Best antenna replacement?
The following users liked this post:
N4HHE (05-25-2022)
12-21-2018, 11:42 AM
#13
I tried the BuiltRight. It looks great, but the reception was terrible. I live in the middle of nowhere and I listen to the radio from time to time. Sending it back. Function over form on this one for me.
01-19-2019, 02:21 PM
#14
You will not find a short FM antenna that works well
I am an avid HAM, and FM transceiver enthusiast, FM signals require a specific length of antenna to receive the resonated signal efficiently, if you cut or add onto the length of the wire the propagation from the station to your receiver will diminish. Usually small changes in length typically do not wildly affect the signal reception but just don’t go crazy with the length changes otherwise unwanted results will most likely incur with poor undesired results.
The following users liked this post:
theemann77479 (04-12-2021)
01-21-2019, 11:33 AM
#15
Senior Member
After installing the Builtright, I have to agree with slodat...the reception is less than great so if you listen to the radio this is probably not for you. Since I almost never listen to the radio, it was a perfect fit for me...it does look killer compared to the stock antenna.
01-21-2019, 02:37 PM
#16
Why not ditch the whole exterior fm antenna and replace it with an interior, windshield/headliner mounted antenna of the proper length? That’s what I would do if it were me.
01-24-2019, 07:44 AM
#17
I have a stubby that I ordered off Amazon and works fine for the radio when I listen to it.
AK4wheeler
01-25-2019, 06:08 PM
#18
Senior Member
This is the issue. The simple antennas on our trucks are monopole antennas and without going into the math the ideal length for best reception is 1/4 of the wavelength of the signal - so for your typical 100Mhz FM station that wavelength is around 10 feet so 1/4 of that is pretty close to what Wyo11 cites above. Just the laws of physics - shorten the antenna and degrade the reception, if you live in an area with a strong signal then you might not notice.
The following users liked this post:
Wyo11Scab (01-26-2019)
01-26-2019, 12:57 PM
#19
Senior Member
I have a 50 cal style antenna, and I have no issues. Work as well as the stock antenna. But again Miami has strong signals, and in truth I listen to digital media or the Sat channels mostly.
