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R56 Stubby Antenna

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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 03:57 PM
  #1  
wedge555's Avatar
wedge555
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1st Gear
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From: Lebanon, Pa
Stubby Antenna

I just recently put a Out Motoring stubby antenna on the Mini. Has anyone else used this antenna and noticed spotty reception !!

Thanks
 
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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 05:50 PM
  #2  
JoanieB's Avatar
JoanieB
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From: San Diego County, California
No, it works fine for us. :-)
 
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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 06:19 PM
  #3  
Grinch's Avatar
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Me too.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2012 | 06:54 PM
  #4  
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mcbray
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I haven't noticed much difference but I am in a large city. Over Thanksgiving, I'll be going to a rural part of the state so I'm interested it how it works.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2012 | 03:26 AM
  #5  
Rgoodwin's Avatar
Rgoodwin
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I took a 120 mile trip yesterday and noticed I was losing stations I normally didn't with the oem. I'll switch back for long trips and keep the other in the boot.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2012 | 12:41 PM
  #6  
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myR56S
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I have an OEM stubby and the reception is pretty good, better than I thought. I did loose a little reception on weaker signals but didn't loose anything on strong signals. I go into the mountains often and still get pretty good reception there too.

I would consider returning it and buying a OEM one from Mini...just a thought.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2012 | 02:22 PM
  #7  
condor27596's Avatar
condor27596
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Youngsville, NC, USA
I have never noticed any problem.

Although from about a year in I've had XM
(aftermarket, sportscaster)

I have noticed this weird thing though on vast stretches of
I95 from NC to NY (my wife's mom lives there) I get no
XM. In more than one vehicle I should say.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2012 | 09:36 PM
  #8  
Spice Orange JCW's Avatar
Spice Orange JCW
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From: Mertztown, Pa
I run a stubby antenna from MINI. I have no problem with stations. I was also told that the FM antenna is actually in the rear window.
 
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Old Nov 23, 2012 | 05:29 AM
  #9  
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pmsummer
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From: Jack Coffee Hays County, Republic of Texas
I have a carbon-fibre stubby from GoBadges (made by?). I haven't noticed much FM difference.

I have an R55, and I too was told that the FM antenna is in the rear-side window (when I was asking if it was a defroster). If that's true, then perhaps...

1) Mast antenna for AM?
2) Antenna base for satellite?
3) Window-glass antenna for FM?
 

Last edited by pmsummer; Nov 23, 2012 at 07:16 PM.
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Old Nov 23, 2012 | 09:37 AM
  #10  
Capt_bj's Avatar
Capt_bj
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From: Melbourne, FL
Originally Posted by Spice Orange JCW
I run a stubby antenna from MINI. I have no problem with stations. I was also told that the FM antenna is actually in the rear window.
easy to test, remove the top mounted ant' and see what happens to your reception . . . I just went in the garage and took the ant' off my 07 .... I still get all my regular FM stations. Hmmmmm

for comparison I have a radio/cd in my 79 with no ant' attached. I get no reception and use it for cd only.
 

Last edited by Capt_bj; Nov 23, 2012 at 09:42 AM.
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Old Nov 23, 2012 | 07:20 PM
  #11  
pmsummer's Avatar
pmsummer
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From: Jack Coffee Hays County, Republic of Texas
Nice old thread for info...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...w-defrost.html
 
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Old Nov 23, 2012 | 07:26 PM
  #12  
Car-Fan's Avatar
Car-Fan
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Alta stubby/shorty here...no problems whatsoever
 
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Old Nov 23, 2012 | 07:56 PM
  #13  
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sasquatch
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AM is the band which is most affected by removing or shortening the antenna . I'd like to see someone try the weakest am stations with the regular and then the stubby for comparison before I buy one . I suggest others do the same.
 
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Old Nov 23, 2012 | 08:30 PM
  #14  
smoke05S's Avatar
smoke05S
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From: So CAL
On my Mini (2009) when traveling under or next to powerlines, it makes a horrible buzz on AM even if the station is strong. If you remove the antenna all together the buzz is cut down and I can still get all local stations during the day which is the hardest time to get them. The stubby brings the buzz back a little but no where near where it was with the factory antenna. It is a good compromise. FM is unaffected.

I got a 2013 loaner last week while I had service done. It had HD radio and they have really made huge gains in this dept. If there is an HD simucast it automatically switches over and you get HD stereo quality listening to AM. No more buzz. Even if there is no simulcast there is no buzz. I wonder if HD is backward compatible to my 2009?
 
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