Antenna options: Why is the antenna so friggin' long?

[daveoh2]

I'm taking my car in to get a new stereo system put in, and I'm wondering if it's worth changing/upgrading the antenna while I'm at it. The stock one is so dang long, but when I push it in close to the roof for aesthetic purposes, the radio reception craps out. Anyone have other solutions?

[ponyboy]

I got an electric powered antenna and left the stock one on to fill the space and left it pushed down like you said. They have them at most radio installation places. It wires in the normal place on the receiver and has an extra wire that wires into the red or yellow wire(usually this color on receivers) coming from the receiver for power. You can out the little black receiver on the dash somewhere. It is small and mounts with a sticky pad on the back of it. I mounted mine on the side of the console and it works great.

Good Luck, Pony

[f1reverb]

approximately 30 inches, at least on a car, so pull you stock antenna out to that length. AM is happy with a longer antenna, but I pull my '02 unit out to 30" and leave it. Antenna length is not a fashion statement. You could get a Hirschmann electronic one like many Euro '02s had on them, but making a hole in your trunk or roof for one is something I wouldn't do.

[alan717]

Hi Dave:

I just joined this forum 10 minutes ago. I had 3 02's when I was 18-20. I am now 40 and have been looking for one to get back in the game. I found a nice one in North Carolina and just bought another it days ago. One of the first things I plan to do is trash the pillar antenna-always hated those. I always loved the euro style roof antenna's-installed a few on my 02's way back but the best one I installed was on my Toyota truck a few years back. Man I love this antenna-the Hirschmann that used to be on the early M3's. I found that Bavarian Motorworks has them for $59. Email me if you want a picture. I was going to try a cheaper price but that may be difficult (the one I had 10 years ago I got from a junkyar and paid more than $60 for it). Again, this is one cool antenna that the 2002's are just screaming for.

Cheers,

ALan S

[alan717]

Hi Dave:

I just joined this forum 10 minutes ago. I had 3 02's when I was 18-20. I am now 40 and have been looking for one to get back in the game. I found a nice one in North Carolina and just bought another it days ago. One of the first things I plan to do is trash the pillar antenna-always hated those. I always loved the euro style roof antenna's-installed a few on my 02's way back but the best one I installed was on my Toyota truck a few years back. Man I love this antenna-the Hirschmann that used to be on the early M3's. I found that Bavarian Motorworks has them for $59. Email me if you want a picture. I was going to try a cheaper price but that may be difficult (the one I had 10 years ago I got from a junkyar and paid more than $60 for it). Again, this is one cool antenna that the 2002's are just screaming for.

Cheers,

ALan S

[alan717]

Hi Dave:

I just joined this forum 10 minutes ago. I had 3 02's when I was 18-20. I am now 40 and have been looking for one to get back in the game. I found a nice one in North Carolina and just bought another it days ago. One of the first things I plan to do is trash the pillar antenna-always hated those. I always loved the euro style roof antenna's-installed a few on my 02's way back but the best one I installed was on my Toyota truck a few years back. Man I love this antenna-the Hirschmann that used to be on the early M3's. I found that Bavarian Motorworks has them for $59. Email me if you want a picture. I was going to try a cheaper price but that may be difficult (the one I had 10 years ago I got from a junkyar and paid more than $60 for it). Again, this is one cool antenna that the 2002's are just screaming for.

Cheers,

ALan S

[RandyMolson]

When you say Bavarian Motorworks, are you talking from a BMW dealer?

Email me the pic and I will post it for you.

Edit: randymolson at gmail dot com

[alan717]

Sorry for the multiple responses.

I meant to write Bavarian Autosport, they are online, you probably already know that.

Here is the picture.

Alan S

[SteveJ]

Damn Jay,

You beat me to it.

I thought I was going to be able to pull out that nugget of info that I had stored away from electronics school so many years ago.

Right around 30-31" for FM reception.

Now, if you only listened to ONE station, you could tune your antenna to the exact frequency.

The joke was always on the guys with the big 'ol CB whip antennas that would bend them over to look cool(and to clear the low ceilings) and leave them there. Basically cut their transmission range in half.

[im3crazy]

In case anyone searches this string- what appears to be the excessive length of this antenna is most likely for SW/AM reception (optimal 69") without a base cole load. FM is about 45" optimized. The antennas used with my multiband Blupunkt Frankfurt was over 54" extended. The piller mount design and the slope angle was perfect for deploying such a long antenna.