Short / mini antennas

H

Hunterman

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Chevy 2500JD
How many run one of those short or mini radio antennas on their truck? I have tried 2 different brands (I don’t recall which brands) that I got on Amazon. I returned both of them because well they sucked! I didn’t spend a bunch of money on them. They were probably in the $15-$20 range when I bought them.

Anyone have good experience with a shorter antenna if so what brand? I’m not talking about being in the middle of a city with great reception or in the middle of no where when you barley get a signal on any antenna but back country roads and rolling hills does any shorty antenna get almost as good of reception as the standard OEM antenna?

I know that the longer antennas will always work better but is there something maybe 90% as good on a smaller size?
 
Hunterman said:
How many run one of those short or mini radio antennas on their truck? I have tried 2 different brands (I don’t recall which brands) that I got on Amazon. I returned both of them because well they sucked! I didn’t spend a bunch of money on them. They were probably in the $15-$20 range when I bought them.

Anyone have good experience with a shorter antenna if so what brand? I’m not talking about being in the middle of a city with great reception or in the middle of no where when you barley get a signal on any antenna but back country roads and rolling hills does any shorty antenna get almost as good of reception as the standard OEM antenna?

I know that the longer antennas will always work better but is there something maybe 90% as good on a smaller size?
Click to expand...
I got this one when my truck was new. It’s been on ever since and I’m pleased with the performance. I can still listen to WSM AM out of Nashville at night when their signal is strongest. That’s 300 miles away for me. I still get all the local stations I did with the original whip. These are a quality product USA made by a family owned company. Make sure to scroll down the page on Amazon and read about the product and the company. 👍


1728565727159.jpeg
 
I have one that I purchased from builtright 3 years ago. Works pretty well - but I also am not a huge radio listener. I tend to stream from my phone. I also have the OEM Ford antenna under my rear seat (as well as a Larson HAM antenna) if I needed to improve reception or transmission.

builtrightind.com

Perfect-Fit Stubby Antenna | Ford F-150/Raptor (2021+), Super Duty (20 - BuiltRight Industries

Replace your unsightly stock radio antenna with the BuiltRight stout and stubby billet aluminum unit. Absolutely the best Bronco antenna and the best F-150 antenna in one!
builtrightind.com builtrightind.com
 
I don't have any suggestions for useful antennas as I too just always stream Spotify. And I also just keep the original one behind my rear seat with the jack in case I need it.
I do have some suggestions for useless antennas:
For the longest time I just had a nice little chrome stainless 1/4-20 bolt in it's place.
20240606_182344.jpg

Then one day I had $15 burning a hole in my pocket, so I bought a 3D printed Nerf dart antenna.
IMG-20240923-WA0000.jpeg
Both have completely zero reception.
 
HvacSciGuy said:
I don't have any suggestions for useful antennas as I too just always stream Spotify. And I also just keep the original one behind my rear seat with the jack in case I need it.
I do have some suggestions for useless antennas:
For the longest time I just had a nice little chrome stainless 1/4-20 bolt in it's place.
View attachment 174249
Then one day I had $15 burning a hole in my pocket, so I bought a 3D printed Nerf dart antenna. View attachment 174250Both have completely zero reception.
Click to expand...
How much you want for that Kentucky sticker? 🤪
 
sdhqoffroad.com

'11-23 Ford F250/350 Orginal Stubby Antenna

CS-AB120-103 The Stubby is the best aftermarket antenna replacement available for your Ford. We machined our first Mini antenna back in 2005 and have applied our experience to designing a perfect fit for F-250s MADE TO LAST: This model is machined out of billet aluminum here in Oregon. It has...
sdhqoffroad.com sdhqoffroad.com

It’s made locally.
 
Vermonster said:
I have one that I purchased from builtright 3 years ago. Works pretty well - but I also am not a huge radio listener. I tend to stream from my phone. I also have the OEM Ford antenna under my rear seat (as well as a Larson HAM antenna) if I needed to improve reception or transmission.

builtrightind.com

Perfect-Fit Stubby Antenna | Ford F-150/Raptor (2021+), Super Duty (20 - BuiltRight Industries

Replace your unsightly stock radio antenna with the BuiltRight stout and stubby billet aluminum unit. Absolutely the best Bronco antenna and the best F-150 antenna in one!
builtrightind.com builtrightind.com
Click to expand...
I have the same one. On both trucks. The Lightning and Tremor. Tbh I haven’t turned the radio on in a truck in like 8 years but they do look good! Plus they don’t slap my expensive ditch lights!
 
I have tried 3 stubby antennae and they simply just don't work. You may get a better experience if the they are transmitting from a high location, like a mountain top, they seem to work a little better. But once you get on flat land, SOL!
 
Hunterman said:
How many run one of those short or mini radio antennas on their truck? I have tried 2 different brands (I don’t recall which brands) that I got on Amazon. I returned both of them because well they sucked! I didn’t spend a bunch of money on them. They were probably in the $15-$20 range when I bought them.

Anyone have good experience with a shorter antenna if so what brand? I’m not talking about being in the middle of a city with great reception or in the middle of no where when you barley get a signal on any antenna but back country roads and rolling hills does any shorty antenna get almost as good of reception as the standard OEM antenna?

I know that the longer antennas will always work better but is there something maybe 90% as good on a smaller size?
Click to expand...
The truth is... None.

Radio reception on an antenna is based on the wavelength which equates to gain. The standard antenna is usually 1/4 wavelength and the wavelength on a small antenna cuts that wavelength in half or more when you shorten the antenna. Many people that get "good reception" from the short antenna are truly in the right spot for the stations they listen to. It's not the antenna, it's location to the transmitter.

The original antenna is the best unless you go extremely long or get an active antenna. (Gain with amplifier) of which I know of none that fit vehicles and the signal to noise ratio would have to be very good, which equates to much $$$.

I tried an experiment by running a half meter wire up the edge of the windshield attached to the stub of the original antenna, with a 1/4-20 screw. It sort of works, but nowhere as good as the original antenna. I then terminated it with a stubby and can receive local stations "ok" when I listen to a local station. I generally use my phone for music with applications. I use the WeBoost amplifier when in remote locations to maintain the cellular connection.

Bottom line is that you will never receive a better signal with a short antenna. Perhaps an alternate source such as Pandora (free with adds) or Spotify would be in order.
 
Canyon Trekker said:
The truth is... None.

Radio reception on an antenna is based on the wavelength which equates to gain. The standard antenna is usually 1/4 wavelength and the wavelength on a small antenna cuts that wavelength in half or more when you shorten the antenna. Many people that get "good reception" from the short antenna are truly in the right spot for the stations they listen to. It's not the antenna, it's location to the transmitter.

The original antenna is the best unless you go extremely long or get an active antenna. (Gain with amplifier) of which I know of none that fit vehicles and the signal to noise ratio would have to be very good, which equates to much $$$.

I tried an experiment by running a half meter wire up the edge of the windshield attached to the stub of the original antenna, with a 1/4-20 screw. It sort of works, but nowhere as good as the original antenna. I then terminated it with a stubby and can receive local stations "ok" when I listen to a local station. I generally use my phone for music with applications. I use the WeBoost amplifier when in remote locations to maintain the cellular connection.

Bottom line is that you will never receive a better signal with a short antenna. Perhaps an alternate source such as Pandora (free with adds) or Spotify would be in order.
Click to expand...
Canyon Trekker is correct - the stubby antennas will severely compromise your ability to receive. I just passed my ham radio general exam and all the radio and antenna theory is still swimming around in my head and he is spot on. I never had a problem with the stock antenna and with the new ham license I will be adding even more. @Vermodster did a nice job with his antennas and I may look to copy his install so as not to scream "radio equipment onboard" too loudly.
 
Use whatever antenna you think looks best and then unhook the OEM lead from the back of the HU and use one of these...
I've seen em anywhere from $12 on amazon to $50 on Crutchfield. Just search "hidden antenna."

I have this one in my '51 Chevy pickup.

www.classiccarstereos.com

Hidden Amplified Antenna

Check out the deal on Hidden Amplified Antenna at Classic Car Stereos
www.classiccarstereos.com www.classiccarstereos.com
 
Do we digress into a discussion about just how LOS (Line Of Sight) works??
 
We sell the small Builtright antennas as mentioned above.

Best $30.00 you can spend.. I cant stand looking at what comes on these trucks. However, I dont listen to a ton of radio but Ive never noticed bad service.

G
 
The choice is: Aesthetics? or Functionality? One is compromised with the other.
I didn't like the OEM big whip floating in the wind; my primary reason for getting rid of it.

Even Ronin has it in their advertisement. Just something to keep in mind.

1728624402202.webp
 
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