Protecting your paint...

[RX-8]

I am new to all of this and I tried the search feature without success. The question I have is when using a magnetic trunk mount (Wilson 5000), is there any noticeable reception loss when a thin object (wax paper or a rubber grip that removes lids from jars) is placed between the magnetic mount and the paint?

Thanks in advance for your comments!

Bill

 

[Switch Kit]

the rubber grip would be to much RX , double up on the wax paper and just cut around the mag mount , it should help . God I sure hate mag mounts !! Not only for that reason but for solid ground reasons as well . The Wilson is a great antenna anyway I look at it , that's a given. I realize guys just can't bring themselves to drill the hole , but that is and will always be the best way to go. Good Luck to you RX and welcome to the Forum.

 

[Moleculo]

If you use Saran Wrap in hot temp areas, it will melt to the car, making a big mess that's hard to remove. I know a certain someone on this forum that thought I was recommending Saran Wrap when I clearly said Wax Paper....

 

[psycho]

I marring the finish slightly is too much then get a truck lip mounted Wilson 1000/5000.

 

[DTB Radio]

I use clear vinyl, the kind thats used to make lettering and graphics for cars, etc. Its already designed for use on car finish, and its thin enough to not affect the performance of the antenna.

 

[Toll_Free]

the rubber grip would be to much RX , double up on the wax paper and just cut around the mag mount , it should help . God I sure hate mag mounts !! Not only for that reason but for solid ground reasons as well . The Wilson is a great antenna anyway I look at it , that's a given. I realize guys just can't bring themselves to drill the hole , but that is and will always be the best way to go. Good Luck to you RX and welcome to the Forum.

I always pull the collar off the SO239 on top of the mag mounts, solder a small wire (braid) to it, then run a length of it into the inside of the vehicle (most trunk contain the mag mounts). Run it to a convenient ground point.

Not as good as a PERM install, but it works a lot better than the typical mag mount.


--Toll_Free

 

[Switch Kit]

Also a good packing tape will help as well. I've even found that some of the 3M stuff acts like it has magnatic properties to it. In other words ,I've used some of the green looking stuff on the the bottoms and after I would remove it , it surely acted magnatized to me . Just put a layer on and you should be good to go . It's really hard for it not to mare the paint up after a while of use , but it will surely help all the same. T-Free mentioned a little extra ground woulded hurt either. Great point.

 

[RX-8]

Thanks everyone for your input!