short antennas

[Richard Catrambone]

This is my first time reading and posting to this group; if I'm raising
an old issue, I apologize and would be grateful if would aim me towards
an appropriate FAQ.

I would like to replace the broken antenna on my 1987 Toyota Celica with
a short antenna. I've seen them on various web sites but I'm wondering
whether shorter antennas (I'm thinking in the 12" to 15" range) pick up
signals significantly less well than "regular" sized antennas. If the
technology is such that short antennas work about as well as regular
ones, then my next question is what is a reasonable brand?

Thanks.

Richard

[MOSFET]

You know, it's not the size of your antenna that matters. It's what you do
with it.

MOSFET

(sorry guys, I just COULD NOT resist)


"Richard Catrambone" > wrote in message
link.net...
> This is my first time reading and posting to this group; if I'm raising
> an old issue, I apologize and would be grateful if would aim me towards
> an appropriate FAQ.
>
> I would like to replace the broken antenna on my 1987 Toyota Celica with
> a short antenna. I've seen them on various web sites but I'm wondering
> whether shorter antennas (I'm thinking in the 12" to 15" range) pick up
> signals significantly less well than "regular" sized antennas. If the
> technology is such that short antennas work about as well as regular
> ones, then my next question is what is a reasonable brand?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Richard

[Richard Catrambone]

I kind of figured I was opening myself up to that comment when I wrote
my post. However, I'd heard of the legendary maturity of this group, so
I was not worried. :) I'm not opposed to a serious answer though...


MOSFET wrote:
> You know, it's not the size of your antenna that matters. It's what you do
> with it.
>
> MOSFET
>
> (sorry guys, I just COULD NOT resist)
>
>
> "Richard Catrambone" > wrote in message
> link.net...
>
>>This is my first time reading and posting to this group; if I'm raising
>>an old issue, I apologize and would be grateful if would aim me towards
>>an appropriate FAQ.
>>
>>I would like to replace the broken antenna on my 1987 Toyota Celica with
>>a short antenna. I've seen them on various web sites but I'm wondering
>>whether shorter antennas (I'm thinking in the 12" to 15" range) pick up
>>signals significantly less well than "regular" sized antennas. If the
>>technology is such that short antennas work about as well as regular
>>ones, then my next question is what is a reasonable brand?
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Richard
>
>
>

[MOSFET]

OK, since I was the one with the smart-ass answer, let me give this a
shot....

First of all, this group DOES have a VERY extensive FAQ that can be found
at:

http://www.mobileaudio.com/rac-faq/

But I took a quick look through the FAQ and did not see any specific
reference to antennas.

But I did find this:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio11.htm

An explanation of antenna priciples that may be useful in your search. As
we all know, technology has enabled cetain types of antennas to become
shorter (due to coiling and other technologies). However, height (the
higher the better) will always be a factor with some type of radio bands. I
am frankly not an expert on this subject and perhaps someone like Matt or an
EE can chime on on this. But I would try perusing through that second link
I gave as it contains some antenna basics that may be of use to you.

I hope this helps,

MOSFET

"Richard Catrambone" > wrote in message
...
> I kind of figured I was opening myself up to that comment when I wrote
> my post. However, I'd heard of the legendary maturity of this group, so
> I was not worried. :) I'm not opposed to a serious answer though...
>
>
> MOSFET wrote:
> > You know, it's not the size of your antenna that matters. It's what you
do
> > with it.
> >
> > MOSFET
> >
> > (sorry guys, I just COULD NOT resist)
> >
> >
> > "Richard Catrambone" > wrote in message
> > link.net...
> >
> >>This is my first time reading and posting to this group; if I'm raising
> >>an old issue, I apologize and would be grateful if would aim me towards
> >>an appropriate FAQ.
> >>
> >>I would like to replace the broken antenna on my 1987 Toyota Celica with
> >>a short antenna. I've seen them on various web sites but I'm wondering
> >>whether shorter antennas (I'm thinking in the 12" to 15" range) pick up
> >>signals significantly less well than "regular" sized antennas. If the
> >>technology is such that short antennas work about as well as regular
> >>ones, then my next question is what is a reasonable brand?
> >>
> >>Thanks.
> >>
> >>Richard
> >
> >
> >

[JimJ[VT]]

> An explanation of antenna priciples that may be useful in your search.
> As
> we all know, technology has enabled cetain types of antennas to become
> shorter (due to coiling and other technologies).

With the exception of fractal antennas, the fundamentals that govern
antennas haven't changed significantly since the '20's :)

Anytime you decrease the physical size of the antenna from a
quarter-wave by coil loading (a 1/4-wave at 100MHz is around 2 1/3ft,
234/freq. in MHz), you decrease the bandwidth. Just a fact of life. You
may notice this on the FM band with a helically wound vertical, or you
may not, it depends. But 20MHz is a pretty wide bandwidth and the
performance of the stubby vertical is likely to drop off sharply on the
band edges.

> or an
> EE can chime on on this.

Does a wannabe-EE count? :D


--
JimJ[VT]

[Richard Catrambone]

Thanks very much for the help!


MOSFET wrote:
> OK, since I was the one with the smart-ass answer, let me give this a
> shot....
>
> But I did find this:
>
> http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio11.htm
>
> An explanation of antenna priciples that may be useful in your search....

JimJ[VT] wrote:

> With the exception of fractal antennas, the fundamentals that govern
> antennas haven't changed significantly since the '20's :)...

[Richard Catrambone]

Well, I got the shorty antenna (its about 14") and I can say that so far
the FM reception (in the Atlanta area) seems about the same as with my
prior "regular" antenna; however, AM reception is horrible. Of the 4 AM
stations I occasionally listened to, all of which came in at least
decently with the old antenna, only 1 comes in now and even that one is
not great. I have not been out of the Atlanta metro area since I
installed the antenna, so I don't know how the reception of Atlanta FM
stations will work when I wander a bit from town.

I guess my experience is more or less consistent with what MOSFET and
JimJ(VT) said which is that a shorter antenna is going to lose something.

Richard


Richard Catrambone wrote:
> Thanks very much for the help!
>
>
> MOSFET wrote:
> > OK, since I was the one with the smart-ass answer, let me give this a
> > shot....
> >
> > But I did find this:
> >
> > http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio11.htm
> >
> > An explanation of antenna priciples that may be useful in your
> search....
>
> JimJ[VT] wrote:
>
> > With the exception of fractal antennas, the fundamentals that govern
> > antennas haven't changed significantly since the '20's :)...

[Troy T.]

I was looking at the same type thing to replace mine and i kept seeing
film antennas. Would they be bad to since they are even smaller.

TroyT.