Antenna dilemma
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 6
From: Merritt Island Florida
Antenna dilemma
I bought my FRC with a shorty installed. It is starting to pit and the reception has been horrible. So its probably time to replace it. I dont really want to go back to a stock antenna for a RC car look.
Are any shortys better than others?
Is there anyway to "calibrate" or "tune" the antenna to the radio like back in the day?
Are any shortys better than others?
Is there anyway to "calibrate" or "tune" the antenna to the radio like back in the day?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 6
From: Merritt Island Florida
I found this one for sale. Emailed the seller and he said it would fit as long as the car didnt have the power antenna as o.e. They are avail. in 6, 9, 12" lenghts.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...QQcmdZViewItem
Any thoughts?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...QQcmdZViewItem
Any thoughts?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
don't have any experience with that model or brand. You can do what many others have with their stoc antennas. Just chop it down, repaint it and you can add a cap to the top or transfer the ball from the cut piece and add it back to the chopped antenna
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 6
From: Merritt Island Florida
What models had chrome masts that would thread on?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Older radios had a trimmer capicitor to "tune"
Haven't pulled the radio from my C5 but have worked on a lot of older car radios...some with TUBES IN THEM. They all had a trimmer capacitor which had a screw slot accessable from the outside of the radio. Usually near where the coax cable went into the radio chassis. You used a small screwdriver. Tuned to a MEDIUM to WEAK signal near the middle of the AM band like around 1000 KC and turned the adjusting screw either right or left until the signal was at the maximum volume from the speakers. Don't know if the current radios have this or not but after replacing an antenna in the OLD DAYS I ALWAYS set the trimmer capacitor to get the most signal from my radio.
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BIGHANK
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Canton GA
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St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'10-'11-'12
No, the '91 had a power antenna. The screw on type are for fixed mast antennas.
The biggest problem I see with a lot of the antennas are the aren't tuned. The length of the mast/coil plays a hudge part in the reception capabilities. Chopping an antenna down will shorten it as well as shorten its receiving capabilities.
Remember also, our cars are crippled by the lack of a large ground plane that most cars have via the steel body. That translates to a less than optimal receiving setup. IIRC, there is a booster in the OEM receiver that kicks the RF up before it gets to the tuner.
The biggest problem I see with a lot of the antennas are the aren't tuned. The length of the mast/coil plays a hudge part in the reception capabilities. Chopping an antenna down will shorten it as well as shorten its receiving capabilities.
Remember also, our cars are crippled by the lack of a large ground plane that most cars have via the steel body. That translates to a less than optimal receiving setup. IIRC, there is a booster in the OEM receiver that kicks the RF up before it gets to the tuner.