Best antenna...

[Guest yasir]

Hello fellow human beans

I have a 98 Land Rover discovery and I've recently had a new stereo (Sony XR-F5100) and an external antenna installed. My old antenna was in the rear side window, which is tinted, so reception was very poor.

Anyway, today I took the disco down to a buildings basement to park and the antenna rod got knocked off by the low roof beams. The reception with the new antenna was adequete but I want a bit more. The new one was about 60 cm's and had a coil sort of thing near the base.

What kind of antenna would be best for both am and fm. I've seen rubber ones, twisted ones, plain rods, antennas with a coil and on and on and honestly I'm stumped... Also, whats the optimum length for a car antenna?

Thanks in advance!

p.s - I love this

[TTS]

whats the optimum length for a car antenna?

32"

Honestly I would have had the tint on the antenna glass replaced w/ a non-metalized film to get the reception back. but that's neither here nor there....

There are no great advancements in am/fm antenna technology.

A 32" fixed mast will give you the best reception possible.

The rest of the equation depends on weather conditions and topology of the ground where you drive.

Best of luck to ya!

[Guest mikeys]

metra makes a powered windshield antenna unless you have a sunstrip with the same tint .... its not to expensive

[Guest zolar]

whats the optimum length for a car antenna?

32"

Honestly I would have had the tint on the antenna glass replaced w/ a non-metalized film to get the reception back. but that's neither here nor there....

There are no great advancements in am/fm antenna technology.

A 32" fixed mast will give you the best reception possible.

The rest of the equation depends on weather conditions and topology of the ground where you drive.

Best of luck to ya!

1/4 wave on FM band is 33"

[TTS]

32" Mast

1" in the mounting base

..... You're the man... All bow!

[Guest zolar]

just a near useless piece of trivia I picked up in 20+ yrs of 12Volt

[Guest yasir]

riiiiiight...

I sort of knew about the length but asked to make sure. I live in the mid east and I have yet to find a shop that sells anything other than cheap chinese or locally made antennas.

SO... Any ideas on what the different types of antenna are saying or should I just go for the one that looks good?

[Guest zolar]

I like active antennas like the Terk

Sharkfins used to be cool 15 years ago

I don't know if they even make 'em anymore

most folks here that really listen to the radio

are making the switch to satellite radio

[Guest yasir]

We only get worldspace here and I don;t know of any car stereo that's "Worldspace Ready" so I guess I, like every other person not living in North America, am stuck with the conventional old fashioned am/fm radio.

[Guest yasir]

BAH!!!

Another one fell off... stupid trees.

Thanks for the replies everyone.