Anyone know if you can replace the FD motorized antenna w/ one of those mini non-retractable ones? Not only would I save weight by getting rid of the antenna motor hehe...it would look much cleaner and offer less air resistance than having my huge antenna sticking out.

I searched on this...but I didn't come across any thread titles that looked like they discussed it, which I thought was weird...cuz I'd think more people would have wanted to do this...

Mahjik...got any links?

Also, if someone has experience w/ this, what antenna did you use? (off what car?) and what parts are necessary for the complete swap?

 

I'm going to assume you have an s4 or s5, and this doesn't really give you an answer to your question but what I did was actually get a male to male adaptor and am using the am antenna in the windshield for my radio. didn't like the look of the antenna sticking out the back of the car. and yes you can use a universal antenna, retracktable or non retrackable, I've done a few of both at work

 

Actually, I have an FD. It's mentioned in the first line of my post

The reason why I'm asking specific to an FD is I wanna make sure a) it'll fit right (or what I need to make sure it fits right) and b) that the reception will be decent.

I was talking to a friend today who did it on his car (not an rx7) and he told me he had trouble getting it to fit right...

 

yeah the universals are a pain in the neck but it's a flat mount on FD's, shouldn't be an issue, you'll have to tap into the power and ground of the factory antenna of course but mounting shouldn't be an issue

 

it mounts in the spoiler hole so you don't even need to mess with trim rings and such, drop it in, secure it, and tap into the wiring, easy

 

A friend of mine (again, non FD) put one of the little rubber ones (like 10"? long) on his car. His stock antenna was a retractable one just like the FD one. I assume they're all pretty similar, so it'll probably fit on your car.

 

I still gotta say I'm pretty surprised no one w/ an FD has done this already? I know ppl have shaved off their antenna...

911GT2, yea I know the small rubber ones you're talking about. Anyone know if there's a difference (say in reception) between the flexible rubber ones, and the hard plastic ones (like on the 350Z)?

 

www.autoloc.com has an antennae that you mount on the upper portion of the windshiel inside the car. check that out...

 

marix1521, I checked out that autolock antenna. Sounds like a good idea, and looks pretty simple too. Is it pretty inconspicuous, ie won't be very visible in the windshield?

Also...do you know anyone who's tried it?

 

cant say that i know of anyone that's tried it, but i plan on getting it somewhere down the road. so if you happen to get it before me, tell me how it goes

 

LOL! I'm becoming a guinea pig hehe

 

I've been thinking about doing this for awhile. The FD's antenna looks so crappy when its up. I know some people shave it and use the am antenna inside the hatch glass.

I have been on the lookout for antenna that would look good in the FD's stock lockation. I got my car painted recently, so shaving is not an option. The only thing I have come up with so far is the stock S2000 antenna. My brother has a jetta with the aftermarket mini antenna. Its like 2-3 inches tall, thats pretty sharp looking too.

Steve Prew

 

In my last show car, I shaved my antenna off but realized I missed the radio


I went to radioshack and they had an antenna that went in the front windshield. It was basically just a wire that had adhesive on it that way it would stick. I installed it and got ok reception. I only listen to the one major radio station in my city, so it wasn't a big deal. I think it cost like 8 bucks or something.


You could always get XM or Sirius. Once Alpine makes the switch to Sirius, I am going to sign up.

 

Yea Steve...I just had my car repainted, so shaving isn't an option either.

When I referred to the mini antenna on the 350z, that was cuz I was at the body shop the other day, and there was a 350Z there (which, although this is off topic, had the greddy twin turbo kit, and was getting veilside skirts and front lip)

but yea..i noticed it had a real nice mini antenna..not the flexible type. the solid type. very sleek. I thought it would look good on the FD...but wasn't sure if it was plug 'n play. My body shop guy told me I might have to buy the complete assembly for the antenna to make it work right, and the bezel for the FD's antenna (i got some generic crap bezel)

Fumanchu, wut's the deal w/ Sirius? I know what XM is, but I'm not familiar w/ Sirius.

 

Direct-TV = Dish Network, except different programming, hardware support... same with XM and Sirius

 

Its satellite radio just like XM, but just a different company. It's only 10 bucks a month, I think XM is more like $12. And most of my friends that have satellite radio like Sirius more than XM.


Also, Alpine used to support XM but are making the switch to Sirius in the next couple of months. They quit making XM supported receivers and somehow the ones that are already out, they are going to exchange them or something.

http://sirius.com/servlet/ContentSer...=1018209032790

 

I'm looking to replace the power antenna on my 1990 vert with one of those little plastic ones. I cant find the entire assembly though. The ones i found on ebay are just replacement masts for cars that dont have power antennas. I went to the local stereo/alarm place, they said go to tweeters, i went to tweeters, they sent me back to the stereo shop. I've even been able to find fake antennas. I'm not joking. They are just bits of plastic that look like antennas that you stick to your car. Who does that? Anyway, does anyone know where I can find a real functioning, non retractable antenna assembly to replace my power antenna with?