Antenna attached to a car

[Lezam]

Has anyone had any experiences with inexpensive car antennas (Less then $35)? Good? Bad? All coments appreciated...

[FlyCMI]

I have the mobile scanner antenna radioshack sells.  Yes, it does much better than trying to get a signal from inside your car.  Things probably come in twice as good.  It's still not going to be as great as a discone antenna though.

[Lezam]

You dont attach it to the outside of your car right?

[kkjlai]

I use this one "WSM-225 Airband magnetic Whip"

http://www.wsplc.com/acatalog/Airband_antennas.html

which is about $38US, a few bucks off your price range

It pulls out airband signals pretty good.   I have not done a test scientifically but I would say it is about 10-25% better than a "regular" 2.3db gain VHF antenna I am using (on the airband itself) on my car roof. 

However, the antenna bends quite a bit on highway speeds which may affect it's performance while driving.

[Lezam]

Would that one make a difference if its in the car on a highway or not?

[Tomato]

I use a very similar one to kkjlai - magnetic mount, and sticks to the car good, even at speeds of 90mph but it does bend like crazy (which is why I don't usually mount it when I know I'm doing highway driving.  It definately does improve the signal though! 

[Schmetzy13]

I bought the "through the glass" antenna that Radio Shack sells and i am very pleased with the performance. It greatly improved my reception, especially in the aviation VHF band.

[FlyCMI]

The radioshack antenna has a very strong antenna so it won't fall off.  Only thing bad is that is whistles a little when going down the highway.

[Lezam]

The radioshack antenna has a very strong antenna so it won't fall off.  Only thing bad is that is whistles a little when going down the highway.

Not too many highways in the city