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Radio Aerial

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:18 am
by Kevin
Anybody tried one of these as it would save drilling a hole and I wondered if they were any good.

http://www.eliteelectronics.co.uk/Tax_D ... ndard.html

Hmm looks like I have found a mobile phone aerial not a radio one any suggestions to the right item.

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:37 am
by bigginger
I got one from lovely Halfords that sticks to the screen. and it works fine

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:10 am
by LouiseM
I found a 60's aerial which clips to the quarter light for a few quid on e-bay. The reception is excellent, although I have a 60's motorola radio so don't know if it would be so good on a modern radio.

It's similar to the one below but without the suckers:


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Quality1960s-car- ... dZViewItem

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:31 am
by paulhumphries
I have one of the small electronic types that attach to the windscreen.
It works but in our hilly area no where near as good as a proper external type.
If you don't want to drill holes what about CB gutter or boot lid mounting types ?
http://www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb_radio_gutter_mounts.htm
http://www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb_radio_h ... mounts.htm
You could use a detachable base and mount on bumper.

I use a small magnetic CB aerial on the boot when I'm on long distances and want consistance radio reception.

Paul Humphries

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:08 am
by Kevin
Andrew is it a purely stick on type within a plastic covering because that seems to ring a bell.

Louise I intend to use a period radio as well but one with FM so I can hopefully use an ipod with it as well I am still trying to get to grips with old technology mixed with new.

Paul it never occurred to me that CB aerials were even suitable so another option to look into, I knew this was not going to be straightforward :oops:

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:17 am
by Orkney
What you could do Kevin is get a CB mount either gutter or boot (just the mount bracket only be a couple of quid) then use that to mount any ariel you like i.e. one you like the look off off the shelf from halfords - but i'd be looking for one in the scrappy's - maybe one of those little bendy rubber ones off a daewoo e.g.
The boot is a better place to mount an ariel - you dont get a directional bias so much - but there guess youd need a small rubber jobby as a 'whip' would hit the back window everytime you opened the boot.
There used to be carphone ariels that stuck to the glass inside & out with no cable between, they worked well and shame there isnt a std radio ariel the same.

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:04 pm
by Kevin
The boot is a better place to mount an ariel - you dont get a directional bias so much - but there guess youd need a small rubber jobby as a 'whip' would hit the back window everytime you opened the boot.
Not really a problem as I have a Traveller :lol:

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:16 pm
by Orkney
DOH :lol:
Well in that case its more complicated. I have a gutter mount whip type ariel on the old range rover fo ra marine VHF, so similar for a cb radio.
Dont think the trav roof is upto taking one of those, the ariel really whips around (allbeit off road) and think it would cause sufficient stress on the trav gutter to crack the paint at least if not cause fatigue to the metal.
how about an internal one for a fiver ?

http://www.lowcostcaraudio.co.uk/shop/A ... ductJJ1607

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:07 pm
by Kevin
Now that looks a possibility.

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:30 pm
by crossword
I note the word "amplified " in the description for this aerial , power will have to be applied . Remember that your minor is positive earth unless changed . This will cause some conflict when the aerial is plugged into the radio. You may find that you get adequate reception with 2-3 Ft of wire taped to one of the side windows then connected to the aerial input by coaxial cable . Your piece of wire being connected to the centre conductor rather than the braid. T.V. coax suggested as it has the correct impedance & is cheap.
That is how my radio was connected in the days when Minors were my everyday transport.
Regards Andy.

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:50 pm
by Orkney
Well theres a VERY similar one on fleabay for 3x the cost +P&P
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vandal-Proof-inte ... dZViewItem
and thats amplified too, guessing its amplified as it looks to be di-pole so migth be a bit directional.
Think if you want one that does DAB radio its £30 or so.
Would say it was worth a fiver to find out if tey are any good seeing as its Kevin's fiver :lol: :lol: :lol:

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:04 pm
by paulhumphries
This is what I've got.
Works OK in built up / strong signal areas but poor where there are hills.
The "CB" aerial I have is actually a taxi or similar type.
It's only approx 24-30" long so little whip yet drags a signal in easilly.

Paul Humphries

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:42 am
by dunketh
Those screen mount aerials are total cack.
People who can actually receive stations with them clearly live in 'good reception' areas anyway.
I've tried them locally (where radio reception is patchy even with a proper aerial) and they get nothing.
In my experience roof-mount aerials work best, but then they effectively have a huge ground plane to work with.

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:40 am
by alex_holden
My wing-mounted telescopic aerial seems to work surprisingly well considering a tree branch ripped it off and I jammed half of it back in, and it's now going rusty... :lol: