advice on which car radio aerial to buy.

[gammy126]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum.

Iv just got a classic car radio and want to fit a car aerial.
I dont want to drill the body work if i can avoid it.
I know you can get ones that attach to your windows but wonder if i attached it under my bonnet or boot would it still work . The same goes for the shark fins would they work under bonnet or boot????

All help, advice, tips etc welcome.

Many thanks
Alan

[Chris Edgar]

When you say "under bonnet or boot", if you mean inside then it won't work very well at all because the aerial will be screened by the metal.

I understand your reluctance to drill.My Traveler already has one fitted to the front n/s wing, but my wife's tourer needs one fitting. I will probably bite the bullet & drill the wing, making sure that the hole & fitting are well protected.

Wonder if anyone else has any good alternatives.

regards

Chris

[gammy126]

Cheers Chris.
Is there anyway of making your car bodywork the aerial????

Any other Ideas out there???

[RobMoore]

I have also been looking at ariel options, I did see a fellow member using one of the type that stick on the windscreen and it looked quite discreet so thats the option I will go for myself. We have enough rust battles without adding another hole to keep an eye on lol.

[PSL184]

You can't use the car as an aerial because an ariel needs a ground plane (which is the car) and a collector (the aerial). The stick on strips, however, work very well if stuck under the metal dash on a Moggie (or crossbrace under dash found on many other classics). Just remember they need a 12 volt feed and earth.....

[bmcecosse]

I believe some kits use a rear screen demister as an aerial. But frankly - I don't know why you are bothering - the noise of the A series at full chat will soon drown out any sensible wireless transmission, and you should be listening out for creaks/squeaks and ominous rattles anyway!

[Chris Edgar]

Had to chuckle at that one, BMC! How right you are...
My wife & daughter like to play CDs at a high volume, whereas I, as I have often told them "prefer to listen to the engine". Which simply confirms their view that I am a bit strange.
I shall quote you when future disputes arise.

PSL 184 is absolutely correct. A standard car aerial is one half of a dipole, which is a "balanced" antenna. That is to say, it must be balanced against another half. In this case the car body itself.

There seem to be a few ideas to think about though.

Chris

[gammy126]

Many thanks to all so far.

Iv been throwing ideas around my head.
1. Would a small bee sting type antenna fitted to my rear bumper work????
2. Would a small shark fin type painted the same colour as the car look ridiculous if i fastened it to my boot???
3 shall i just carry a normal radio around and use that. ???

Regards

Alan

[MarkyB]

The stick on aerials do work, you used to be able to get one that doubled as a tax disc holder.

An aerial on the bumper will work OK some of the time but will be in the "shadow" of the car sometimes.

Shark fin type should work well, and annoy BMW drivers (bonus) however the roof would still need drilling and I doubt the curve of the base would suit the Minors roof which is very curvaceous.

[silloyd]

Blaupunkt do a tax disc aerial (http://www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.asp ... 142-aerial) but I think it's expensive.

Mine has a cheap screen aerial of the type that you can pick up from FleaBay for as little as £4 (search for "windscreen aerial") - works well enough at lower speeds .... where you can hear the radio!! I used this because I didn't want to drill holes in my shiny new front wings.

Alternately, forget the radio part and just use CD/MP3/iPod input.

[mike.perry]

Classic radios are a period accessory but not many stations broadcast on medium and long wave and from what I remember reception is pretty useless.
Or have you got modern internals?

[gammy126]

I have a 1960,s Phillips that has been converted to play mp3 and i have a FM radio on my mp3 player.

[MarkyB]

If there isn't a radio inside the radio any more the aerial socket on the case may not be connected to anything.
I have a phone with an FM radio that uses the earphone lead for an aerial.

[gammy126]

Iv just got an Autolead car aerial electric glass mounted aerial . Does anyone have any idea how to fit one there,s no instructions and i carnt find anything on the net.

Its a positive earth

many thanks

Alan

[MarkyB]

Try just plugging the plug into the radio, it may not need amplifying.

If the car is positive earth, then red wire to the car bodywork and the black one to the radio power lead.

If the radio can be turned on with this ignition off, then put the black wire to a connection that only come on with the ignition instead or the amp will be on all the time.

[PSL184]

I would imagine that the modern amplifier would not like positive earth and would die if connected that way. Either don't power it up or convert the car to neg earth.....

[edjones]

I bought an amplified aerial, fitted it underneath the dash and connected the power to the electric aerial output on my stereo so it only powers up when the radio is on. Works a treat!