ray green

iTrader: (14)

I noticed this ebay ad for a power antenna that looks a lot like the old radio shack power antenna that was popular a few years ago. I still have one of the radio shack units in my 85 GSL but I need another for a new project and it would be nice to have a backup.

Does anybody have any experience with these? At $27.90 and free shipping they are reasonably priced:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

82transam

iTrader: (18)

I don't have any experience with it, but that does look very good. If I were in the market for an antenna I'd give it a shot. As you at $27 its a great price.
Buy one and let us know how it works

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Ray, rock it and let us know if it works out.

I need to replace mine, as it gets stuck if I extend it fully.

At $27, its not that much and it says it fits our cars. Worst case is you get it and
a) have to modify it slightly to work or b) return it for a full refund if it doesn't look
like it works.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Hmmmm, I was hoping someone else would volunteer for that job...

OK, I'll send in the order, I'll post the results up here.

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Your our man Blue!

ray green

iTrader: (14)

And you ain't that far behind me Tim.

I'm going to see if I can use one of my ebay tricks to get it for $26.

Back in a minute.

Twilightoptics

iTrader: (1)

I'll get one. The spare one I got from my SE parts car isn't too good. Tired of the RC car look with the cheapo stickup rubber one.

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

I already have one of the Radio Shack ones. But that one looks similar, only with a green wire instead of orange. Get it, Mr Green.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Will do Mr. Jeff. In fact I just won the ebay bid for $26:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

When I get it in I'll open it up and put it along side the radio shack one and take some pics.

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Go Blue!

mfs54729

Did you get your antenna yet? How does it compare to the Radio Shack antenna? I'd like to know
if it will work before I order one.
Thanks.

Mark
'84 RX7 GSL-SE

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Hey Mark, yes it came in a few days ago and today I had a chance to dig up an original OEM antenna and an old radio shack antenna for comparison.

I haven't installed it yet, but all indications are that it's a perfect clone of the Radio Shack unit and should work the same way, hooked up according to Jim Rothe's tutorial on the subject:

http://www.jimrothe.com/mazda/antenna/index.html

Here's the pictures

All three lined up front, stock on left, new ebay antenna in middle, radio shack unit on right



Other side



Close up of the ebay unit (left) and the RS unit (right) which still has the modified mounting bracket attached



Close up of the ebay unit (left) and the RS unit (right) with the mounting bracket removed



Other side



It looks like the same group of well employed Chinese workers have been cranking out the same unit for the last 20 years. The only differences I can see are the yellow wire is now green and the cable attachment is located a bit further down on the mast, which probably makes it more "universal".

The unit came with a bunch of rubber adapter grommets to fit it to the body, I don't remember those in the RS unit and I'm not sure why there are so many unless this same unit is meant to fit virtually all cars manufactured in the last 50 years (probably).



My only complaint was it was mailed in the product box without an outside packaging, so the box was pretty beat up by the time it got here. I don't think the unit itself is damaged, it looks fine, but one of the bags with some little screws and washers was broken open and most like a few of those ended up in a post office somewhere. Not a problem however, these are easy to find/replace mounting hardware.

All in all, for $26 I think this is a great solution if you need to have a power antenna, which I definitely require to make my Clarion system complete

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCA3sfi7UA0



I probably won't get around to installing this thing for many weeks so I'll leave it to someone else to report on it's performance, but I'd be very surprised if it doesn't work just like the RS unit, since I think it probably IS the RS unit under another name.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Pictures of the packaging. Apparently this thing was being sold by "Option Racing" and is some kind of overstock

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

I'm sold Ray, I'll have to get one of those soon.

Twilightoptics

iTrader: (1)

I'm down! Looks like a beefier motor too. Can't wait! I'll be hittin the eBay button tonight after work.

Thanks for the comparison pictures!

manwiththreearms

Is the antenna the right length? I think I still have the factory one on mine and it seems like it's ten feet long. I kind of dig the 80s RC car look it creates but would like to actually listen to music.

Twilightoptics

iTrader: (1)

I'm good with the antenna extended. It's that hardmount rubber ones IMHO that makes it looks RC carish.

Glazedham42

iTrader: (4)

Here's to Ray! The master of Rx7Club documentation!



He always follows thru with so many detailed pictures and video that I feel like I've actually already seen this thing in person. I'm currently running one of those little rubber 6" antennas on Gus right now, but I'm REALLY tempted to get one of these to replace it. My old power antenna was broken, so I got the cheap $10 rubber replacement. But, having the motorized antenna would be cool. Keeps the car period authentic, and I think it looks like a giant RC car when the antenna is up. I'm really, really, really tempted.....

Glazedham42

iTrader: (4)

Ray,

How much does that power antenna weigh? Do you have a postal scale or something that you could weigh it on for me?

Thanks,
Jamie

purple82

So, that's just a universal power antenna, like you can buy from any auto parts store. They're widely sold by a company called Metra. They've been around forever. The best ones have a black mast

Twilightoptics

iTrader: (1)

The original eBay link, followed to the seller's store doesn't seem to be selling them.

Found this though http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Power...Q5fAccessories

Cheaper usually isn't a good sign!

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Thanks Jamie, it's always fun to share the love.

When I got mine from that egay store "Zeus group" a couple weeks ago they said they had "more than 10" available, but you're right, they've sold out now.

But like purple says, similar antennas under the name "metra" or others are out there in the parts stores and on ebay. Here's what I could find for ebay links, although these all run in the $40-50 range or more, a bit more than the $26 I paid for mine delivered:

http://cgi.ebay.com/METRA-44-PW22-UN...item1c1cfb4e6b

http://cgi.ebay.com/Metra-44-PW22-AU...item33624c3f3a

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-44-PW22-Full...item25622911b8

http://cgi.ebay.com/Buick-Power-Ante...item519a4e4874

http://cgi.ebay.com/harada-power-ant...item2c5e1d45f2

http://cgi.ebay.com/Universal-Fully-...item483fcf38d2

http://cgi.ebay.com/METRA-44-PW22-UN...item20bb03c886

You can also find the unit Twilight linked above for less money from several vendors, but it isn't the same unit and being generally less expensive I'd worry that it's of lesser quality, if it works at all for the FB

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Power...d=252159075337

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Power...d=252159075337

http://cgi.ebay.com/fully-automatic-...item4aad48aeee

http://cgi.ebay.com/METRA-AW-PW12-Po...item5d2f4f4f03

Somebody needs to buy one of these to see if it works.

Jaime the weight isn't specified but it's about the same as the stock unit, about half a pound or so.

If anybody else finds an inexpensive source for these units or gets one in and tries it out, please post the information up here for the rest of us rotor heads.

pjr

iTrader: (8)

Ray, I have a question for you: have you considered any other antenna options, just to switch things up a bit? I am normally one to keep things original, but lately been changing in my old age (I qualify for the "Old Guy with 13 B" club).

After reading Sgt Fox's thread with the black mast antenna repalcement (no longer available, unfortunately), I really liked its look, especially on a dark car. i just wonder if there are some other options available to us. A Shark antenna? Something else fixed that may be cool?

pjr

iTrader: (8)

P.S. Or even a hidden antenna?

ray green

iTrader: (14)

I'm all for certain types of mods, RB exhaust, porting, direct fire ignition, suspension upgrades, etc. that don't affect the looks of the FB.

But when it comes to messing with the stock design features that made the FB so darn cool, like X wheels, leather interior, clarion sound system and yes, power retractable antenna, I'm in favor of keeping it "stock".

So I'm not the one who can answer that question but others might have some ideas, it would be great to see them here for comparison. The "hidden" approach might be especially nice, since it would avoid the puppy dog tail look of those cheap rubber aftermarket masts that some many people use.