| Q: |
Does the black paint around the edge of the window reduce
antenna performance? |
| A: |
No. The
black mask paint used around the perimeter of the rear window glass on domestic vehicles
has not been shown to be detrimental to the glass mount installation. The only difficulty
in this preferred installation is the inside to outside alignment of the coupling box to
base foot. |
|
|
| Q: |
Can an antenna be cut to any length or does it have to be
kept at its original length? |
| A: |
The antenna
cannot be cut and is specifically designed to resonate at the design frequencies with
proper phasing between the elements. The coupling box is also designed to match the
antenna to the Cellular / PCS frequencies, which is critical to maintaining the antenna
system performance. |
|
|
| Q: |
Does slightly bending the whip reduce antenna
performance? How much does the pitch of the antenna mast have on the performance? |
| A: |
Slight
bends should not effect the antenna significantly. It is usually most optimal to install
the antenna within a couple of degrees of the vertical position. This maximizes the
polarization match with the base station. |
|
|
| Q: |
Does the coupler box have to face in one direction or the
other? Can it be mounted vertically? Does the direction mean any loss in performance? |
| A: |
The coupler
box can be oriented with the input connector exiting left or right. If the desired
orientation is to mount the coupling box vertical with the input connector exiting upward,
VSWR will degrade to about 2:1 or higher. |
|
|
| Q: |
How far out does the center pin of an antenna cable have to be
from the collar to have a proper connection. |
| A: |
TNC: Outer
Shield to Pin Shoulder (0.212" to 0.219") per MIL-C-39012C. Center Pin tip
slightly below the outer shield collar. Slide the connector body onto the pin until the
dielectric engages the pin (Snap fit). Mini-UHF:
No industry standard. Bottom the pin against the inner dielectric. Verify that the tip of
the pin is between the first thread and the end of the outer shell. The pin is not to
exceed the end of the outer shell. |
|
|
| Q: |
Can older A/S coupling boxes be used with newer A/S bases and
whips? |
| A: |
Yes. The
design enhancements have incorporated backward compatibility along with improving the
original designs. If installing new whips and bases to older coupling boxes, AP-852 series
couplers can be used with all later "On-Glass" antenna models. |
|
|
| Q: |
Can you cut the coaxial cable? And if not, how do you store excess
antenna cable? |
| A: |
Yes, the
coaxial cable can be cut without degrading performance. Excess cable can be stored in any
manner as long as the coiled cable does not exceed the minimum bend radius. Bend Radius =
10 x R. Example: RG-58/U diameter = 0.2". Therefore, Coiling/Bending diameter =
2". |
|
|
| Q: |
How much cable can you cut from total length, if any? |
| A: |
The antenna
is originally designed to meet specifications without the coaxial cable. The cable may be
cut to accommodate typical installations. Remember! With the A/S solid state coupling box,
no tuning is required after the cable has been cut. With competitor’s models, you
will need to retune the coupling box! |
|
|
| Q: |
If you use existing coax from a damaged, currently
installed antenna with an new A/S coupling box and whip, are there any concerns? |
| A: |
As long as
the cable and connectors are in good condition, they should not need replacing. |
|
|
| Q: |
What happens if a glass mount antenna is mounted on the window
of a car with a fiber glass roof? Can glass mounts be used through fiber glass? |
| A: |
Glass
mounted antennas cannot be mounted through fiber glass roofs. However, the presence of
fiber glass will not degrade the performance of 800/1900 MHz "On-Glass"
antennas. |
|
|
| Q: |
Does it make a difference if it is mounted on a
corner as opposed to the center of the glass? |
| A: |
The optimal
location for pattern symmetry is near the center of the roofline. If the installation
requires mounting to the corner, there should not be significant performance degradation.
Always install the antenna as high on the glass as possible. |
|
|
| Q: |
What difference does it make if an
"On-Glass" antenna is mounted on the front or back window? |
| A: |
"On-Glass"
antennas are specifically designed for tempered automobile glass, which has a nominal
thickness of 5/32". Front windshield glass is a laminated safety glass, which is
thicker and causes some degradation to the VSWR match. Expect a VSWR match to be nominally
2:1. |
|
|
| Q: |
How much does window tint on a vehicle really effect
a glass mount antenna? |
| A: |
OEM window
tints vary widely, and most have been found to be acceptable based upon final
installations. Ford Instaclear® is a product that is known to degrade
performance. Any after-market tint should absolutely be trimmed away before the
"On-Glass" installation. |
|
|
| Q: |
How much effect does the inner shielding have on the cable
loss, when terminating a connector? |
| A: |
The
difference between standard RG-58/U and low loss, double-shielded
RG-58/U type cables:
- RG-58/U @ 900 MHz – 14.5 dB/100’
- RG-58/U Low Loss @ 900 MHz – 12.5
dB/100’
- Difference for a 15’ installation = 0.3 dB
- RG-58/U @ 2000 MHz – 24.2 dB/100’
- RG-58/U Low Loss @ 2000 MHz – 20.0
dB/100’
- Difference for a 15’ installation = 0.63 dB
|
|
|
| Q: |
What if any loss of performance can be expected from using a
1/4 wave antenna compared to a standard 3 dB gain antenna? |
| A: |
For urban
areas with dense cell coverage and high multi-path, very little to none. For rural areas
with fewer cell sites and greater distance between them, it becomes essential. The
difference in performance for a typical installation relies on the antenna’s ability
to clear the roofline and provide line-of-sight signal from the vehicle to the cell site,
and its ability to focus the energy along the horizon for maximum range. |
|
|
| Q: |
Some glass mount antennas have tuning ports on the
inside coupler. Are we allowed to tune these or should we leave them alone? |
| A: |
Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions. A/S does not have a tunable coupler
for 800/1900 MHz. |
|
| Q: |
Does A/S make dual band 1/4-wave antennas? |
| A: |
Antenna
Specialists does not currently offer a dual band ¼-wave antenna. Dual Band ¼-wave
antennas will not meet the need or expectation for quality service in the various coverage
areas of the US. |
|
|
| Q: |
Why are there not tunable antennas to
compensate for various glass types? |
| A: |
Tunable
antennas add components, cost and increase the potential for mechanical/electrical noise.
Tempered glass is the primary glass used in the automotive market, and is therefore the
preferred choice for installation. |
|
|
| Q: |
Are there A/S after-market 1/4-wave antennas available? |
| A: |
Yes, for
800 MHz antennas. "On-Glass" APD826/827. Roof Mount ASP-1810/1815. |
|
|
| Q: |
Which cars have OEM tint that affects glass mount antenna
performance? |
| A: |
Ford
InstaClear® is the only known glass that will not permit "On-Glass"
installations. Antenna Specialists further recommends not to install any
"On-Glass" antenna over after-market tint. Remove the tint from the desired
installation area before installing the antenna. |
|
|
| Q: |
Can
I mount an "On-Glass" antenna on glass treated with Rain-X? |
| A: |
No. Chemical
properties of Rain-X reduce the holding ability of the adhesive tape used to mount
"On-Glass" antennas by over 50%. If Rain-X, or another acidified alcohol surface
treatment, has been applied to the glass, it must be removed from the mounting area. We
recommend Bon Ami cleanser or Ultra Brite flouride toothpaste. |
|
|
| Q: |
I
live in the Southwestern United States where winters are fairly mild. Do I still have to
follow the cold weather "On-Glass" installation tips? |
| A: |
Most
definitely! Cold weather is considered any temperature below 60° F (16° C). If either
the temperature of the glass or the adhesive pad is below 60° F (16° C), the glass
should be heated with a blow dryer and the adhesive pad should be warmed in a heated room
for several minutes. |
|
|
| Q: |
I
am an installer. Every July and August, I have problems with "On-Glass" antennas
falling off of cars? What is wrong with the product? |
| A: |
There is
nothing wrong with the product. You just have to remember to make sure the surface of the
glass is not wet prior to installation. The high humidity of the summers is most likely
causing a bit of dampness on the glass. We recommend installing the antenna in an
air-conditioned garage bay. If this is not possible, please be sure to use a blow dryer to
remove any excess moisture from the glass. Make
sure the perimeter liner tape is removed from the exterior foot and that there are no air
bubbles or openings in the perimeter seal.
Also, installation instructions state you should
mount the exterior part of the antenna first, then the interior. This will allow more
curing time for the exterior. Remember that it is best to mount the antenna first, then
install the phone or car kit. This allows the more curing time to occur before the car is
driven. |
|
|
| Q: |
Oops!
I did not mount my new dual band "On-Glass" antenna in the correct location. Can
I just peel it off and move it over slightly? |
| A: |
Unfortunately
not. The dual band "On-Glass" antenna series can only be mounting once. Please
be sure to use the template to locate the correct mounting location the first time. If
needed, replacement bases (KAV392)and couplers (KAV393) are available. |
|
|
| Q: |
Help!
I am a new installer and don't have much experience with installing antennas. Where can I
get some help? |
| A: |
Just call
the Antenna Specialists Sales Department or your local Manufacturers Representative to
schedule an AirTime class. This course is geared toward providing basic antenna knowledge
for installers as well as Customer Care and Sales staff. |
|
|
| Q: |
Will
cutting the cable during installation of an "On-Glass" antenna require retuning
of the coupling box? |
| A: |
No, it
won't. Antenna Specialists patented solid state coupling box allows the cable to be
shortened during installation with no retuning needed. This is not the case with other
brands of glass mount antennas. |
|
|
| Q: |
Any
quick tips for installing "On-Glass" antennas? |
| A: |
Sure, just
be sure to do the following:
1) Install on a clean surface
2) Install on a dry surface
3) Install on glass that is at least 60° F (16° C)
And do NOT do this:
1) Install outside in inclement conditions
2) Install without checking for good contact
3) Install using adhesive tape stored at cold temperatures |
|
|
| Q: |
Will
an "On-Glass" antenna work on an Insta-Clear® windshield? |
| A: |
Unfortunately
not. Insta-Clear windows have metallic content. Part of the operating principal of
"On-Glass" antennas is that they do not conduct through metal. |
|
|
