RE: Antenna length?
I knew a guy 13 years ago that said/showed me a piece of left over body, 2" or 3" by 4" the he wraped around, stepping up in groves all the way up to the top 4 inches that stayed inside the body, mounted. He told me he didn't lose any range, but he didn't go all the way out when he showed me. I never tried, I think you'll lose to much range.