Another antenna question

2015 DCSB. Need recommendations for antenna replacement. I do listen to FM alot so will still need stock or preferably better reception as it's not great. Also something that can go through a car wash no problem. Stock Entune radio, no nav. Base and antenna seem to be in good shape, just doesn't have the reception every other vehicle I've owned had

 

There's not much to an antennae....Your looking for a shark fin type? I have the other traditional type. Your issue sounds more like the antennae isn't plugged in. On my truck 06 TRD OR, the antennae plugs in the back of the head unit. It looked like a headphone jack if I remember correctly. The wiring runs up the passenger A pillar with a white connector there. I'd say check the connections first. There are videos that'll show you how to remove things to check. It's not hard. Probably only need a screw driver and a butter knife to pry the interior apart. Good luck!

 

The antenna is plugged in yes. It's not that I have no reception it just cuts out miles before it did in my other vehicles. Not particular about the type just want something I don't have to remove for carwash and gets as good or preferably better reception as I know most of the shorties get worse reception and it's already meh stock

 

Ok so ordered this antenna. It's short enough to be below roof line and actually gets much better reception than the stock one did. Supposed to be carwash safe but haven't tried that yet.

$20 AntennaMastsRus - 17" All-Terrain Flexible Rubber Antenna is Compatible with Toyota Tacoma (1995-2015) - Spring Steel Internal Core

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075JXK1ZR/?coliid=I13XSW7Y4JH58E&colid=BAQ0Z2SED6I8&th=1

 

Alternate possibility - what you might find works significantly better, providing you can connect via Bluetooth to your head unit which I presume you can... use an app like TuneIn on your phone, or other, and STREAM the FM station to your Head Unit. Most stations these days stream their content so you are not artificially limited by station power, reception distance, fad, interference and propagation path distortion, etc, etc.

 

which one did you buy? the 17"?

 

Yes the 17"

 

Nah I prefer not use my phone period in the truck, battery draining/life shortening, I don't even link for calls just ignore them. I could use spotify since the wife has it and she does use it when we go on trips. Don't even use FM alot since the usb port can be used and I had a ton of albums on my laptop but when I do I like it to work and since I couldn't get any relative advice I had to just shoot in the dark and pick something. The reception on these factory antennas is really bad and others have noted the same

 

I've found my compromise. I use a USB cable only for charging (if I must), and Android Auto (wireless). Honestly, it's really convenient to just get in the truck and go. I have it set so my music picks up where it left off. I only need to plug into the USB for charging on long trips. I don't tend to use the wireless charger if at all. It's quite under-powered (TOYOTA).

I'm just too dependent on Android Auto now. It provides so much more than navigation, I'll never go back to not using it. That is, unless they seriously break it.

 

I'm going to try the 17" one out, signal is so-so where I live and a shorty doesn't work well at all. Tired of swapping antennas each wash. Funny as I get old, I now use a car wash, it was my first job paying taxes at 14.

 

please report back, I am interested in this one as well

 

pretty sure it is all about length due to the signal wavelength.. but then I see small OEM antenna's on certain cars, here is a yaris:

 

Well it's a bust, doesn't work any better than a little 6 inch one I got. Returning and I'll just swap antennas when I run through a car wash. Might work better in a big city, but not in a rural area.

 

Is it possible that the antenna adapter exiting the back of your head unit has become disconnected from the antenna assembly?

Why not try one of those "hidden" AM/FM antennas that is amplified? You can find them on Amazon and ebay, I think even on Crutchfield.com? Generally, they have this small rectangular block that gets affixed to the windshield?

 

Sorry to hear. It helped alot for me over OEM and I'm between rural and city but the OEM antennas seem to be pretty garbage from other vehicles toyotas included that I've owned

 

How hard is the installation? Can you share some pointers?
Thanks.

 

Nothing to it really just unscrew current antenna and tighten bottom of new one, screw on spacer then screw onto truck. Easy peasy. Only tool needed is 1/4in wrench to tighten the bottom part of new antenna before install

 

I read somewhere that the removal of the old antenna could be a disastrous leading to the antenna base replacement; hence, I've been doubted in my luck.
Thanks for your response.

 

I was not able to salvage my antennae from my wreck. That top chrome nut was seized and just crushed when tried some vice grips. Wrecked the bezel....was about a $100 to replace OEM....so it goes ....