Hello guys I have a 72 olds cutlass with the antenna in the windshield of course... Just wondering if their is something you can buy to get a stronger signal to listen to the radio. I listen to my ipad but sometimes i want to listen to the radio but i cant because of the reception. Any HELP will be appreciated.. Thanks... Kevin

 

What kind of radio do you have?

Those windshield antennas worked fine with the original radios.

I'm assuming you don't want to punch a hole in a fender and install a replacement antenna.

- Eric

 

I have a pioneer radio in the glove box but my original is in the correct spot. Actually i have had the same results with the original radio. IM NOT going to drill a hole in my fender for an antenna.So if there is nothing i can buy i guess i will just have to deal with it.. Thanks... Kevin

 

I don't know of any alternative that doesn't make a hole, short of a coat hanger, but I would say that your windshield antenna should work better than that (I've had many if these cars over the years).

I would check the condition of the antenna wire and the connectors at both ends.

- Eric

 

Make sure your antenna coax lead and the radio's case have a solid ground. Most poor reception is attributed to poor grounds.

 

Also have you changed the condenser? This may be where the static is coming from and the antenna is fine. I have a pioneer units as well and the reception is perfect with my stock antenna also.

 

Thanks guys for your input i will look at those things....

 

This is just a thought. West Marine and probably Overton's has boat antennas that are just a long piece of wire with the Motorola connector on it. It is designed to put up under the bow of the boat. I have one on my boat and it has worked fine. Good news is they are cheap. I don't know how a metal body on a car would affect the reception. I just looked it up on West Marine and it is $10.99. Here is the link.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=50191

 

Thanks i will check into the antenna. I think that may work...

 

That's an interesting antenna.



A lot like the antenna inside the windshield, actually.

I wouldn't expect it to work unless you have a convertible, and can place it someplace above the body tub, like along the dashboard - kind of like where the original was.

- Eric

 

Yes i do have a convertible,yes that antenna looks interesting will probably look into it after i check out these ground wires...

 

It would or should work under a fiberglass hood. just throwing that out there

 

When I bought my 71 98 there was a CB antenna lying in the trunk with a magnetic pad on the bottom. Apparently, the previous owner used a CB radio (the wire went through the package tray and under the carpet to right beneath the dash). I don't see why you couldn't do the same thing with a radio antenna. Of course, who wants a magnetic antenna latched onto their car?

 

I would! The point is, you can remove it and hide it when you're not using it. Take the car on the road and put up the antenna. Enter it in a local car show or cruise in, and take it down and hide it in the trunk for that sleek, slip-through-the-wind look.

I've got magnetic antennas attached to my cars now, including my '73 wagon, but they're the little, black, flat things that Sirius satellite radio gives you, so they're not obvious even when deployed. But they can be easily removed and stowed.

Can you spot it in this photo?



It's right there where the right front fender narrows just below the windshield between the door and the hood.

 

DARNED if it is! I thought you were pulling our leg, but it is there isn't it? That is pretty cool.

The CB antenna in the trunk of my 71 was about 6 feet long. I took the antenna out and it is in my garage now. The wire is still under the carpet of my car. Maybe someday I will get another CB and use the antenna again. I don't think I would want to use the magnet attachment though. It is a pretty powerful magnet and might damage the paint (even though my 71 has lousy paint).

 

Ok nice i gotta do my homework.. Thanks again everyone for you input...

 

I'm sure you can find something detachable. Magnetic-mount CB antennas are available from many vendors, and I'll bet some have magnetic-mount AM/FM antennas as well.

Olds64's concern about the magnet possibly marring the paint is a valid one, but I think putting a piece of cloth or something like that between the magnet and the car would probably protect it. In my experience, what these satellite radio magnets do is leave behind a faint black smudge in the shape of the magnet, but it wipes off easily. I've never had one of these magnets do any permanent damage, and I'm guessing that, if this were a common problem, Sirius would get an earful about it and fix the problem.

 

Back in the day, living in the SoCal desert did the nasty and cut a hole in the fender since the windshield antenna didn't allow reception of KROQ.

Pretty interesting alternatives; will have to check them out for a non-Olds GM convertible also in the fleet.

 

A 30" mast antenna will be the optimum for FM reception, but that would involve drilling a hole or possibly the magnetic mount previously mentioned.

The in-glass half-dipole antenna is not very good for FM reception. It works acceptably for strong local stations but is lacking for weaker, distant stations. My RF Communications instructor used to tell us they were great for TV reception, though. Something about being horizontally oriented (like TV transmitter antennas) vs. vertically oriented (like FM transmitter antennas).