vyper144 Posted December 3, 2012 Report Posted December 3, 2012 Okay, so I have the analog OnStar System, which obviously doesn't work anymore. I want to rip the box out of the trunk because it just takes up room and adds more weight. However, I've been trying to do some research and see if I can find some way to make the OnStar antenna a CB antenna. Anyone know if this is possible? I'm assuming I'd probably need an amplifier to make the range stronger, but I wouldn't even know where to start or where to get an amp for it... Any help would be great! Quote
BrianG Posted December 4, 2012 Report Posted December 4, 2012 I doubt it will work for what you want it to do. Off the shelf CB range is 1 mile or less and damn near needs line of sight to work. Anything over 1 mile of range requries an FCC license to operate. I don't know much about citizens band operation, modulation, transmission, and recieving, but just from the nature of the equipment, it seems a mast syle antenna may be necessary for successful operation at any usable range too. Quote
BrianG Posted December 4, 2012 Report Posted December 4, 2012 Okay, did some research and turns out I'm pretty much correct on the antenna requirement. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question490.htm Quote
carkhz316 Posted December 4, 2012 Report Posted December 4, 2012 I really like the idea of using the Onstar antenna for something else as well, but really wonder what could it practically be used for that would have effective range and whatnot. Quote
runt Posted December 5, 2012 Report Posted December 5, 2012 That OnStar stuff really isn't adding any real amount of weight. You could always pay your friendly gm dealer $100 and get it upgraded to digital equipment. My 2k3 bonneville also has the analog equipment but I have enough cramp to worry about I don't need another subscription. Quote
vyper144 Posted December 5, 2012 Author Report Posted December 5, 2012 I was being facetious about it adding extra weight... I don't need OnStar though so its not worth the upgrade. I just want to put the antenna to some use... Quote
runt Posted December 5, 2012 Report Posted December 5, 2012 I guess I'll second what other have said, likely you won't be able to do too much with it. Quote
runt Posted December 5, 2012 Report Posted December 5, 2012 I made my weight comment because there are some here who would rip that out because of weight. Quote
vyper144 Posted December 5, 2012 Author Report Posted December 5, 2012 Lol. Not worth my time and work haha Quote
GnatGoSplat Posted December 7, 2012 Report Posted December 7, 2012 Only thing I can think of that it'd be good for is if you had a cell phone car kit with an external antenna hookup. It's basically just a ~800MHz cellular antenna, which should still work for AT&T, I think. However, I don't think any modern smartphones have car-kit hookups any more. Last time I remember a phone having an external antenna jack was some old dumbphone from 5yrs ago. Chances are, it won't work for much except cellular, but I imagine it has a coax hookup so you could try to hook it up to stuff and see what kind of reception you get (probably pretty poor). Quote
vyper144 Posted December 8, 2012 Author Report Posted December 8, 2012 I've got all the connectors to hook it up. I would just need some sort of amplifier... Quote
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