Anyone change out their antenna?

BlenderWizard · 09-05-2005, 03:28 PM

I am looking to swap the giant antenna mast on my truck for a shorter, maybe rubber one. Mine gets loose after being on the road, and I drag it on things fairly often as I have to park outside and sometimes under a tree. Anyone know of some shorter replacements? Why did they stop putting the antennas in the windshield glass like they did in the 70's and the 80's?

jeverett · 09-05-2005, 06:19 PM

I've replaced one on a Tahoe, but used a factory replacement. It wasn't fun at all though.

jethro_3 · 09-05-2005, 07:09 PM

My '05 has a tool in the glove box so you can tighten it or remove it for the carwash. I took it off as long as the 3 month free XM is on...

TexasF355F1 · 09-05-2005, 07:39 PM

I've had two of them. That will always be the first to go for me on any truck I own. I hate the stock antenna's.

BlenderWizard · 09-05-2005, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

I've had two of them. That will always be the first to go for me on any truck I own. I hate the stock antenna's.

Well, would you mind sharing? I'd like to know what you used

atlsilver · 09-05-2005, 11:52 PM

if you go to circuit city and ask them for an amplified antenna they will have one made by metra. i am an installer at ccity and i put one on my truck and have had no problems at all. its a box about 6" long 1 3/4 wide and has a sticky pad so you can put where you like.i have mine inside dash where you cant see and have had no problems.got rid of mast on outside.hope that helps

BlenderWizard · 09-06-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlsilver

if you go to circuit city and ask them for an amplified antenna they will have one made by metra. i am an installer at ccity and i put one on my truck and have had no problems at all. its a box about 6" long 1 3/4 wide and has a sticky pad so you can put where you like.i have mine inside dash where you cant see and have had no problems.got rid of mast on outside.hope that helps

That would be alright, but I'm really just looking for a shorter mast to screw back on to the factory stud.

Hurricane145 · 09-06-2005, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlenderWizard

Why did they stop putting the antennas in the windshield glass like they did in the 70's and the 80's?

Because that antenna configuration favored the FM band and did not work well on The AM broadcast band. The people that represented the AM stations were able to get it changed back to the "whip" style. It is now designed bettter for both frequency ranges.

sportin83 · 09-06-2005, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurricane145

Because that antenna configuration favored the FM band and did not work well on The AM broadcast band. The people that represented the AM stations were able to get it changed back to the "whip" style. It is now designed bettter for both frequency ranges.

there are some cars out there with antennas in the rear windows, but who listens to am anyways?? its like cassettes outdated! i would check autozone or similar store for a short wip antenna. maybe even ebay.

Rammer500 · 09-06-2005, 06:50 AM

The windshield antenna favored the am band and had poor performance with the fm band. For good reception, a FM antenna needs to be 30" long, the size of the wavelength of the FM broadcast.
One car that has/had a rear glass antenna is the Gran Prix 97+. Mostly the GTP's and GT's. Those cars with the glass mount antenna also have a signal booster for proper reception.
You'll find that cars with short antenna from the factory will have a signal booster for performance. My wife's Toyota Matrix has an antenna that's about a foot long on the roof and it also uses a booster.

sportin83 · 09-06-2005, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlenderWizard

That would be alright, but I'm really just looking for a shorter mast to screw back on to the factory stud.

here is one that just screws on and looks short. its only 9.99.

http://www.antennax.com/

they have pics of it installed on trucks too so you can see what it will look like when you get it.

TexasF355F1 · 09-06-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlenderWizard

Well, would you mind sharing? I'd like to know what you used

My fault. My first one I had was made by Trenz. Then I bought one by a company called Autotecnica for my dad but he never used it so i did. Now I'm about to put my Trenz back on because my current one is starting to rust a bit.

Link from sportruck.com (I have Style 3)
http://www.truckshop.com/home.php?cat=359

Sportin, millions upon millions listen to AM. I'm 23 and listen to AM more than FM. Mostly the sports stations though, but my cd player is pretty much in infinite use.

BlenderWizard · 09-06-2005, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportin83

here is one that just screws on and looks short. its only 9.99.

http://www.antennax.com/

they have pics of it installed on trucks too so you can see what it will look like when you get it.

Is this what you got? http://www.antennax.com/products/description_ax01.htm

sportin83 · 09-06-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlenderWizard

Is this what you got? http://www.antennax.com/products/description_ax01.htm

there is that one and then i also saw a short metal one for 15 bucks , says they screw right onto factory stud. they say they keep the same reception quality and work direct bolt on. or your money back within 30 days. seems like a good deal to me.

BlenderWizard · 09-06-2005, 08:40 PM

the one I posted seemed to be pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much for finding that for me, I ordered one earlier

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