What ariel do you use?

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:16 pm

Not wishing to drill holes through any body panels I elected to fit an ariel from Halfords which looks basically like a small dipole unit with an amplifier in its base.
Seemed a good idea as it is held to the split screen centre by a magnet - but reception is poor at times.
What do you guys use?
I think I would like to try one of those clip to the window edge jobs - any ideas?

Post by **PSL184** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:19 pm

Stick the aerial you have under the dash - It will then use the whole car as a ground plane and reception will be fine.....

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:32 pm

What, under the metal dash, behind the gauges? Really?

Post by **PSL184** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:41 pm

Yep - just make sure it is securely attached to metal....

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:50 pm

I shall give it a try!

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:01 pm

Mine is mounted on the roof but I have removed the radio so it only blocks up the hole

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:21 pm

I've had a mixed reception (groan

) to the stick-to-screen aerials. The first was excellent, the second mediocre.

Post by **MarkyB** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:34 pm

I like PSLs answer but doesn't the body act as a Faraday cage?
From what you say it doesn't, but I'm having trouble getting my head round the idea.

Post by **pfgiz** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:45 pm

I've got mine on the roof, but I've needed to lower the interior light to accommodate it.

Looks nice thought from the outside.

Post by **PSL184** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:41 pm

MarkyB wrote:I like PSLs answer but doesn't the body act as a Faraday cage?
From what you say it doesn't, but I'm having trouble getting my head round the idea.

Seems not too - more of a ground plane than a Faraday cage. You do need to make sure that the electrical connections are good for the amplifier unit though.....

Post by **jimbo1** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:18 pm

On the basis that at £6.50 including postage would not be too much money to waste if it didn't work I bought a stick on dipole and integral amplifier (so it needs a power supply) on ebay to put in my van and I am really impressed - its tucked up behind the mirror out of the way - the wiring is threaded through the interior of the body work above the screen and down the pillar. The old 1970ish pye radio cassette couldn't sound any better, chuffed to bits!

Post by **alanworland** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:38 pm

That sounds just like my installation! (inc the Pye radio with FM) and I am chuffed to bits, but only sometimes! - perhaps I have a duff amplifier in the aerial?

Post by **jimbo1** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:06 pm

Is the earthing good?

Post by **alanworland** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm

Worth checking I guess, earth braid comes out of the unit which I have taken to a sunvisor fixing.