I read the posts where it mentioned that there isn't much difference between stubby and oem. Where am at I can detect a difference when I take it off the roof, but I want to know how I can improve the reception. Is there a way to ad more antenna from inside the cab? Like a wire antenna or something? I am in the bay area and one station I like comes in faded, but in my friends cars it comes in clear. Thanx in advance.

 

I tried the stubby and my reception went down the drain. I put the OEM antenna back and all is fine.

Shorter antenna = less powerful.

Dean.

 

Strange I got good reception with out an antenna.


Art

 

From many years of experience trying to tune in FM stations in the Bay Area, the only thing that works at all is to double the effective size of the external antenna. For a straight piece of wire, the tuned length for the FM band is about one meter. For 3dB less signal, use 1/2 meter.

A one-meter antenna puts a lot of strain on the mounting at high speeds - be prepared to see it whipping around pretty hard up there.

Bottom line is: it's probably not worth messing around with it. Find another station, move closer to the one you like, or buy some CDs...

 

thanks OldRick. Is there a way to connect the wire internally so it isn't whipping around outside? There is a piece in the ceiling that pops out, but I'm not sure if it accesses the antenna. But since there is already a wire running from the radio to the antenna maybe that won't do anything extra.

 

Antennas inside the steel roof are shileded from the signal, so no help there, I'm afraid.

There is one other (costly) possibility - a new head-unit with better FM reception. Try before you buy though, or get a great return policy, as the specs on FM reception are pretty flaky. Also, I don't think that aftermarket stereos usually take advantage of two antennas (I believe that there is one embedded in the glass, but I might be thinking of another car).

 

Actually, a quarter-wavelength antenna would probably be your best bet. FM radio waves in the 88-106 MHz range have a wavelength of just over 3 meters, so a quarter of that would be about 30 inches. (It's no coincidence that most automotive antennas were in the 29-31 inch range before auto manufacturers went to "stubby" antennas.)

You shouldn't have too much problem with wind-whipping on a 30" antenna, and should get noticeably-better reception.

 

That's the length I was trying to remember - 30", not one meter - thanks.

I tried a quarter-wave wire antenna on an Audi, and it caught so much wind that (using a mirror) I could see it denting the roof around the mount.

I concluded that the resonant frequency of the heavy wire antenna was exciting the natural resonance of the roof, and replaced it with a carbon-fiber shaft with a thin wire inside, which worked OK, but wasn't really much improvement over stock VW/Audi/BMW...

 

The rear window defroster is wired in with the antenna circuit, if I am reading this wiring diagram right that is...

 

I have a really small one. Maybe 5 inhes and everything comes in really clear. The kind of material it is made of makes somewhat of a difference. I basically only use it for the cosmetic aspect as I do not listen to the radio.

 

I live in the Sunnyvale and work in Fremont, I drive without an antenna and get good FM reception. What station are you having problems with? What part of the Bay Area do you live in? What radio unit to you have?

Thanks,
retroom

 

That's what she said!


*sorry, couldn't possibly resist that one*

 

I get 105.3 really well, but I want to get 104.9. I have a new alpine unit. I purchased an aftermarket antenna that is probably 20 inches long from pep boys. It resembled the stock one and it helped.

 

Nabeshin; you're reading it right. The antenna circuit uses the rear defroster element to create a 'diversity antenna' that together with the antenna and a couple of amplifiers increases the reception.
There's an antenna amplifier inside the hatch, and the divirsity amp is under the right rear trim panel.