Anyone shaved their power antenna? I believe I read somewhere the FD uses an antenna in the glass as well? Does the defroster double as an antenna? I seem to get ok reception with the antenna down and mines started working erratically. Its started getting stuck. The motor runs until i jam it down myself by hand.

My thought is to take the antenna out altogether but will I have trouble picking up radio stations? The FD is incredible for an older car but a few things I could do without.. like the old school power antenna.

 

You should simply unplug, or disconnect the power for the motor. Then the antenna will stay down, but still be connected

 

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...5&postcount=31

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=58

Works like a champ. Better than the original.

 

Thanks guys. I love the 29.99 option. I disconnected the remote power on for the antenna for now so it stays down. Reception seems about the same with it down. Reminds me of the days when everyone raised the fake antennae on their cell phones. Did nothing!!

Maybe down the road I'll shave it and do the antenna hondasr4kids linked.

 

I just unplugged mine, however my reception did get much worse, maybe it's the radio.

Do you guys know if there's anyway to leave the antenna plugged in, but keep the motor from working to make it rise?

 

If you take the rear panel off where the antenna is, you can just unplug the antenna motor.

 

The rear window built in antenna is for FM only, and the power antenna is for AM only.
I do not listen to AM and thus had it removed and the hole fixed with steel when the car was repainted.

My FM reception has not changed at all.

 

So that's why my reception is worse, lol. During the day I only listen to AM radio. And when I listen to music at night I just plug in my phone. So you're right now I just realized that my FM reception is just as good as before.

hondasr4kids: The plug on the antenna is the one I took off. What I meant is that if when you unplug it, you're also unplugging the power for the antenna reception as well. What I'm thinking is that you can get the reception back, if you leave it plugged in, but do something else to stop the antenna itself from rising.

Unless I have it wrong, and what matters for reception is the height of the antenna instead of it simply being plugged in?

 

I don't think this is true. I disconnected the antenna cable that goes into the head unit and my FM reception got worse. If not CD I only listen to FM btw. The reception is still ok in city areas but as soon as leave populated areas FM reception goes bad and the radio stations that I can still listen to are crackly. No such problem with the power antenna connected.

 

Actually you may have a problem---evryone elses factory head unit has 2 antenna feeds.If you only have 1 antenna feed that explains why your experience is different.Try connecting the other antenna feed.

 

I actually swapped to a universal stubby antennae from Pep boys. Much cleaner look but I think I tapped the wrong wire for 12v power because the reception is horrible now. I'll have to remove my stereo again and double check the pins on the connector.

 

Any pics of the stubby antenna? I'm curious how clean it looks on the car.

 

I have a shorty antenna that I bought at autozone or pepboys. I'll post a pic later of it. It's decent, pretty clear reception

 

Do you recall which wire on the connector you tapped for power?

 

no I don't remember, it was the first thing I did to the rx7 I think. I do remember it was pretty straight forward though.

 

I disconnected, removed and shaved (covered over the fender opening) of mine and IMO the radio reception is the same. Having said that I rarely listen to the radio anyway, only the occasional CD.

I'd much rather hear the engine anyway.

 

Are both wires same colour? If not do you remember the colour of the feed from window antenna?

Looking forward to pics. I looked for shorty antenna but most were for civics and bmws, none of them seemed to fit right because of the curve on RX7s quarter panel.

 

I had read a technical piece a couple of years ago about the Mazda audio system and what it led me to believe is the window antenna was supplementary to the mast antenna for better reception in cities. The factory head unit has two separate connections; one for the mast and one for the window. Nothing was said about AM and FM relative to the antennas. Where did you get the data for the AM/FM statement?

When I installed my Kenwood head I tried both of the antennas and found the mast was best all around.

 

If you actually read the the Mazda manuals you will learn the truth which is what I said. Maybe you have other problems.