Aerial Problems

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Goldy
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Aerial Problems

Post by Goldy »

I've recently bought a spoiler off a GTI MR2 mk2 to fit onto my 91' standard mr2. Problem is it overlaps the aerial by about 1cm.

I want to listen to the radio so I was thinking of getting some sort of stubby aerial such as seen on bmw's or mercs that will fit under it..

Does anybody have any ideas or know how to rectify this problem?.... Or should i just send the spoiler back?
steve b
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Re: Aerial Problems

Post by steve b »

£12 from halfords, nice smooth rear wings :-)

Image
'02 VX220 2.2 n/a Daily driver - Exige Size TD 1.2 - TAT shorty Diffuser - HardTop - Chris Tullet 4-1 Manifold.

'97 mk1 Mazda Eunos Turbo track car with 260bhp/ton - soon more as Chris Wilsons going to build me an engine over the winter :o) .
dudeone

Re: Aerial Problems

Post by dudeone »

steve b wrote:£12 from halfords, nice smooth rear wings :-)


Hi Steve,

So how good is the reception :?: :?:

Cheers Dave
steve b
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Re: Aerial Problems

Post by steve b »

all fine :D so far, I have not gone to the depths of wales to give it a real test yet, however if it goes crappy then i'll put a MD on.
'02 VX220 2.2 n/a Daily driver - Exige Size TD 1.2 - TAT shorty Diffuser - HardTop - Chris Tullet 4-1 Manifold.

'97 mk1 Mazda Eunos Turbo track car with 260bhp/ton - soon more as Chris Wilsons going to build me an engine over the winter :o) .
Goldy
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Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Goldy »

looks good.... rekon it'll work in the boot?
Goldy
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Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Goldy »

Muchos good news... I decided to build my own aerial out of a twisted pair from network cable. Threaded it round the boot and used a spare adaptor socked to connect it up. Works a treat, is completely invisible and means I don't have to use the stupid motorised aerial!! Problem is I just paid £67 for a bloody aerial relay box for the aerial!!!..... Does anyone want one?
Jimbo
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Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:53 am

Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Jimbo »

Goldy, can you tell me a bit more about this, I had my aerial smoothed over when I got the Shogun wing put on and i've been looking for a solution as I've tried the halfords aerial but the signal is crap :(

Cheers

Jimbo
Goldy
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Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Goldy »

Jimbo wrote:Goldy, can you tell me a bit more about this, I had my aerial smoothed over when I got the Shogun wing put on and i've been looking for a solution as I've tried the halfords aerial but the signal is crap :(

Cheers

Jimbo


Well basically i got an aerial socket adaptor... its a tiny thing that just fits into the aerial plug in the boot, its male at one end and female at the other.
I took bout 1.5 meters of single core twisted pair cable (dont think the type really matters, it was just what i had to hand), and basically stripped the ends off and shoved it into the hole in the female end of the adapter. I secured it in with a blob of glue.
I threaded the wire around the inside of my boot behind the grey felt.

Its not perfect but it works pretty damn well for what cost me nothing. I think if you use a longer length of wire the signal will be better. I get pretty much perfect reception with all major radio stations. I can't really pick up uni fm but thats crap reception most of the time anyway!
Leon.
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Location: Guildford, Surrey

Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Leon. »

Goldy wrote:
Jimbo wrote:Goldy, can you tell me a bit more about this, I had my aerial smoothed over when I got the Shogun wing put on and i've been looking for a solution as I've tried the halfords aerial but the signal is crap :(

Cheers

Jimbo


Well basically i got an aerial socket adaptor... its a tiny thing that just fits into the aerial plug in the boot, its male at one end and female at the other.
I took bout 1.5 meters of single core twisted pair cable (dont think the type really matters, it was just what i had to hand), and basically stripped the ends off and shoved it into the hole in the female end of the adapter. I secured it in with a blob of glue.
I threaded the wire around the inside of my boot behind the grey felt.

Its not perfect but it works pretty damn well for what cost me nothing. I think if you use a longer length of wire the signal will be better. I get pretty much perfect reception with all major radio stations. I can't really pick up uni fm but thats crap reception most of the time anyway!


Sounds cool, good solution mate!!

I have a bit of knowledge re aerials/antennas. There is an optimal length for any aerial depending on the frequency it receives (not sure for radio but doesn't need to be enormous). It is also best to strip the entire cable to provide max surface area. It is even better to coil the wire (e'g' wrap around a pencil.....) as this creates even greater area/volume. 1mm diameter wire is fine.......

HTH
Jimbo
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Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:53 am

Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Jimbo »

Does the wire have to be grounded in someway?
I was also told that metal of the boot would act as a shield?

Jimbo
Leon.
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Location: Guildford, Surrey

Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Leon. »

Jimbo wrote:Does the wire have to be grounded in someway?
I was also told that metal of the boot would act as a shield?

Jimbo


hmmmm.... think so but it should be grounded from the adaptor?

Not too sure about the second point, theory suggests you're right but many cars have internal aerials, and Goldy's seems to work........

HTH
Goldy
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Re: Aerial Problems

Post by Goldy »

I've had a look the optimal length for fm radio is about 1.45 meters for fm radio. I think this is for a single wire antenna. If you use 2 wires going in opposite directions you should half this value... so I believe.

Since my wire is about 1.5 or so meters this might be why I get decent reception. I might try trimming it down a bit to see if it improves.
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