MotoMike

Wondering if there is a better than OE antenna out there for my '05 SCAB that will pull in FM better for my location on the fringe of favorite station listening area? Analog FM comes in mostly ok digital FM is mostly weak. Times when it does come in, it is a huge improvement in sound......so would like to listen to it all the time.

Receiver is a Kenwood DPX791BH with Infinity Ref 6832's in all 4 doors.

Wyo11Scab

iTrader: (1)

Maybe something like this will work. I had one similar 30 years ago. HA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Antenna-Radio-FM-and-AM-Signal-Amplifier-Amp-Booster/181461815266?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D37252%26meid%3Da47ff6c448024fc7a181a522bc27305b%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D252459642640

MotoMike

I actually got one of those knowing it would be a "hit or miss" kind of result. It was a "miss" this time......no improvement whatsoever. I had better results 45yr ago with one though. Thanks for the suggestion though.

elricfate

That's the problem with those. If there's noise coming from elsewhere, it does nothing to filter it out, only amplifies the issue. Your head unit already has an 8.2 dbf FM sensitivity value, I'm not sure it can get much lower than that.

Did you cut down the OEM antenna at all? Is it the full whip? The problem you'll run into is a lot of the shorter ones are loaded and weak, the longer ones are still partially loaded but much better. I think the only ones I've seen that are "as good" or potentially "better" than the OEM ones are the Metra replacements.

I'll be honest, you should look around in your system for sources of RFI -- have you added anything to your truck other than the radio? Anything electronic? Any LEDs? Any lightbars?

You may just need to stick some ferrite beads onto anything you added that's generating noise.

MotoMike

This truck is bone stock electric wise other than the audio upgrade. I got the Kenwood especially because of the 8.2 dbf rating, but that does not seem to be that big a deal. The Ford OE radio actually pulled in this station as good or maybe better.

I saw a Pixel Technology 48" antenna yesterday that is claimed to be real good at pulling in stations for fixed receivers, wonder if anyone has used it on a vehicle?

http://www.pixelsatradio.com/afhd-4-am-fm-antenna/

elricfate

All antennas (even that one) are going to be loaded or partially loaded -- FM half-wave is like 57 inches. This is why most OEM antennas are right around 27" (quarter wave), with loaded wire wrap.

If you want to do a quick and scrappy test, you could always run a 57" length of copper and see if it improves your reception. If it's not measurably better, then there's something else that's causing it. Maybe one of the connections is bad, I'm pretty sure the Kenwood required an antenna adapter, maybe it's poor quality?

I'm spitballing here.

Wyo11Scab

iTrader: (1)

Factory antennas used be 31". That was the correct length for FM. If you cut it so that it wouldn't hit the garage door you were screwed

elricfate

F150 factory antennas take into account partial loading. Take a look at your factory antenna and you'll see the loaded wrap around the base leading to the corona ball. They're still quarter wave.

ETA: And I cut mine down, re-affixed the corona ball, and didn't mess around with the winding. Mine still picks up everything clearly. I added ferrite cores to all my electronics which evened out RFI.

Wyo11Scab

iTrader: (1)

You may still get everything clearly but your range has depleted

elricfate

Drive an RF analyzer over here so we can test it.