theorie

iTrader: (31)

Installing an aftermarket power antenna and want to know what mount to use (they included several with the kit...)

I no longer have my stock antenna (trashed it)...

Anyway, can I get a photo of the rear fender with the antenna in the down position?

THANKS!

theorie

iTrader: (31)

...nevermind

attaching some. let this sit in the archives maybe in case anyone else searches for these...

theorie

iTrader: (31)

I'm going to be installing this $69.99 power antenna from seller antenna_x on eBay. I'll share the results after I install it.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

ok sorry for the crappy camera phone pics - and please ignore the sticky good left over from when i removed the tape that was temporarily covering the antenna hole...

i installed this tonight outside of my apt. took about an hour.

i must say, for $70 this really does work quite well.

there's a diagram attached to this post that shows how i wired everything up.

the new antenna functions exactly like the old antenna (keep in mind i have an aftermarket head unit - not sure if that makes a difference). when you turn on the radio and switch to tuner mode the antenna goes up (nice and smooth, near silent). if you then switch to CD or AUX mode, the antenna goes down. if you are on tuner mode (so the antenna is up) and you turn the key to the OFF position, the antenna will go down.

anyway, compared to the $300+ mazda likely wants for a new antenna, and compared to buying a used unit which may or may not work / last, this option is definitely worth it. apparently, they also sell a BLACK antenna...i must have bought the "chrome" one...oh well.

oh and it's been fun having this thread to myself. apparently no one cares about antenna repair these days.

cheers,
tom

cabaynes

iTrader: (4)

I'll reply just because no one else is, haha... no but seriously it doesn't look half bad for someone that just wants a working antenna. the chrome isn't bad either, but i still think the FD looks like an RC car with the antenna up

theorie

iTrader: (31)

hahaha yeah man i think the same thing. well i'm not really in the mood or mindset to patch the hole and have it sprayed - i'm waiting until the next time i have some body work done...

for now, it was the power antenna option or something else (shorty antenna perhaps), but I couldn't find a shorty antenna that i liked...

Gomez

The S8's come stock with chrome antenna's.



^^^Here you can see the black top **** of an S6 antenna and the chrome S8 one.

The **** just unscrews off the mast.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

ahhhh very nice. the chrome sits a little better with me now...

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

Don't forget the plug the drain hole in the inner quarter panel. Slicone should work just fine.

And FWIW the OEM antenna (new motor assembly, mast etc.) is ~$125 shipped from Malloy...not $300.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

the kit includes a drain tube. i forgot to mention that i hooked up the drain tube to the stock hole.

theorie

iTrader: (31)

ok so i noticed that the tip of the antenna was sticking out a little too far (about 1/4") so i added two 1/8" thich metal washers. here are the before and after pics:

before:




after adding washers:

theorie

iTrader: (31)

ok so i noticed that the tip of the antenna was sticking out a little too far (about 1/4") so i added two 1/8" thich metal washers. here are the before and after pics:

before:




after adding washers: