I'm curious whether the radio antenna which is imbedded in the right rear quarter window when one has the sat.navigtion system works as well as (or maybe better even than?) the standard roof-mounted antenna.

Thoughts anyone ? ? ?

 

I can't figure out how anyone would know.

Unless you can find a person who owns both a MINI with Nav and a MINI without. That person would have to have the exact same radio in both cars to be able to compare reception. They would then have to do a test run in both cars, turned to the same radio station, and drive out of town on the same road to see which keeps the signal the longest and strongest. Both of the runs would have to be done on the same day, with the same weather because clouds, rain, etc... can effect reception. That person would also have to be as particular as you are in the quality of reception that they feel is concidered "good" or "better".

Yesterday I drove my MCS no Nav to San Antonio to go shopping. I drove HWY 281 south to get there, not IH-35. I had my radio set to FM Magic 95.5 because they were playing Christmas shopping music. I had a fantastic signal right up to when I took the Bandera Rd exit off of Loop 1604 west in San Antonio. Right as I turned to go inside the Loop toward downtown, it started fading in and out and breaking up.

Oh--- I have the Stubby antenna from the Acura MDX / Honda S2000.
So I guess that puts another variable in the mix. You can't really compare my reception to the antenna that comes on the car. I have no idea how far I could hear 95.5 with the stock antenna, going south on 281 and west on 1604.

 

I have the NAV system and get great reception at great distances. Not a comparison really, but a measure that the window one works well. :smile:

 

>>I can't figure out how anyone would know.
>>
>>Unless you can find a person who owns both a MINI with Nav and a MINI without. That person would have to have the exact same radio in both cars to be able to compare reception.

Hi BJ -

You're back from New Orleans - Hope you had a great time ! About the antennas -- you hit it right on the head. I was hoping that someone else before me might have been curious about the same thing and done exactly the comparisons you cite . . . such as at a Friday Night Forum or the other meets or rallys where MINI folk congregate.

It might be really interesting to put a std. antenna'd MINI next to a Sat. Nav. MINI and tune them both to the same series of stations and compare receptions. Anyone Up For That ???

Joe

 

Not very strategic, but I'd be willing to bet if you hopped around at your dealer and tried out a few different cars, you might be able to get a decent baseline test?

One thing I did on my current car is install a switchable antenna booster- really helps in remote areas. Or... Just go all satellite radio :smile:

 

We own two vehicles with antenna's imbedded in the windows. I have found that the reception is no better or worse than our previous vehicles which had antennas on the hood.

We encountered the same dead spots, and the signals faded in the same areas regardless of vehicle...

 

Xanthus -- my experiences are similar :evil: except that when the rear window defroster is on, a lot of RFI (radio frequency interference) hash is emitted, enough to clobber weaker FM stations. Since your sig touts sunshine, you may have never needed to fire up the rear defroster.

I'd like to hear if others have noticed the rear defroster-generated noise. To see if you have the same problem, tune in a weak station, and then click the rear defroster on/off.

When I get A Round Tuit, I plan to invent an RFI filter for the rear defroster problem. Results will be posted.

Tom