|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Larsen glsss-mount dual band antenna.
|
KG4SSY
|
Rating: 0/5
|
May 27, 2004 19:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Nice antenna, poor customer service
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
The Larsen antenna was bought for my wifes car after her Radio Shack thru the glass antenna quit working after 3 years. I read these reviews and the HRO and AES catalogs and decided to get one. I ordered one from HRO online and got it in 2 days. Read the instructions and installed the antenna. SWR was way high. 3:1 or worse. On the 440 band swr was great so was 2 above 147, but as you got closer to 145 it got bad fast. When I was troubleshooting I re-read the instructions and saw the spec chart. The spec chart is the only place I see the swr listed as 2.5:1 or better. Even the catalogs proclaim a 1.5:1 or better swr. I called HRO in Atlanta and the person I talked to was pretty rude and told me a thru the glass is better than nothing and if I didn't like the antenna to send it back , then he hung up on me.
I wrote to Larsen and got this response:
Dale,
Thank you for your email.
As it relates to the specifications for the antenna, they are stated at 2.5:1 or better. While we always strive for 1.5:1 or better, when in fact we won't make this specification, we are required by our quality system to list the actual maximum spec. Many people do achieve the spec closer to 1.5:1, but not everyone in every installation will be able to achieve that level.
The design of a dual band, glass mount antenna is such that there are compromises that must be made. In addition the extreme variances in mounting and installation are "uncontrollable" and can have very signifcant effects on the performance.
For your specific application, the performace could be somewhat effected by the "limited" ground plane, the size and thickness of the window glass, etc.
I apologize if you feel you were incorrectly informed, but the antenna's performance is within the stated specifications.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Best regards,
Laura CHAMBERLAIN
Manager - Wireless Business Area
Radiall/Larsen Antenna Technologies
3611 NE 112th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98682 USA
PH: 360.859.5028 (direct) TOLL FREE: 888.268.1149
FX: 360.944.7556
Laura.Chamberlain@radiall.com
www.radiall.com
www.radialllarsen.com
This response puzzled me. I wrote and asked for help with their product and instead got, we have your money , tough beans. My wifes car is not antenna friendly. A 2002 Camero with T-tops. The whole top of the car is either plastic or glass which is why the antenna sounded so good to me. Also the fact that she doesn't want holes drilled in her car made it more attractive. Not sure what I will do at this point but one thing for sure,I am not buying Larsen products again!
|
|
K5AD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 22, 2004 10:51
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Well Made, Durable. Happy with it.
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
I placed the Larsen on my '95 Yukon 8 months ago. I was planning to trade the SUV in in the near future so I wanted something "non-permanent." It was installed on the driver's side near the top back corner of the rear glass with about 2/3 of the antenna projecting above the roof line.
I tested it with a AES antenna analyzer. The SWR was about 1:1.2 across the 440 band and about 1:1.5 and up in 2 meter. There was a good minium SWR of 1:1.1 just out of the 2 meter band.
Since I was only using it on 2 meters (with a Yaesu FT-1500) I trimmed the antenna 1/8" at a time until this minimum was in the middle of the 2 meter band. Took about 1.5 inches off total. Boy is that sucker hard to cut! - I was using short bold cutters and notched the blade. I think I'd use a grinder in the future.
Anyway, tuned it to 1:1.1 in the middle of the 2 meter band and it was under 1:1.2 across the whole band. On 10 watts I am able to hit the local repeater at 50 miles; I don't know anyone mobile who can do better, though several have just as good range. All quality reports have been good.
SWR on 70cm is shot, but I didn't end up with a dual bander (I got the antenna anticipating getting a dual bander, then found the FT-1500 on closeout for $100 and couldn't resist for a first mobile unit).
I pried the base off yesterday when I traded the the Yukon (goodbye old friend, 10 years of 100% satisfaction). Unlike other's results, there was zero corrosion or water ingress. I live in Louisiana with over 80 inchs of rain a year and the truck was in the weather 100% of the time, so it's not for lack of exposure.
My suggestion is to clean the glass with both alcohol and then acetone. Press the mount on firmly from one edge first so no air bubbles are trapped. Then apply pressure as long as you can. If you can rig up something to push on it overnight, all the better. It can take 24 hours for the contact adhesive to "set" even on double stick tape.
I am going to get some more double stick tape today and remount it on the new SUV. Probably will end up ordering a replacement whip from Larsen and putting in a dual bander (going to use the FT-1500 until I get the other rig delivered and installed - putting in a FT-8900).
NOTE! Be sure you install the inside "transducer" with the proper orientation - there is an arrow on the inside and outside components that _must_ align. I think this may be part of the poor results some get.
I think the Larsen is a top notch model. It's base is larger than most, so there may be better coupling through the glass.
73 and good luck
Joe, K5AD
|
|
ZS5J
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Feb 20, 2004 14:51
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good results
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have owned 3 of these antenna's over the past 8 years. My first was on a new Merc Benz, then on the back of a BMW car, and currently have one on the back of my 2003 BMW X5 SUV, and also one on the back of my 2004 JEEP Grand Cherokee. Performance is incredible - in fact my most memorable contact has been with antenna. I was driving in the merc, and heard hams 150 miles away on a repeater talking about the space shuttle about to come above the horizon. They were sitting in their shacks with 160 watts and steerable beam arrays. I changed to the shuttle frequency and heard them calling. I gave the shuttle one call and he came straight back to me. This while I was mobile on my way to do some shopping. I spoke with the astronaughts using 50 watts and my Larsen dual band on-glass. The hams with their big arrays were completely confused.
There are 2 problems with the Larsen, which is why I give it a 4. Price - fairly expensive, and it whistles when cruising the highway. Otherwise a perfect antenna.
73
John ZS5J
|
|
KG6TBT
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Feb 18, 2004 23:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Careful!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I got this antenna to put on the front windshield of my convertable top Jeep. The only glass on the whole thing. When I read the mounting instructions they said not to mount the antenna on the front windshield! This was a limitation not stated anywhere else. Not in the catalog, not on their website. A lot of wasted time and shipping for a $80++ antenna.
The seller was good about taking it back, but I was still out the shipping charges. Expected more from someone with Larson's reputation.
|
|
AD5X
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 20, 2003 12:11
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Had one for 3 years
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Had this antenna for three years mounted on my VW New Beetle right rear passenger side window. No problems experienced at all. I adjusted the SWR by sliding the position of the outside piece before sticking it down.
Phil - AD5X
|
|
WA4ET
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Jun 20, 2003 09:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
works for abt a year
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have had two of these antennas,, one I bought and one I received from larson as a warranty replacement.
I can say the antenna works great for about a year, that about how long it takes for the water to seep and trash the outside mount. I had the Same problem 3 or 4 times,, got tired of fooling around with it and replaced it with a standard lid mount antenna.
The other problem I have found is larson has made the assumption that all glass windows are the same. This is not true of course. The problem is depending on the thickness and composition of the glass, the SWR can very widely. With different thickness of glass, comes different amount of capacitance. Some sort of tuning slug is really needed to optimize the SWR by varying the capacitance or inductance.
I used spacers by varying the closeness of the inside coupling unit to achieve the optimal SWR.
But this only worked until the water leaked in the outside base unit and destroyed it. They need to either incorporate drains in the out side unit, or seal it better.
Oh another thing,, the center loading coil, get used to it whistling at highway speeds,, it is so obnoxious,, I put tape on it so I could think straight
lIKE I SAID, it really worked good for a 1-1 1/2 years every time
DAvid
|
|
KF4WXM
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 3, 2003 23:58
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Nice Antenna
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I have had the Larsen dual band glass mount on my car for a week know and I have to say that I have been really impressed with its performance. It easily out recieves the Comet SBB2NMO that I had magnet mounted on the roof. It at least equals the Comet transmitting, which is pretty impressive for an antenna that isnt even touching the metal body of the car. My only complaint was the cost. $80 is a bunch for a glass mount antenna but if it works well and doesnt mess up my paint then I guess it is worth it. If you need a glass mount I can honestly say this one works.
|
|
W6NR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 26, 2002 11:11
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Works great
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
This antenna performs well, is easy to mount and is very stealthy. In addition, if you happen to accidentally break off the swivel, Larsen will send you free replacement parts just an easy phone call away.
|
|
K9GLN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 26, 2000 23:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great/Rugged
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
I put a Larsen Glass Mount on my Pickup truck nearly one year ago and it has worked great.I wanted an antenna that worked w/o holes.I have a Larsen NMO trunk lip mount on my car. I have an Alinco DJ195 5WT HT that I switch between vehicles. I have not noticed any difference between the signal quality between the two antennas. (Both work great) The glass mount is very rugged and the daily garage in and out (thunk/bend over) has not bothered it at all. SWR is negligible. I'm 100% satisfied.
|
|
KC5MFA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 24, 2000 19:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
this antenna works!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
After shopping around for an antenna for our new van (Honda Odyssey) I decided on a glass mount antenna. My wife will be the primary driver of the van and I know she would forget to fold down a conventional luggage rack mounted antenna. I've had thru-glass antennas before and was not particularly thrilled with their performance. I am, however, very happy with the Larsen glass mount dual bander. This is a very robust antenna! The mounting surface is at least twice the size of the Valor/ProAm/RadioShack antennas. The whip is very heavy and almost 3 feet tall. The inside mounting portion is relatively thin while the outside is nicely rounded and houses the coupling transformer. Be aware that this thickness may prevent you from installing it on the side window of a van as the sliding door may hit the antenna as it transitions back and forth. This is the case with the Honda Odyssey. Mounting it on the back glass was no bother except that the coax was a bit too short. A barrel connector and short coax patch cable solves this problem. The whip does not contact the van roof when the tailgate is open. The antenna works great! Much better than the other glass mount antennas. Larsen claims only .5 db loss thru the glass and gain of over 2db on VHF and around 4db on UHF. After trying the antenna I believe it. This is one glass mount antenna that really works well. But then, it's a Larsen. It should work well. I'm very pleased with it.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
