Car roof whip aerial, changing the length

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MikeB4

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Topic # 191888 19-Feb-2016 14:44

I am buying a new vehicle and I have a minor issue. The roof mounted whip aerial is too long and when I go in and out of our garage it will strike the garage door(tilt door).

Is it possible to cut these shorter without loss of reception?

alternatively, is there somewhere in Wellington anyone can suggest I could go to find a replacement shorter aerial. I would like to be able to just unscrew the current from its base and

screw in a new aerial.

I have included a representative aerial similar to the one on the vehicle I am buying.

Mike
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Vocus

Reply # 1495696 19-Feb-2016 15:05

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The length is a deliberate part of the antenna design, if you alter it in any way you will most definitely alter the reception characteristics (for the worse). I'd suggest a different antenna or mounting point instead.

richms

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Reply # 1495697 19-Feb-2016 15:08

Can you not fold it down flatter?

Richard rich.ms

MikeB4

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Reply # 1495698 19-Feb-2016 15:09

Does that mean one cannot screw another shorter aerial into the mount? or are they matched to the vehicles radio?

Mike
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richms

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Reply # 1495699 19-Feb-2016 15:10

If it does unscrew, then just take it off alltogether and see how you go.

Richard rich.ms

scuwp

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Reply # 1495701 19-Feb-2016 15:15

Why not change the whole aerial for one of those euro design ones that look like a shark fin. Get it color coded to the car for a extra flash look...

I am sure you local radio installer could advise something appropriate, may even be able to test a couple of options.

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Coil

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Reply # 1495702 19-Feb-2016 15:15

Buy the bullet stub aerial for a VW Golf. Works mint.

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SATTV

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Reply # 1495711 19-Feb-2016 15:19

Some car aerials have more than one function, some do GPS, some do cellular phones and some do satellite radio ( not an issue in NZ ).

You might be able to buy a stubby aerial off trade me ( cheaper off ebay ) and see how you go.

Most just unscrew

DO NOT cut the antenna that you have.

While it is that length for a reason it is not so much of an issue for receiving hence the stubby aerial.

John

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andrew027

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Reply # 1495714 19-Feb-2016 15:28

The whip aerial on my last car unscrewed so you might be lucky. I don't know if it's still a thing but they used to do "coil loaded" aerials that had a spring section in the middle, or towards the bottom - something like that might give you some flexibility for a lower garage door.

tchart

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Reply # 1495717 19-Feb-2016 15:32

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I tried a "stub" aerial for my car but reception was terrible. In the end I just pulled the rubber end cap off, cut in half, spray painted and replaced rubber end cap. Reception is okay (I don't listen to radio much) but I agree with the above and look for a proper replacement.

PS My aerial appeared to be made of fibreglass or something, I had a few splinters in my fingers afterwards so be careful.

vexxxboy

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Reply # 1495726 19-Feb-2016 15:39

i thought that newer cars had the antenna in the windscreen and any car that had one of them just above the back window there was a good chance it was a undercover police car especially if it was a ford or holden. Guess i was wrong.

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Coil

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Reply # 1495730 19-Feb-2016 15:41

tchart:

I tried a "stub" aerial for my car but reception was terrible. In the end I just pulled the rubber end cap off, cut in half, spray painted and replaced rubber end cap. Reception is okay (I don't listen to radio much) but I agree with the above and look for a proper replacement.

PS My aerial appeared to be made of fibreglass or something, I had a few splinters in my fingers afterwards so be careful.

Usually you will find a plastic one with a wire inside or a wire wrapped around a fibreglass rod and heat shrunk.

I have not heard of bad experiences using a VW stubby one.

Wouldn't surprise me if someone bought a stubby aerial that was just a hold plug with a plastic spike.

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MikeB4

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Reply # 1495731 19-Feb-2016 15:41

When I take delivery of the vehicle, hopefully tomorrow, I will have a look at it. Anyone able to recommend a good installer in Wellington? There was one in Railway Ave but they seem to have gone.

Mike
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It's our only home, lets clean it up then...

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tchart

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Reply # 1495749 19-Feb-2016 15:50

TimA:

Wouldn't surprise me if someone bought a stubby aerial that was just a hold plug with a plastic spike.

Exactly. Mine was off Ebay, so there's your answer.

MikeB4

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Reply # 1495754 19-Feb-2016 15:59

TimA:

tchart:

I tried a "stub" aerial for my car but reception was terrible. In the end I just pulled the rubber end cap off, cut in half, spray painted and replaced rubber end cap. Reception is okay (I don't listen to radio much) but I agree with the above and look for a proper replacement.

PS My aerial appeared to be made of fibreglass or something, I had a few splinters in my fingers afterwards so be careful.

Usually you will find a plastic one with a wire inside or a wire wrapped around a fibreglass rod and heat shrunk.

I have not heard of bad experiences using a VW stubby one.

Wouldn't surprise me if someone bought a stubby aerial that was just a hold plug with a plastic spike.

Maybe I should pinch the one off my wifes' Skoda while she is away :P

Mike
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The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

It's our only home, lets clean it up then...

Take My Advice, Pull Down Your Pants And Slide On The Ice!

Rikkitic

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Reply # 1495799 19-Feb-2016 16:17

OK, I know about wavelengths and I know how aerials work. If this one is only for reception, does it really make such a huge difference if it is a little shorter? Reception will be a little weaker on AM, but I doubt if it would be very noticeable. The question is what this would do to FM. The answer I see all around me is those portable FM radios with antennas telescoped in and out at arbitrary lengths. It might make a difference for difficult out of town reception, but is it really going to matter in the city? I have had plenty of radios with makeshift wire antennas and they all had at least some reception. I have even had a car radio with no antenna connected at all, and that had some reception. If there is a coil inside the antenna to make a tuned circuit for FM reception, I can see how cutting the aerial might destroy that. Otherwise I don't know why it would make a huge difference.

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