Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: mike alain on Friday,December 10, 2021, 05:21:44 AM
-
Folks, put a nice new radio in, but no hole to install a new antenna, do not really want to drill a hole in my new paint job, any options?? maybe just lay it down in the front hood?
I'm in a big city, not far from transmitters, or is there some sort of trick around this problem. Thanks Mike.
-
I used something like this stuffed under the dash. It works ok. Just plug in antenna and provide 12v of switched power.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/122091516670?hash=item1c6d38b2fe:g:HZoAAOSwA~lhpDNh
-
Don't get your hopes up. Fibreglass cars and radios don't mix well. Forget AM, period. With careful shielding and adding capacitors to "noise-makers" such as wiper, heater, rad fan motors, etc, you should be able to get OK FM reception. After two different radios, I binned them and went with music off a phone and headsets. Mind, mine is an S1 and they are far (far, far) more noisy than an S2 or TC/S.
-
My antenna is inside the front boot. I drilled a hole 5/8" hole (or whatever size will accept the threaded base of your antenna) above and to the outside of the round vent hole. I inserted the threaded base of the antenna in the hole and secured it with a nut under the dash and connected the cable from the antenna to the radio. I attached the other end of the antenna at about the same location above the round vent hole at the other side and secured the top of the antenna with a cable strap. The antenna was long enough so there was a bow in it from one side of the storage bin to the other side. Radio reception was fine with this arrangement - and - no holes in the paint - no ugly antenna - no aero-drag.
Tom
TCS - 4605R
-
I am perfectly satisfied with my powered antenna. I don't listen to am.
No ignition noise on fm and no shielding or caps like JB suggests.
-
I've no experience but recall someone posting about using a marine antenna like this one.
Cheap enough for an experiment and could be mounted way up front under the warts - furthest away from noisy components.
Anyone use these?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294595764509
-
I have a sort of opposite problem. I already have a hole in my fender with an antenna in it but I think it looks pretty ugly. Does anybody know of an antenna that is short and stubby?
-
Just google "short car radio antennas".
-
Thanks JB!
-
I bought an inexpensive antenna mast and ran the wire under the passenger side if the plastic console/armrest. The antenna is standing behind the passenger seat, seatback, out of site. It seems to work OK.
-
The previous owner on my car ran it around the inner edge of the front windscreen . A small wire stuck on with clear tape.