aerial

[Mike J]

Good day all
I have just passed over to the dark side (well half of me anyway) I have bought Christine SWMBO a completely original 1993 E36 BMW 316, 1 owner from new (my neighbour), with full BMW service history. It was never fitted with a radio as the neighbour didn’t like music when he was driving . Chris does however and in the interests of originality and a peaceful life I have bought a comparable stereo for it. Now comes the question.[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif'] I don’t particularly want to drill holes in the body work[/FONT] for the Arial, can anyone recommend an Arial that can be mounted in the car without drilling holes in the metal.
Maybe screen or under dash mounted ????
Thanks
[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Mike[/FONT]

 

[Mike J]

Duh

Just noticed the title, this computer still cant spell, and what is FONT='Calibri','sans-serif'] all about !!!!!!!!
mike

 

[television]

Just noticed the title, this computer still cant spell, and what is FONT='Calibri','sans-serif'] all about !!!!!!!!
mike

sans-serif' is a letter type,, your problem

FM uses a very long dipole so a screen mount would not work very well, all I can think of is making up something like what the SL uses and that one behind the bumpers

 

[BTB 500]

As Malcolm says you need a fairly long antenna for FM, they are often built into a window nowadays (like heating elements) ... you might want to check you don't already have one there? If not you might be able to get one by replacing a window.

The FM antenna on my Sharan was in the offside rear side window, on my Vito it's in the windscreen.

 

[ibrar]

How about a few coat hangers?

 

[Mike J]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Malcolm you say that the SL has its Arial under the bumper? Does that mean that I could mount a stubby Arial under the bumper or in front of the radiator??
Mike

 

[television]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Malcolm you say that the SL has its Arial under the bumper? Does that mean that I could mount a stubby Arial under the bumper or in front of the radiator??
Mike

No what this means is that you could take a Coax lead from the aerial socket take it to the front of the bumper (or rear).

A coax lead is 2 wires the inner cable and the outer screen.

If you tape 2 wires under the bumper about 7cm long so that you have one each side and they meet in the middle
join one to the inner wire and the other to the outer screen.

Just imagine that the 7cm wires are solid rods as a house antenna

You can buy the banana plug from ICE shops or maplins possibly with a lead attached

 

[LastMinute]

I bought one of these and dumped it behind the glovebox after I took it upon myself to remove the external aerial from my W124. Reception wasn't spectacular, but it was OK for BBC national FM stations.

 

[television]

I bought one of these and dumped it behind the glovebox after I took it upon myself to remove the external aerial from my W124. Reception wasn't spectacular, but it was OK for BBC national FM stations.

The trick with these type, or with a home made as I described is to keep the wires or rods away from any metal.
As the rods or wires get close to metal, then an capacitance effects start to take place and this will attenuate signals at one end of the FM band. So keep them away from any bumper irons just taped inside the plastic bumper is the best

The Aerials on my SL are far from good, but there is nothing that one can do about it.

Though one could add an amp, and indeed my car has one if you added an amp the the only snag is they amplify noise as well and hardly worth the effort

 

[BTB 500]

The Aerials on my SL are far from good

I get great reception from ye olde FM aerial on my R129

Phone aerial is at the top of the windscreen and seems to work OK.