Car roof whip aerial, changing the length

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Car roof whip aerial, changing the length

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richms

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#1495810 19-Feb-2016 16:47

When I needed to get something to power the antenna on an old car I had, I just stuffed some wire in the antenna socket of the replacement head deck. Started to get crappy at about pukekohe when going south instead of by the BP at the top of the bombays like cars with proper antennas do. Not driven that way with the radio on for about 5 years now so cant compare with the current cars antennas.

Richard rich.ms

Coil

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#1496113 20-Feb-2016 09:56

What car did you buy and what Skoda is it?

linw

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#1496436 20-Feb-2016 23:02

All modern cars get away with those tiny aerials because they have aerial amplifiers. End of day, you have to get a match of aerial signal strength to radio front end sensitivity. If your car doesn't have an aerial amplifier you need a longer aerial to more or less tally with a fractional AM wave length.

Your new car will surely have an amplified aerial so you would likely be OK with a shorter stub. The photo you showed had three wires so that would indicate an amplifier lives in the bulbous base.

But trying to change a factory aerial may well be problematic unless the whip can be unscrewed. Mine certainly can't be changed. And don't forget the amplifier as it usually is very close to the external whip to avoid amplifying noise picked up in the long signal feed wire.

Maybe Rich's idea of bending the whip down has a lot of merit!

Wheelbarrow01

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#1496443 21-Feb-2016 00:32

I have a 2012 Ford Ranger and had the same problem- the aerial is quite long and hits my garage door. I unscrewed and removed it months ago and have notice no reduction in performance at all. I was going to buy one of the stubby ones off Trademe for less than $20 but I don't see the need.

When I went away at Christmas I just reattached it just in case my out-of-town reception was affected.

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MikeB4

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#1496461 21-Feb-2016 08:23

TimA:
What car did you buy and what Skoda is it?

My vehicle is a 2016 Nissan X Trail and my wife's is 2015 Skoda Fabia , I will post pics of the actual aerials shortly.

MikeB4

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#1496590 21-Feb-2016 16:11

I found one at Supercheap Autos, an Antech and does not seem to change the reception.

MartinGZ

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#1496719 21-Feb-2016 23:02

+1 for Supercheap Auto. Had the same problem with a Ranger, and just replaced with a shorter one from Supercheap. Screw in variety.

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RUKI

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#1496999 22-Feb-2016 15:01

FYI - antennas in cars could be passive or active (e.g. in the rear glass - they have booster amplifier).

When considering replacement - you need to be aware what type is installed in your car. I would assume if you have a rod type - then it is most likely just a passive one without pre-amplifier.

I am actually right now looking to borrow for a day in AUckland an active FM radio antenna to test Nissan Leaf AV unit on the bench.

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