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Topic: car aerials  (Read 797 times)

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car aerials
« on: June 06, 2005, 09:18:57 PM »
UGH!!
I'm so fed up with my car's radio aerial...  it's a motorised one that extends up when the car/electrics are switched on, and retracts when switched off.

My problem is that for the 3rd time in 3 years, the aerial has broken.   There are a lot of narrow roads around here, and when oncoming cars approach, i've got to edge over to the outside, and  the aerial has got thwacked by branches/hedges and got bent out of shape so won't retract.  Of course, that makes it irresistable to the local brats, who see it extended and snap it off for sport.

This has happened twice, and i've had to pay £100 (twice) to get it replaced.  (The aerial costs £69 from the dealer).    Today, the aerial motor started making a dreadful squealing noise, and is unable to push up the aerial fully.  I can only imagine how much an aerial motor will cost.   :-X

Is there any other way?   Can i put an aerial elsewhere on the car?  Like maybe one of those ones that are removable, so that when i park the car, i can unscrew it and lock it up inside?  How does it connect up?

Any ideas?  I suppose i need to ask the boys at the car audio place, but i wont have time to do that this week, so if anyone has any suggestions, i'd be grateful.


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Re: car aerials
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2005, 10:23:02 PM »
The dealer price for an original motorized antenna is going to be pretty steep compared to a generic replacement.  Even so, the motorized types aren't particularly cheap.

It's quite possible to replace the existing power antenna with a manually retractable type or one with a removable whip,  and if you pick the right model it will just fit in the existing hole.   There are several different types of connections on the antenna bases, and some are hard wired at that end, but at the absolute worst all you'll need to do is pull the new coax cable through in place of the old. 

There's no technical reason why you shouldn't fit an antenna elsewhere on the car if you wish -- Maybe on the opposite side away from branches at the edge of the road?     The main considerations are the practical issues of being able to route the cable from your chosen location to the radio with minimal dismantling of dash and trim (and on modern cars that can be a pain). 

By the way, does the existing antenna stick outward at an angle somewhat when extended?   Most antennas have an adjustable section at the base to compensate for the different angles of bodywork.   BY loosening the fixing nut(s) and rotating the adjuster you can set the angle so that the antenna is angled slightly inward rather than outward, thus making it at least slightly less vulnerable to getting hit.

From
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Re: car aerials
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2005, 05:28:15 AM »
By the way, does the existing antenna stick outward at an angle somewhat when extended?   Most antennas have an adjustable section at the base to compensate for the different angles of bodywork.   BY loosening the fixing nut(s) and rotating the adjuster you can set the angle so that the antenna is angled slightly inward rather than outward, thus making it at least slightly less vulnerable to getting hit.



Thanks for the reply.
Nope, this one sticks straight up, making it really awkward, and that's why it's so easily broken.  Bloody Subaru!


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