Community Forums

DiamondDan · 07-17-2011, 06:00 PM

The antenna on the roof snapped off, leaving a threaded stub about 3" long.
When I unscrewed it, I see what looks like a 3/8" threaded female connector, but all the car antennas I look at have nothing like that.

Any suggestions as to where to find a replacement?

SteveOGilroy · 07-20-2011, 11:18 PM

I'll watch this posting. My antenna also snapped off and I'm thinking of replacing the entire antenna assembly with a new one ... if I can find one.

SteveOGilroy · 09-13-2011, 05:36 PM

I found that the Metra Antenna Works 44-US01R is the entire replacement unit. I could not find the "unbreakable rubber mast" to replace my broken one so I purchased the entire unit and just unscrewed the mast from the new one and screwed it on the old one.

wa8yxm · 09-14-2011, 10:52 AM

The fun part of this is AM and FM need entierly different antennas for best result

For AM (Might work for FM) attach a wire to the stud, lay the wire down on the roof, full length, use Dicore or some such to attach.. This may well out perform the factory antenna.. or if you have a luggage rail on the roof (Metal) run the wire to ti..

For FM. one trick is to make a "Folded dipole" now, do understand that I do not remember the lengths and I think in METERS because 3.000 is a whole bunch esier to remember than the "English" equivlent (Actually it's more like 2.9997 or some such)

FM radio is 88-108 MHz.. so we will use 100, since most stations (Other than PBS) like it above 100 for some reason. 300 million / 100 million (The M in Mhz stands for Million) is 3 meters, so your folded dipole needs to be abut 1.5 meters long in wire,

The wire used is common TV flat lead (300 ohm) 1.5 meters is about 4 feet 7-8 inches.

Go with 4'9"

Cut back the insulation on each end bout 1/2 inch, fold the wires together and solder.

Fold the whole thing in half and cut ONE wire in teh middle, trim out the two cut "ends" in the middle and attach to a 75-300 or 300-75 ohm antenna adapter (Radio Shack)

75 Ohm coax (RG-59) from there to the radio and the proper adapter (Radio Shack used to carry it) to the radio.

NOTE: the long wire may well work on FM too, One thing bout a "length of roof" wire, it may be when you turn a corner you will loose the station.

NOTE: in the early days of car radio. .they used very long wires, relative to what they sue today

Recommendtion.. Try before you "Buy" Use a test lead or a test clip first, see how it performs before you glue. screw and solder.

For a shorter version of this same idea (Long wire) go from the stub to the first thing that sticks up out of the roof (Air Conditioner normally) this way the wire is above the roof, no need to glue, attach to the A/C with a plastic clip or a screw into PLASTIC or just tie to an existing hole. Do not screw into metal.

powerboatr · 09-18-2011, 10:09 PM

must be a summer thing.....mine popped off today somewhere
just have a stubby now

Mr_D · 09-18-2011, 10:19 PM

I found the rubber universal ones at Wal*Mart for less than $9 each. They come with several different thread adapters. They're in the automotive dept here.

Wizard · 09-19-2011, 08:48 AM

Advance Auto also carries replacements with several adapters in the package

powerboatr · 09-21-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I found the rubber universal ones at Wal*Mart for less than $9 each. They come with several different thread adapters. They're in the automotive dept here.

thanks i will look there
no reason to spend big bucks on an expendable item