In the owner's manual of my '09 MC, it says this,

"Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the upper wires serve as an antenna and are not part of the rear window defroster."

This is on page 78 of mine. So my question is: Are these wires for FM or AM stations?

 

AM is worse with the shorty antenna. However in and around town I can not tell any difference in AMF?M reception. Out on the road in the middle of nowhere I find it hard to tune in some distant AM stations.

 

I thought the Coupe would have an antenna in the rear window. To find out what it is for, try the same experiment I did on my Clubman. I will only take a minute. I am betting the wires are for FM and this is why people don't notice much difference when switching to the shorty antennas. They really shouldn't find any difference at all on FM because that antenna doesn't do anything to the FM signal.

 

I'm going to try it when I know that the reception is hit and miss. I live too close to the radio towers for it to make much of a difference, but I'll be driving in the middle of nowhere later this week. We'll see!

 

The reception isn't an issue, plus I listen to my ipod 98% of the time, but does anyone recall how much the shipping charge was on their Alta antenna? I'd like to take advantage of the sale.

 

Ordered mine last week, was $5.99 (Ground) shipping to Bay area California, if that helps at all.
- Jon.

 

I did the same (~2 1/2") and have seen ZERO difference. Now, I live in the Dallas/metroplex area, so that probably is better than being out in the country. But - at $9, really, are you that cheap to find out for yourself!

 

Thanks! I've decided to wait because there are other things that I'd like to do more. Granted, it is cheap but I'm saving for grad school so money is tight at best.

MrTIer, I'm guessing that you work for TI. I used to live less than a mile away from there. I'm not all that concerned about reception since the only time it might falter would be on 35 S of Hillsboro and that's what an iPod is for, right?