Antenna question

[Roguish Lawyer]

The radio antenna on my Escalade is so long that it hits lots of beams and things in parking structures. The top of the antenna was torn off and I want to replace it with a shorter antenna. Apparently there are variety of shorter antennas I can buy to avoid this problem. My question is whether reception quality will be impaired if I go with a significantly shorter antenna -- is longer always better? Any other advice?

Thanks very much for any suggestions or comments.

[SF_BHT]

RL

There are a lot of Commercial low profile antennas for AM/FM radios out there.

As long as you get one made for your freq range of your radio you are good to go.

Your vehicle does not have a CB or other type of radio installed does it?

I have a Hockey Puck style antenna that replaced the original radio whip. It is on the roof and most people do not know an antenna is there.

There are a lot of window installed antennas that can be applied to existing vehicles. Send me a link to what you are looking at and I will see if there will be any problems. I do a lot of covert ones for our gov vehicles so they do not get ripped off.

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by SF_BHT

RL

There are a lot of Commercial low profile antennas for AM/FM radios out there.

As long as you get one made for your freq range of your radio you are good to go.

Your vehicle does not have a CB or other type of radio installed does it?

I have a Hockey Puck style antenna that replaced the original radio whip. It is on the roof and most people do not know an antenna is there.

There are a lot of window installed antennas that can be applied to existing vehicles. Send me a link to what you are looking at and I will see if there will be any problems. I do a lot of covert ones for our gov vehicles so they do not get ripped off.

Thanks! I was shown a catalog at the dealership when my truck was getting serviced today, but I'll send you a link when I can find one. It has satellite radio, but no CB. I assume the satellite radio works off a different antenna.

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

Thanks! I was shown a catalog at the dealership when my truck was getting serviced today, but I'll send you a link when I can find one. It has satellite radio, but no CB. I assume the satellite radio works off a different antenna.

Your vehicle should ahve 2 antennas. 1 - AM-FM and another that is your Sat Radio Antenna. I do not know where the escalade Sat Antenna is so you will have to verify it.

Next time get a SUV that is lower.

[Electron]

You've seen those antennae with the coil in the middle of it? That coil extends the electrical length of the antenna, although I don't know the exact formula, they are popular with ham/CB radio operators who want to have the advantage of a long whip antenna in a smaller antenna. They are available everywhere.