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What ariel do you use?
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:16 pm
by alanworland
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?
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:19 pm
by PSL184
Stick the aerial you have under the dash - It will then use the whole car as a ground plane and reception will be fine.....
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:32 pm
by alanworland
What, under the metal dash, behind the gauges? Really?
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:41 pm
by PSL184
Yep - just make sure it is securely attached to metal....
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:50 pm
by alanworland
I shall give it a try!
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:01 pm
by mike.perry
Mine is mounted on the roof but I have removed the radio so it only blocks up the hole
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:21 pm
by Peetee
I've had a mixed reception (groan
) to the stick-to-screen aerials. The first was excellent, the second mediocre.
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:34 pm
by MarkyB
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.
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:45 pm
by pfgiz
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.
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:41 pm
by PSL184
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.....
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:18 pm
by jimbo1
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!
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:38 pm
by alanworland
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?
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:06 pm
by jimbo1
Is the earthing good?
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm
by alanworland
Worth checking I guess, earth braid comes out of the unit which I have taken to a sunvisor fixing.