Firestik makes no-ground-plane CB antennas that match well but range is compromised.

http://www.firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm

OTOH, it's a Mustang, and every antenna is going to be ugly on it.
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MSS-Dave
Posts: 770
Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:02 pm
What radios do you own?: Harris XL200M. XPR7550E, NX300

Re: Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

Post by MSS-Dave »

Any chance that thing has a fender mount whip for the AM-FM antenna or is it in the glass? ASP used to make couplers for CB and VHF to hook to the external antennas. Sti-Co may have something as well but they are $$$.

You could go on-glass too but be prepared for no one to hear you more than a mile or so away if you are lucky....

Dave
SpectraBob
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:37 pm
What radios do you own?: PM1500, XTS2500, PM1200, Astro

Re: Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

Post by SpectraBob »

Thanks for all the suggestions; I'm now looking into using the fender-mounted whip using an old Antenna Specialists coupler. The problem is that Ford doesn't seem to use the old standard Motorola-connector-equipped AM/FM antenna cable connectors anymore. They're using some weird proprietary connector, and I've not yet found any kind of acknowledgment as to what it is called, much less a cable-connector adapter for it.
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ke7joi
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Re: Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

Post by ke7joi »

is this what you are looking for

Image
Joel
KE7JOI
1 900 Spectra
1 VHF Spectra
3 900 GTX Portables
1 900 GTX Mobile
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ke7joi
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:50 pm

Re: Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

Post by ke7joi »

sorry I forgot to add the link where I found the adapter

http://www.autotoys.com/x/product.php?productid=9002
Joel
KE7JOI
1 900 Spectra
1 VHF Spectra
3 900 GTX Portables
1 900 GTX Mobile
SpectraBob
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:37 pm
What radios do you own?: PM1500, XTS2500, PM1200, Astro

Re: Decklid groundplane on 2003 Mustang?

Post by SpectraBob »

I don't know yet, as I have to tear into his car to find out exactly what he's got. I do know for a fact that my '07 Mustang has some weird Ford-type of connector in there. I will have to take a look this weekend. In any event, I can't thank you enough for providing this picture and the link; it at least gives me something else to look into!

Thanks again!
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