Antenna or No Antenna?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Media PA
Antenna or No Antenna?
Can I fill the antenna hole and stash the antenna somewhere inside the body (and have it work) or do I have to keep the antenna external? Has anyone else filled the hole and switch to a hidden antenna?
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
From: midlothian texas
i have no issue's with my 72.
the antenna is under the carpet behind the seat's no wire no bump .
ntq
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
If you try it, make sure it works before filling in the hole. Also make sure the antenna is well grounded as antennas need a ground plane to receive properly. The factory installed a metal plate inside the quarter panel to act as a ground plane which itself is grounded to the chassis since the body doesn't become the ground plane like in a metal bodied car.
It's tough to get a well grounded antenna and ground plane on a fiberglass car and the factories spend a good bit of engineering to accomplish it...more so than on metal cars. You might find you're not improving on what GM did.
Also, for good FM reception, besides needing a grounded antenna, best performance is from a 29"-31" antenna or a multiple of that...the length of an FM carrier half-wave. Change appreciably from that and you get degraded reception. For AM reception, the longer the antenna the better.
It's tough to get a well grounded antenna and ground plane on a fiberglass car and the factories spend a good bit of engineering to accomplish it...more so than on metal cars. You might find you're not improving on what GM did.
Also, for good FM reception, besides needing a grounded antenna, best performance is from a 29"-31" antenna or a multiple of that...the length of an FM carrier half-wave. Change appreciably from that and you get degraded reception. For AM reception, the longer the antenna the better.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 6
From: Palm PA
68 Vetteman
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
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From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I removed my stock antenna and all the wiring, and will fill the hole. I installed an antenna in the inside of the upper passenger corner of the windshield. The wiring runs right down the A-pillar to the stereo. It's almost impossible to see unless you're looking for it, and it allows for the elimination of the stock mast antenna.
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...&tp=3449&avf=N
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...&tp=3449&avf=N
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Radio Antenna ?
I plan to mount a cheap standard antenna directly under the dash pad, on my 69, it should work just fine no metal to interfere with reception. Not sure if the HEI iginition will mess up reception yet.
69Vett
69Vett
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
.. This is the best way to go.. if you tint the back window no one will ever see it.. Wish I would have done that the first time I did the carpet.
Ill do it this winter though.... I have a ton of things to do then..
I like the clean look with out the antenna...
I removed my stock antenna and all the wiring, and will fill the hole. I installed an antenna in the inside of the upper passenger corner of the windshield. The wiring runs right down the A-pillar to the stereo. It's almost impossible to see unless you're looking for it, and it allows for the elimination of the stock mast antenna.
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...&tp=3449&avf=N
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...&tp=3449&avf=N
