General Stock antenna replacement
- Thread starter Geolith
- Start date
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General Stock antenna replacement
you can get replacement short and "bee-sting" antennas on ebay. Any reduction in antenna length will reduce the signal level, how much I hard to calculate. Best thing to do is try one and see if you can still receive the stations you want.
Robert G8RPI.
Maybe there is a way to compensate that? Like a signal amplifier or something? I'm willing to cough up some coin, still cheaper than a garage renovation, right?
The radio section of the antenna is probably amplified already. Adding extra amplification won't help.
The GPS antenna is completely separate from the "whip" used for the radio. Changing to a shorter whip won't affect the GPS signal. If the little bee-sting antenna does not work but is shorter than you need to get clearance, you could buy a replacement whip and cut it down until ot just fits in the garage.
Robert G8RPI.
What about those cheap adhesive shark fins? I suppose they're gonna turn the radio reception into a joke, right?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-...AM-Radio-Signal-Auto-SUV-Antenna/183145405282
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-...AM-Radio-Signal-Auto-SUV-Antenna/183145405282
This post contains eBay links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Those cover antennas do not work well and will adversely affect the GPS signal.
Robert G8RPI.
Robert G8RPI.
But you mentioned earlier that the GPS antenna is completely separate from the radio whip, so how can a weak radio antenna affect the GPS signal?
The GPS antenna is typically a ceramic patch type located under the "flat" part of the base. Electrically it is separate from the whip so changing the whip to a shorter one has no effect. Fitting a cover antenna over the base has two effects. First and most critically, it will attenuate the signal especially if the paint or plastic contains carbon or metallic elements. Secondly it can change the tuning and or reception pattern of the antenna. Even if it is "transparent" to the GPS signal it can still act as a lens. This stuff is part of my day job and also my hobby, I've built my own GPS antennas.
Robert G8RPI
Robert G8RPI
Today I removed the antenna entirely and didn't notice any reception problems. None of my favorite radio channels seem to be affected by it. So I'm thinking a shorter antenna should suffice, but I don't want to just cut it, I need a more civilized solution.
Buy one of the "bee-sting" antenna elements from ebay.
An example only is
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-BEE-STING-STUBBY-SHORT-BLACK-CARBON-FIBRE-AERIAL-ARIEL-ARIAL-MAST-ANTENNA/263478906394?
Make your own choice, I've not bought this item or from this seller and can't confirm if it fits your car.
Robert G8RPI.
This post contains eBay links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
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It's cheap enough, comes with 4 different-sized bolts, so I say it's worth trying. Thank you!
OK, that one unfortunately doesn't ship to Lithuania, so I found a Chinese alternative, the same size but different design:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Short-Bee-...-Roof-Mini-Aluminium-Radio-AM-FM/262893029535
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Short-Bee-...-Roof-Mini-Aluminium-Radio-AM-FM/262893029535
This post contains eBay links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
So, this is what I ultimately did: I bought a cheap flexible replacement in a local auto store, but the base didn't fit perfectly, leaving a gap, so I covered it with a rubber spacer. Now I don't have to unscrew the aerial every time I want to park the car in the garage or go through a wash tunnel. Yay!
