Bumblebalt

So i come out in the morning to find that someoen liberated my antenna. Looks like they probably tried to screw it off, and realzed it wasn't coming off by hand, so they pulled the whole thing up outta the whole and cut it by the wire. So all i had left hanging out of that hole was the rubber stopper thing and a wire. So i shaved the wire down some, and bought a cheap 5 dollar shorty euro antenna from advanced auto parts, and connected them via some standart wire connectors. The radios does work now, but only in certain spots, hence the signal was GREATLY weakend. The antenna seems to be a coax type cable being there is a wire in the middle and copper wire on the outside. What can i do to get it back to working well? It looks nice as heck how i got the shorty on there, but the radio doesnt work to well. I VERY RARELY listen to the radio, but i would like to have car in full working order if you know what i mean. Having it like that wont affect anything when i put aftermarket HU , speakers, amp, and sub in will it. I'll probabl only listen to mp3 cds and cds when i get the sound system put in. Any suggestions on what i should do, or should i just leave it how it is since i rarely listen to radio.

thanks

DrPuttsSS/SC

I don't remember as much about antennas as I used to but:
FM antennas are actually tuned, meaning they need to be a certain length to get max efficiency. Some of the "shortys" have a wire wrapped around them to tune them with a shorter shaft. If they are not tuned (like if you buy an AM-FM-CB all-in-one) they will not pull stations in as well as a tuned antenna. Your original was tuned, maybe just buy a factory replacement?
Or: your wire connection is probably bad. Unless you know for sure how to strip and connect coax you may want to take it somewhere to have it hooked up. I wouldn't even trust a car stereo shop, I'd find a ham radio or CB shop to fix it for you.

Really sux that some ahole did that to your car man. Good Luck

Bumblebalt

any others have advice onthis?!

pdub

So someone just hijacked your antenna? You must be in a rough hood.

Bumblebalt

i came out in the morning from working 3rd shift. i'm a corrections officer, and the jail is right in the middle of the hood. so yeah , kinda like that

pdub

Sorry to hear that. I just hope that is all that crack head is after. Be careful!

Bumblebalt

i think it was more of someone just trying to be a jack ass, the neighborhood is full of bad kids riding around on bikes after dark. If it wasn't for me only having authority behind the walls, i would arrest every single one of them! lol