Radio Antennas

I'm wondering about the placement of radio antenna on the fender of a Speedster.

I have heard the hidden amplified signal antenna's do not function well for AM signal capture and are not even great for FM.

A number of people have advised me to go for a telescoping "mast" type antenna. Can anyone recommend a good model that retracts well down into the bud on the fender?

And, are their any challenges to getting the mount flush to the fiberglass?

Bill George

Suggestion , if you don't want a "seen" antenna you can mount one horizontal under the dash area.
Alan

Bill,
Adding a telescoping antenna shouldn't be a problem as long as it happens before your car is actually "assembled." Just remember, the tricky part is finding a proper "ground" for the antenna on the (mostly) fiberglass car. You're going to need a "ground" to the pan.

I am not sure how efective it is, but the peal and stick windshield antenia kits will easly apply to the back side of the trunk lid.

Their cheap enough to try one. If it don't work out, you can peal it off. You will still need to add a ground close to where the thin wires come out of the cable.

I applied a plastic antenna (that after market type) under the boot next to the fuel cell. I glued it there with 2 sided tape and works great.

Looking at the Knott's photos, I saw one car that had an notmal 30" antenna (the kind you see mounted on the side of a VW Beetle just behind the front fender) mounted inside the trunk, across the top on the bulkhead common to the back of the dash (in other words, slightly rearward of the gas tank, across the trunk at the rear/top.) It was on stand-offs about 1" away from the wall.

I thought that was a really cool place to mount it - out of sight, easily serviceable and it should work about as good as any concealed antenna, plus the gas tank and front of the pan act as a ground-plane for it. It's not vertical, but it's concealed.

Vertical always works better than horizontal when it comes to antennas (or is that antenni). And an antenna that can actually "see" the sky will always work better than one that can't. While the inside-the-trunk, horizontal application seems like a cool idea, it probably doesn't work well in anything but strong signal areas.
My new JPS Speedster project will have no radio.

It's antennae.
Grammers the butler

John,

As well it shouldn't. Mine does... I never use it. Give us more details about your upcoming build.

I used a generic telescoping antenna velcroed to the underside of the trunk lid.
It work's OK. I tried one of those electronic antennas. I think I got it from pep boys, so It probably wasn't state of the art. But it didn't work as good as the velcroed to the front trunk lid method.

I just couldn't bring myself to drill a hole in the fender for something as ugly as a radio antenna.

Greg B.

Thanks to all, this has been helpful and any additonal comments will be very much appreciated.

My own investigations before my opening "post" on this thread lead me to some web sites and discussion boards on the subject of classic car radio installations and some sites that specifically deal with fiberglass cars (Corvettes and Cobra Replicas).

Most of the information I have seen thus far bears out what John Leader has said. The verticle mast with unobstructed line of sight to the signal is optimal. A good ground also seems to be necessary for good reception. Fiberglass does not seem to be as much of a shield as body metal.

There is some chatter about amplified signal "power" antennae that can be placed under the dash or in the front trunk area. But these power antennae get mixed reviews, particularly for AM reception.

My issue is the mounting "bud" that is on the fender. With the fluid lines of the car I'm wondering if the bud has a gromet that conforms to the curve of the fender.

At this point I think I'll go with the power antenna just to see if it does the job well enough for me. Stay tuned for an update.

Thanks again,

I go along with John Leaders new wheels not having audio. I don't have any my Speedster either and truthfully don't miss it. I will admit I did enjoy Jim Bob Ward and Paul Harfords exchange of music knowledge at Knotts. That was on CD's and to me would be the way to go if I was ever inclined to mount an audio system. The exhaust note seems to satisfy me at this time. Being kind of a tradionalist I find the big speakers mounted in the doors and rear package shelf don't appeal to my 50's mentality.

I think a Convertable D or Roadster with a fender mounted antennae is period looking. To each their own, as far as I know there is no authenticity judging with our cars and that appeals to me. Been there, done that and this is more fun in MHO.

Bruce

The Tweeks catalog lists a "Hirschmann" OE-style antenna for what seems to be a reasonable price. For the purist, this would seem like a good choice, but are these antennae any good? Has anybody used one? The catalog also has a radio which is purported to have a period correct look for 1956 - 65 cars but with modern electronics.

All this being said, it begs the question, which is most important, the period correct look, function, practicality or just whatever trips your trigger? I don't think that there are any right answers to these questions, so I assume what makes you happy or meets your needs will be what you select for your car. My car will have an internal antenna, modern looking radio and two kick panel mounted speakers of equal or greater quality than what I had in my VS.
my 2 kroner
John H.
ps. I'll be bringing a favorite CD to test the system on delivery

I keep a walkman handy to listen to the traffic reports (every 10 minutes 24/7) when I am heading on the DC beltway to hear which way is hosed up the worst, but I prefer to listen to the exhaust.
ed

Years have gone by since this took place but, here it is...

An old German guy is waiting for his "Lambo" at a friend of mine's shop. To strike up a conversation I asked about the type of factory radio it has..... I got a wrinkled brow and a "over the top of the bifocals" look from the gent:

"Sonny ....when you can afford a car like this , you will learn that there is only the need to enjoy the music of the engine"

Ouch!

Alan:

Re: The music of a finely tuned engine.

I get the drift of your message.

But it made me stop a moment and think . . . I remember how soothing my x wife's voice seemed when we were passionately in love.

I think some music might be good if the "thrumb" of the engine starts to get on my nerves.

Sometimes a low murmer is better than fine whine.

Bill George

OK, three things:

1. I miss the sound of my wife's Austin Healey - it was absolute music.

2. I'm resisting a long post about why vertical car antennae work better (it has a lot to do with vertical polarization of the transmitting antenna, and ground-plane effects of the metal car it's expected to mount on (and why they never work as well on fiberglass cars), but let's not go there.

3. If you get one of the newer XM Satellite-radio-ready tuners, then you can forget the usual car radio antenna and go satellite only - the XM satellite antenna is very small (about 1 1/2" square by 1/2" thick) and sticks onto a horizontal surface with double-sticky tape - the upper rear cowl just behind the rear seat area would be perfect, or you could mount it almost anywhere inside the car - and it's small enough to be innocuous. That set of frequencies doesn't need a robust metal ground plane, so it lends itself to a fiberglass body well.

The XM transmitters (there are two, named "Rock" and "Roll") are both running 10 MEGA-watts (!!) so reception is very good anywhere in North America, and there are over 100 commercial-free channels of some of the best music I've heard in years (I do not sell XM, nor am I an employee, just a very satisfied subscriber). They also now offer 24 hour traffic and weather reports for over a dozen major metro areas in the USA.

I've been thinking of running a temporary set-up in Chris' truck for the Caravan to Carlisle (along with all the other stuff we're hauling) so maybe we could try it out in a Speedy with a radio......

gn

Cheaper to just all sing along "One Hundred Bottles of Beer On The Wall......One Hundred....Bottles .........Of.................Beeeer!"

Alan