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Best Short antenna on the market

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by jxm94, Dec 26, 2016.

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  1. Dec 26, 2016 at 7:54 PM
    #1
    jxm94

    #1
    jxm94 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Got some extra christmas and looking to get a short antenna also when I go to the automated car washes the people running always stop me and take off my antenna not a huge deal but rather have short and see if they will not take it off. So im looking for a shorter one with good quality reception. What would you guys suggest
     
    jxm94, Dec 26, 2016
    #1
  2. Dec 26, 2016 at 7:56 PM
    #2
    tgriff

    #2
    tgriff Well-Known Member

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    Cravenspeed has a good selection of "stubby" antennas.

    I got one on my truck and it looks good. The reception, on the other hand, is hit or miss
     
    tgriff, Dec 26, 2016
    #2
    Norton likes this.
  3. Dec 26, 2016 at 8:05 PM
    #3
    jxm94

    #3
    jxm94 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That seems to be the thing I am reading in all the reviews is the reception gets crappy I dont necessarily need a stubby one but just one that is shorter then the stock one.
     
    jxm94, Dec 26, 2016
    #3
  4. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:09 PM
    #4
    AmorPatriae

    #4
    AmorPatriae Well-Known Member

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    From everything I've read all the stubby ones have significantly worse reception. A lot of people just cut off 4-8 inches and call it a day. Now you can go use that extra cash I saved you and put a stripper through college.
     
    AmorPatriae, Dec 26, 2016
    #4
    easleycrawler, mikeymorra, uwhusky12 and 6 others like this.
  5. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:13 PM
    #5
    bbell7d6

    #5
    bbell7d6 Well-Known Member

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    I cut the stock one to 13". No prob with reception
     
    bbell7d6, Dec 26, 2016
    #5
    MrZoggs likes this.
  6. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:14 PM
    #6
    crazysccrmd

    #6
    crazysccrmd Well-Known Member

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    I cut mine down as well with no noticeable effects.
     
    crazysccrmd, Dec 26, 2016
    #6
    MrZoggs likes this.
  7. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:20 PM
    #7
    jxm94

    #7
    jxm94 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    thats a good idea. In regards to that you obviously cut off it off from the top?
     
    jxm94, Dec 26, 2016
    #7
    over60 likes this.
  8. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:28 PM
    #8
    jxm94

    #8
    jxm94 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    jxm94, Dec 26, 2016
    #8
  9. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:29 PM
    #9
    bbell7d6

    #9
    bbell7d6 Well-Known Member

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    Yes. I threw it in the vice and Dremeled it with a cut off wheel
     
    bbell7d6, Dec 26, 2016
    #9
  10. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:29 PM
    #10
    AmorPatriae

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    AmorPatriae Well-Known Member

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    Remove the ball. Chop it from the top, re-install ball or heat wrap it.
     
    AmorPatriae, Dec 26, 2016
    #10
  11. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:30 PM
    #11
    bbell7d6

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    bbell7d6 Well-Known Member

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    bbell7d6, Dec 26, 2016
    #11
  12. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:32 PM
    #12
    Twinkie0311

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    Twinkie0311 Mall crawling like a boss

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    I got a 14 inch antenna x. Had it for 3 years no issues reception is great and it ha survived countless auto car washes
     
    Twinkie0311, Dec 26, 2016
    #12
  13. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:40 PM
    #13
    PNW/TRD Steve

    #13
    PNW/TRD Steve Well-Known Member

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    I cut 6in off mine to fit my garage and lost my favorite station. It really matters where you live. Just be aware that there will be a loss of some sort.
     
    PNW/TRD Steve, Dec 26, 2016
    #13
  14. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:41 PM
    #14
    cliffyk

    #14
    cliffyk Well-Known Member

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    The FM radio band in the US is 20 MHz "wide", 88 to 108 MHz, meaning 98 MHz is the center of the band. The wavelength of a 98 MHz radio wave is 120.5", one quarter of that is 30.125" and most non-enhanced automobile antennas are of or near that length--i.e. they are "1/4 wave" antennas. About as short as an antenna for that band can be and provide "good" reception.

    Any shorter than 30" and performance suffers, however if a shorter antenna is needed or desired 15" or so (1/8 wave ) would be the next most viable option with "good" reception over a 45 to 50 mile distance under optimal conditions (flat terrain, no major obstacles). But (there's always a but) once you get below 1/4 wave it really doesn't matter all that much so anything 13" to 18" will perform similarly. Below 12" don't expect much for any but local (20 miles or so maybe) relatively high power stations.

    FWIW I cut mine to 14-1/2" to favour a 104.5 MHz station in Jacksonville, about 40 miles from here as the crow flies. It's listenable for that station out to 50-55 miles from Jacksonville, but that is here in the flatlands of NE Florida, it falls off fast after that.
     
    cliffyk, Dec 26, 2016
    #14
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  15. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:42 PM
    #15
    AmorPatriae

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    AmorPatriae Well-Known Member

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    Science!!!
     
    AmorPatriae, Dec 26, 2016
    #15
    smallwoodaj6801 and Minny Taco like this.
  16. Dec 26, 2016 at 9:47 PM
    #16
    PNW/TRD Steve

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    PNW/TRD Steve Well-Known Member

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    :thumbsup:
    I lost 103.5 (cuts in and out). Not a local station and not flatland.:( I was getting tired of hitting the garage door though.
     
    PNW/TRD Steve, Dec 26, 2016
    #16
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  17. Dec 27, 2016 at 3:01 AM
    #17
    R0dzilla75

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    R0dzilla75 Well-Known Member

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    Yup and Florida is a pretty flat state. Nothing to interfere with radio signal.
     
    R0dzilla75, Dec 27, 2016
    #17
  18. Dec 27, 2016 at 3:41 AM
    #18
    3coma

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    3coma my kid says my truck is "Boss"

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    I tried twisting that ball off the tip of my antenna with channel locks and it wouldn't budge. Any better ideas? May be try some heat?
     
    3coma, Dec 27, 2016
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  19. Dec 27, 2016 at 9:02 AM
    #19
    Chris15sr5

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    Chris15sr5 Well-Known Member

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    Had the same and also broke off in the car wash

    Now running the stock antenna again
     
    Chris15sr5, Dec 27, 2016
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  20. Dec 27, 2016 at 9:07 AM
    #20
    spiralout462

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    spiralout462 Well-Known Member

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    Antennae X. Good quality. I don't listen to fm radio.

    20161227_120602.jpg
     
    spiralout462, Dec 27, 2016
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