Antenna Replacement, reception Options

[CheesyLobster]

I broke my antenna about a month ago, and just today I took it apart, glued it do its always down, and attached some speaker wire to it for reception, sort of as described in here: http://www.6gc.net/index.php?action=howto&itu=36
The thing is, my reception isnt all that great. The speaker wire I used wasnt that thick, could that have something to do with it? Also, I tried attaching the wire to my frame and found that in doing that, I'd loose all reception, why is that? Is there an optimal wire guage and legnth/ any tricks for getting a really good reception without an antenna? thanks.

[SimmaDownNow]

I broke my antenna about a month ago, and just today I took it apart, glued it do its always down, and attached some speaker wire to it for reception, sort of as described in here: http://www.6gc.net/index.php?action=howto&itu=36
The thing is, my reception isnt all that great. The speaker wire I used wasnt that thick, could that have something to do with it? Also, I tried attaching the wire to my frame and found that in doing that, I'd loose all reception, why is that? Is there an optimal wire guage and legnth/ any tricks for getting a really good reception without an antenna? thanks.
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I'm sorry I can't answer your question about optimal wire guages and such, but I must ask: Why not just do the S2000 antenna conversion? It's easy, it's cheap, and it looks better than having no antenna (not to mention better reception). I am sure that I'm not alone in urging you to try it...

- Lu-Tang

[Cutrara]

When you attached the wire to the frame you gave the stereo an extra ground, don't do that again, you could blow the stereo. You could do what I did, buy a power antenna and make a switch for it. Or S2000 antenna.

[Ralph96gt]

where is a good place to get an s2000 antenna??? and how much do they run for??

[Cutrara]

eBay, or your local Honda dealer. It shouldn't be more than $30.

[Batman722]

When you attached the wire to the frame you gave the stereo an extra ground, don't do that again, you could blow the stereo. You could do what I did, buy a power antenna and make a switch for it. Or S2000 antenna.
[right][snapback]315228[/snapback][/right]

agreed. Power antenna w/switch

[Cutrara]

Batman, you're the one that convinced me to convert to a power antenna, too lol.

[Batman722]

Batman, you're the one that convinced me to convert to a power antenna, too lol.
[right][snapback]315284[/snapback][/right]

stop it, your gonna make me blush

[OCceliST]

I don't have an atenna and i get good reception....all i have is like the little knobby thing the antenna goes in. Sometimes ONE channel outta the 6 i listen to goes fuzzy, and that hardly happens. Plus i kind of do like the look of no antenna.

[dustin15brown]

eBay is the way

[Jaws4God]

I agree.. Power antenna with switch... cuz I had a rubber antenna after i took the power one out (too ugly that tall) but the reception wasn't great at all... plus someone stole it :-P... So i went and bought a 31" universal power antenna (Ebay $ 50) and installed it with a switch... so now i can leave it down while listening to cd's but put it up when listening to radio and get awesome reception!

[Cutrara]

http://www.antennax.com/toyota/celica.htm

Power Antenna Kit: $29.99, Same one I have, install was easy.

[CheesyLobster]

Ive replaced the antenna before, I just dont really want to spend the money if I dont have too. could i maybe attach the antenna to any wire in the car, or would that be the same as grounding it on the frame?

[Cutrara]

I wouldn't do that, because you'd again be giving it power through the antenna wire. Get a high-gauge wire with thin insulation and connect it to the antenna wire, but remember, you need 2 wires for it to recieve RF signals. Attach one to the pin on the antenna jack and on on the base. Run it somewhere high in the car.