Author Topic: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?  (Read 499 times)

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Offline mike alain

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Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« 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.

Offline Pfreen

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #1 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 05:40:38 AM »
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

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #2 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 06:58:52 AM »
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.

Offline TCS4605R

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #3 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 08:54:52 AM »
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

Offline Pfreen

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #4 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 09:12:55 AM »
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.

Offline GavinT

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #5 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 04:51:19 PM »
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

Offline BDA

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #6 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 05:17:08 PM »
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?

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #7 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 06:33:58 PM »
Just google "short car radio antennas".

Offline BDA

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #8 on: Friday,December 10, 2021, 10:09:18 PM »
Thanks JB!

Offline rjbaren

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #9 on: Saturday,December 11, 2021, 05:10:21 AM »
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. 

Offline Sparkrite

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Re: Antenna, no hole, can I hide it?
« Reply #10 on: Saturday,December 11, 2021, 11:32:00 AM »
The previous owner on my car ran it around the inner edge of the front windscreen . A small wire stuck on with clear tape.