11 replies to this topic

[mini-mad-mark]

I've tried to find a definitive answer to this but there seems to be a lot of differing opinions on how to do this.

Mostly taking about Lotuses (Lotii?) where it seems an aerial/antenna can be connected to the metal windscreen frame.

(Not sure which is correct aerial or antenna as both seem to be used)

 

I have not found my direct question so obviously no direct answer but hopefully someone on here can spell it out for me being Mr Thicky

 

If I understood some of it correctly the aerial/antenna mast is a vertical dipole(?) and the (metal) car body forms the horizontal dipole - that's about as far as I got as it was talking about 1/4 wavelength for the horizontal and I kind of blanked out as I didn't want to understand the science, more the mechanics of getting a workable aerial

 

So my direct question is:

 

Can I put an aerial on the car somewhere/anywhere and then connect the earth of the co-ax to the bonnet (or the hinge at least) and would the bonnet act as the horizontal dipole?

 

Cheers for a simple direct answer (if there is one - maybe there isn't)

 

I did consider streaming radio from my phone to a bluetooth head unit  but it would use a lot of data - then considered a portable radio connected by aux but the portable might not hold stations as well as a car radio

 

If there's no reasonably elegant solution I will just listen to cassettes CDs-USB stick bluetooth music to it from my phone (when I work out how to get it on there in the first place....

 

[goudoogje]

Thats funny, I have a Midas, and I just bought a random antenna some years ago.

 

And my radio still works fine

 

Never give it any thoughts... 

[jaysmini1983]

just run an earth to the mounting point. I have done the same with CB radios on aluminium body panels.

[Macming]

I fitted one of these on my Minus years ago still works well, Double sided tape onto the glass, Added bonus is no holes to fill in If you change your mind later.

[Macming]

Anyway, so much for the photos.!!!

Google........... Window mounted Aerials,  and you should find plenty of choices, They even come for DAB radios now.

[goudoogje]

just run an earth to the mounting point. I have done the same with CB radios on aluminium body panels.

 

I know that for CB's there are special antenna's for this, like the "omega firestik".  But an earth cable will be the cheapest solution of course.

[g0myw]

for a purley receiving aerial mounting it on f/glass is no problem for the radio.
the metal body can in some cases help reduce ignition noise pickup.
In the last century! I had a lotus europa with the bog standard car areial on the front wing.
no problems with the radio - and well away from the engine.
For a transmiting radio CB / Ham etc. well thats a totally new chapter of recomendations.

[nicklouse]

I've tried to find a definitive answer to this but there seems to be a lot of differing opinions on how to do this.

Mostly taking about Lotuses (Lotii?) where it seems an aerial/antenna can be connected to the metal windscreen frame.

(Not sure which is correct aerial or antenna as both seem to be used)

 

I have not found my direct question so obviously no direct answer but hopefully someone on here can spell it out for me being Mr Thicky

 

If I understood some of it correctly the aerial/antenna mast is a vertical dipole(?) and the (metal) car body forms the horizontal dipole - that's about as far as I got as it was talking about 1/4 wavelength for the horizontal and I kind of blanked out as I didn't want to understand the science, more the mechanics of getting a workable aerial

 

So my direct question is:

 

Can I put an aerial on the car somewhere/anywhere and then connect the earth of the co-ax to the bonnet (or the hinge at least) and would the bonnet act as the horizontal dipole?

 

Cheers for a simple direct answer (if there is one - maybe there isn't)

 

I did consider streaming radio from my phone to a bluetooth head unit  but it would use a lot of data - then considered a portable radio connected by aux but the portable might not hold stations as well as a car radio

 

If there's no reasonably elegant solution I will just listen to cassettes CDs-USB stick bluetooth music to it from my phone (when I work out how to get it on there in the first place....

Mmm Coax? Has its own earth.  You only have transmission problems with CBS as you don’t have a ground plan.

[mini-mad-mark]

Anyway, so much for the photos.!!!

Google........... Window mounted Aerials,  and you should find plenty of choices, They even come for DAB radios now.

This was my original thought (as I did want to receive DAB) most of the ones I've seen need to connect an amplifier to a live (plus an earth of course to make the amplifier circuit as it can't earth to the car being fibreglass -  I assume these don't need a horizontal plane dipole?)

 

Thanks to everyone else - if I understand correctly some people just put a standard aerial in the wing/body and it worked?

 

Jaysmini - you suggest attaching an earth to the mounting point do you mean to the negative coax (which is what is normally connected to the mounting point and do you mean an earth as in an earth to the battery?

 

As mentioned I have really struggled to find a definitive answer and still not sure I have one or maybe I just don't understand or I am asking the wrong question.

 

From Nicklouse-  are you saying I only need a horizontal plane dipole to transmit (as in CB ) and not to receive radio (FM but would like to go to DAB)?

 

Thanks

[alex-95]

Not in a fibreglass car but I've got one of these https://www.amazon.c...94231835&sr=8-9 and an aerial amplifier in my mini (probably works fine without the amplifier, but already had it wired in), works very well and can't be seen as I stuck it to the windscreen rubber under the sun-visor.

[mini-mad-mark]

Hmm looks interesting and doesn't seem to need a horizontal dipole or any other (earth or otherwise) connections - however I would like to upgrade to DAB (Radio 6 and Union Jack Radio) however so I may well go for one of the stick on DAB aerials (Or maybe one each side!!!)

[mini-mad-mark]

Forgot to say - No sun visors on the project as nowhere to (easily) attach them to the plain fibreglass panel interior so will be a sunstrip anyway which would hide one of these