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Military antenna conversion to AM/FM car radio

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Lazboytt

Member
178
7
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Location
Michigan
Hello,
I have done a lot of searching and have yet to find the answer.
I am looking to keep the original look of the military antenna but use it on an AM/FM car radio. Does anyone know how to do this or what may work?
I do not have any parts at this time or models in mind. Any help would be appreciated for a novice. If you know how to do a conversion a step by step detail on how you did the conversion would be appreciated.

I am going for the look in the attached picture.
Your help is appreciated.

MBCOTM%202.jpg
 
Wire Fox

Wire Fox

Well-known member
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Indianapolis, Indiana
You're receive-only with a standard AM/FM radio, so you don't really have to worry much about impedance matching or the like...you just have to ensure that the antenna base doesn't have some kind of filter actively blocking out signals.
 
nattieleather

nattieleather

Well-known member
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Cleveland, OH
Wire Fox said:
You're receive-only with a standard AM/FM radio, so you don't really have to worry much about impedance matching or the like...you just have to ensure that the antenna base doesn't have some kind of filter actively blocking out signals.
Click to expand...
I agree with Wire Fox that just about any military antenna will work because you are in receive mode only. **** a coat hanger or a random length of wire will work. The only thing you may have to look for is an adapter to go from the coax connector on the feed cable to the antenna port on the radio...or make up your own feed cable to have the right connector. I think the hardest part of this will be mounting a civilian radio into the HMMWV and making it look good.
 
sigo

sigo

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Leavenworth, KS
The AS-3900’s in the picture are designed for 30-88 MHz so they are not far off. You’ll be fine for rx only.
 
sigo

sigo

Lieutenant Colonel
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Leavenworth, KS
Lowell, Your antenna looks like an AS-3916. Same 30-88 MHz as an AS-3900. It should work just fine.

Looks like a rugged little unit. How are you going to get power to the radio? Is it 12-24volt?
 
L

lowell66dart

Member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
135
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Location
Paulina La.
Actually got the oysters at a little combo grocery/deli/bar 1/2 mile from home. $12 a dozen loaded with cheese!

The radio is in and reception is great. I live between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. 40 miles either way. I was pulling in stations from both cities inside of my metal shop. I am very satisfied.

One hitch. When I went to connect 24 volt power to the converter it sparked like it was shorted. I noticed that there were scratches on both mounting flanges when I took it out of the box this morning. Some dirtbag fried it and returned it. Another one on the way.IMG_0997.jpgIMG_0998.jpg
 
L

Lazboytt

Member
178
7
18
Location
Michigan
Did you have to make any modifications to the base for the antenna? some posts say you have to bypass some of the circuitry inside of it.


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