[Guest]

Have any of you guys changed the stock radio antenna for a sharks fin
type antenna?

http://www.visualgarage.com/home.html

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/FoliaTec/antenna.php

Someone has unscrewed mine & walked off with it .

If so, what was you radio reception like with the shark fin antenna.

 

[Resist]

Not after seeing how much they cost.

 

[Guest]

Would be lower drag too :lol:

 

[Guest]

I'd say $59 is pretty good, I have mailed them about getting one shipped to the uk.

 

[goat961]

who needs a radio antenna? it's next on my list of things to remove.

 

[b1shmu63]

Yes well er, it does help radio reception. I supose the question would be, who needs a radio?

 

[Fenrir]

Yes well er, it does help radio reception. I supose the question would be, who needs a radio?

Indeed. CD player with homemade line-in connector for mp3 player or laptop. Haven't listened to the radio in the car in at least a year. I'm considering removing my antenna and making a base or some kind of mount for a telescoping rod antenna, and adding a connector behind the center console to plug it in on the fly, for those extremely rare occasions when I might want to use the radio. My Pioneer head unit doesn't like the OEM antenna much, anyway.

 

[Insightful Trekker]

My Pioneer head unit doesn't like the OEM antenna much, anyway.

Possibly because the Insights antenna is amplified (requires a power source) and the Pioneer's connector no longer supplies it.

HTH!

 

[Fenrir]

I'm pretty sure I connected the antenna power to the +12V source. For FM reception, there's no beating a metal rod of the appropriate length.

 

[minako]

It seems to me that the stock antenna isn't very powerful. Well, it doesn't seem as powerful as the one that came stock with my '98 Accord. I listen occasionally to a local AM station in the mornings (KGO 810) for traffic, and I find that the reception is full of static. I also have a FM transmitter for my iPod that worked fine in the Accord and also in my S2000 (before I got an Alpine with Fast Link)... but I will get bursts of really loud static in the Insight. Is this normal? ^^;

 

[trunkout]

what?

antenna???
oh, that thing that brings me Sirius Radio?
:badgrin:

 

[Mark Elvin]

Just a quick bump, wondered if anyone has yet tried one.

With the exchange rate at 2$ to £1 they are very cheap.

 

[nemystic]

'Sorry I can't provide any useful info in response to this request.

'Seeing lots of threads about high performance sound systems and satellite radio. Perhaps I'm just not fully up to speed on the latest and greatest audio technology for cars, but it seems like there's so much background noise in the Insight (particularly with overinflated tires) that all of that stuff would yield dimishing returns.
I mostly listen to NPR and BBC news when in the Insight.

With regard to the aesthetics of the various antennae, I personnally prefer the stock "Sputnik" look to the suggested "Jaws" look for the Insight.

Some of the antennae on one of the links you provided are rather spacey looking. 'Couldn't find one that looked like a World War I German Army helmet bayonet. I suppose if I were into the gritty motorcycle image (which I'm not - and it's probably mostly a USA thing) I'd want one of those on my helmet.

 

[ikhoudvanu199]

i dont use my antenna, i dont know how much it would cost to ship it to ya, but i would be willing to part with it for a small fee plus shipping if it was worth it to you to have a stock antenna

 

[Mark Elvin]

I'm going to order an MB1 from here.

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/FoliaTec/antenna.php

Only a total of $80 (£40)

 

[jf_cole]

I'm going to order an MB1 from here.

Car Antennas :: Sigma Automotive

Only a total of $80 (£40)

Did you order this? Seems like good value considering its vehicle specific and painted?

 

[JimIsbell]

Antennas are, in and of themselves, not "powerful".

As someone once said,"If it will conduct, it will radiate." or in this case receive. BUT...a properly cut antenna of the proper length is better than any add on amplifier.

Add on amplifiers are only used when the proper length antenna isnt used. Amplification amplifies EVERYTHING so does NOTHING for signal to noise ratio since it amplifies the noise as well as the signal you are looking for.

For FM reception the correct length is reasonable without an amplifier, about 3 feet in length. But in the case of AM the correct length is many times the length of the car. Not really practical. But in any case, the amplifier should be in the receiver and not in-line so that it will match the circuits in the radio. Amplifiers in line are a Micky Mouse solution to a problem.

 

[RRocket]

I put a "Shark II" on my Supra. Since it's "powered" you have to find a hot wire for it. It worked well with no issues. Pics: