Broke my mast at the car wash!

I'm using my low tech almost free solution with good reception.

What can I use to close the hole?

tia

 

You can find those black plastic plugs in the Help! section at the parts store and silicone it in place. You could also silicone the antenna hole and leave the shiny bezel in place What I really want to know is what is the low tech solution? Thanks!

 

Why not just buy a replacement mast or whole aerial unit and wire it in? Neither are particularly expensive.

Or if you don't want the aerial you could get a rubber grommet.

 

I unplugged the the antenna cable connection from the power unit and connected it to a 2 foot piece of coaxil with the center wire stripped long enough to make contact, then have to tape because of course there are no threads to screw the co axil connector to.

The reception is remarkable except for the stations that were low signal even with the antenna extended anyway.

I'm in a Chicago suburb, but not sure how this would work for someone in the sticks.

 

Stripped long enough to make contact with what? What did you have to tape the coaxial cable to? The antenna cable? Sorry for the dumb questions. Is this similar to the wire antennas that come with home stereos?

 

I think I understand how you made the connection, but where is this wire? Is it still in your trunk? I would not have thought that would be good enough for any reception at all, but nice if it is.

 

With the center wire going to the radio, yes to the antenna cable that I took off the power unit. No its the black cable that cable companies use, although I guess another wire would work.

 

Yes the wire is still in the trunk, and the reception is just as good as when I had the working antenna, only the fringe stations are still like they were when the antenna worked.

I might experiment with a longer wire, but its not really necessary.
Reception is perfect now.

 

My antenna has broken twice (not broken currently), and I like the idea of the cleaner look, so I may play with this idea. I am in a fringe area, so it may not work, but I'll check it out.


Did you leave the braided wire on the cable? So only the center connection is connected on one end? I would have thought the shielding would prevent reception...

 

Yes, I left the braided wire on, but that raises an interesting point. What if I use that flat receiver antenna wire with no shielding?? I'm going to try and see. Thanks for the idea.

 

I bought a complete motor/antenna on ebay for $45 (used, in excellent shape). If you are interested in replacing the antenna it is a very easy fix!

 

Hi Ant17
Did you ever remove the shielding off the wire?
If so, was your reception even better, or was there no noticable difference?
Thanks
Bradley

 

Dude, I bought this for under $14 Jaguar Antenna Mast LNA4134AA | eBay and then followed this gentleman's instructions . If the previous owner hadnt made a mess of things, basically its a $14 job done in under 15 minutes, and done right, not tacky looking.

 

Hi you could always put a rubber gromet in the hole

 

Reception is same, good except for the lowest signal stations.