Radio Antenna

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:20
ThreadID: 31820 Views:5830 Replies:11 FollowUps:8
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Hi all,

I did a search using 'radio antenna' but came up with a whole lot of pages so I figured it would be easier to ask here and get a yes/no answer.

Basically, the originial electric aerial on the Hilux has broken, so I instead of paying $90 for a replacement, I am thinking of just getting a normal one and mount it on the bullbar.

I'm not that well informed on radio communications but I am sure I read somewhere that you can use a standard 27MHz whip antenna that you can get from Dick Smith etc for around $20. I thought I'd just double check before purchase and was informed by the salesperson that it was for mobile phones.

Is the salesperson correct? If so, where's a good place to look for a radio aerial (besides SuperCheap and Nasty). I'm in Perth.

Cheers.
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:28

Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:28
GME have a antenna that is made for AM/ FM radio. They are a whip and work well.

Wayne
AnswerID: 161036

Reply By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:35

Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:35
If you're that cheap you can stick a coat hanger in there like I did for 12 mths. I replaced it yesterday with a manual antenna from autobarn for $40, bludddy expensive for what it is but I was feeling rich. The coat hanger worked well, actually too well, should be the standard antenna I reckon.

AnswerID: 161039

Follow Up By: Geoff M (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:31

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:31
Only thing that worries me about coat hangers is all the stray RF being concentrated in my wardrobe.
Can't be good for me!

Geoff.
Geoff,
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:36

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:36
Geoff:

That is a real possibility and not considered often enough. However I'm pleased to say there is an easy solution - purchase (an op shop one will do) a full length sequin cocktail dress and keep that on the hanger, the sequins are almost 100% effective in preventing RF emissions.

Mike Harding
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FollowupID: 415824

Follow Up By: Geoff M (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:47

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:47
Thanks for the tip Mike,

Right, I'm going shopping no more stray RF for me!

And a new rig picture too!

As Billy Connelly would say, "Oh Happy Days"

Geoff.
Geoff,
Landcruiser HDJ78,
Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:18

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:18
We eagerly await the new rig pic :)))))))))
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FollowupID: 415840

Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:35

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:35
"sequins are almost 100% effective in preventing RF emissions. "

- but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. Even though they may not be genuine sequins, the precisely mooulde gem faces will perfectly focus the gamma rays which penetrate the earth's atmosphere with no attenuation.

Mike (April 1 is getting closer, closer, closer . . . . )
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FollowupID: 415842

Reply By: Exploder - Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:46

Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:46
Yeah the $20 old style CB antennas work fine, that’s what a mate had on his Cruiser, Mounted on the B/Bar, same set up you are thinking of.
AnswerID: 161044

Reply By: desray - Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:49

Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 at 22:49
You could try http://www.prestigecom.net.au/ they are in Malaga and will post to you next day.
AnswerID: 161045

Follow Up By: Member - Brad S (SA) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 00:08

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 00:08
Hi

I'd go for the GME whip ariel.
On the Terracan these type of ariel are standard. When I first saw it I thought, "Cheap b@st@rds! Where's the automatic electric up and down type?" I have since learnt that the whip is best. It has nothing to go wrong with it mechanically, it bends beautifully in the bush and is cheap and easy to replace.
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FollowupID: 415778

Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 08:49

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 08:49
Had the same problem on the Pajero.
AM/FM aerial mounted on the passenger side, and getting wiped out by branches.
After the third time straightening it, and it just breaking, replaced it with a laser s/steel whip antenea.
It was $90.00 or there abouts, compared to $300.00 for the Mitsubihi part.

It is about 25% longer than the 27mhz laser whip antenea on the other side of the bonnet.
AnswerID: 161085

Reply By: Darian (SA) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:31

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:31
Just about any bit of wire, any shape, any length will do (hence the coathanger). Car radios must rely on being swamped with a signal because the antenna length is light years off-length for the stations we tune into.
AnswerID: 161092

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:39

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 09:39
Exactly.

Just get a bit of thickish fencing wire and bend the bottom 15mm back on itself in a vice and force it into the broken stub. It's will work well - cost $0 and it even looks, more or less, like a normal car aerial.

Mike Harding
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FollowupID: 415827

Follow Up By: Darian (SA) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:45

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:45
Hell Mike - spooky - my "mast and rope" busted a few weeks back - pulled the mast out - left the drive in there (that is ok) - got about 1m of 2mm stainless wire - made a loop at the base for a spring fit inside the autodrive tube - poked it in - great. I will get a new mast though - $60 - robbery.
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FollowupID: 415846

Reply By: Alan S (WA) - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:23

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 10:23
You can buy replacement shafts, these only cost about $25-30. Very easy to install.
I broke mine on my GU and bought a after market replacemnt for the above prices.

ALan
AnswerID: 161105

Reply By: Utemad - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 15:46

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 15:46
Buy one of the GME or whatever AM/FM whip antennas and fit it to the guard in the factory position.
I did this on my 1997 Rodeo. I simply removed the old antenna, refitted the black plastic part on the guard with the metal underneath section, put the antenna bolt through the loop for the centre coax conductor and poked it up through the guard and black plastic etc and screwed a CB antenna spring on top to hold it all in position. Then I put the whip antenna on top of that. If you don't want to use a spring use a washer and a nut. Otherwise if you screw it straight into the antenna you can't remove the antenna without the bolt and plastic bits all falling out.

I was going to fab up a bracket to help keep it still that bolts up under the guard similar to the factory one howevr it only moves slightly so I never bothered.

To make life simpler for yourself, instead of pulling your dash out to plug your new antenna into the back of your radio just cut the old antenna wire in your kick trim and fit a socket to it. Available from Dick Smith for a few dollars.

Works better than my original antenna ever did.
AnswerID: 161163

Reply By: 3F62 - Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 20:44

Friday, Mar 17, 2006 at 20:44
1st simple task I did on my Cruiser was to get a CB antenna base $5 either UHF or 27mhz with the 5/16 tpi thread & a Stainless steel whip antenna for VHF (E-band) $15. Pulled old antenna up out of guard & used existing coax from wireless. Solder base to coax correctly, mount base & cut antenna to 70 cm long. That gives an antenna ruffly tuned for middle of FM radio band (leave uncut if you mostly use AM).. Makes a very whippy bush resistant AM/FM radio antenna CHEAP. Base & antenna from a proper 2-way radio shop.. Problem is now all my mates want one!! They r that good

God Luck
AnswerID: 161226

Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Saturday, Mar 18, 2006 at 06:29

Saturday, Mar 18, 2006 at 06:29
Azo,

Mobile One produce a number of bases, and whips, for AM/FM use. These look like 27 meg whips, but are tuned for the music radios. They make 2 lengths, one about a metre, and the other around 1.5 metres. The longer ones perform really well.

Can also get similar aerials sold under other brand names, such as Axis.

Hooroo...

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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AnswerID: 161283

Reply By: Azo082 - Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 at 19:54

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 at 19:54
Cheers guys,

Went in to ARB on Collingwood St (Osb Pk) and got a GME one which came complete with cabling and plug for $35. Was cheaper than the ones at Dick Smith, and the quality/finish looks much better. Went the 1m one in-case I need to go into those multi-story carparks.

Salesperson (Lee) also gave me a few bits and pieces and pointers to help me get it through the firewall. He has served me a few times, and he seems to be the only one at that store willing to take some time and help you out, rather than just handing you a catalogue.
AnswerID: 162018

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