Antenna mod

[07_SKY_RL]

Here are some photos of the install of a $10 retractable antenna I bought at the part store. Since it was cheap, I bought it solely to see what it would look like. I've since ordered a Hirschmann that I will permanently install.

I don't believe it would fit straight up and down, and it is not powered.

The Hirschmann has a locking cap. I figure anywhere I'm worried about the antenna getting ripped off, I'll definitely be putting the top up, so its a couple extra seconds to push down the antenna.

I can also retract it for using a car cover etc.

I like powered antennas, but I didn't want to mount a switch inside. This seemed a good compromise.








View up inside the wheel well - old antenna still hanging. I have to modify the bracket, but it will attach using the original mount points.

[wt2ga]

[etw98]

You could put the switch inside the center storage bin where some people are putting the switch for the wind restrictor.

[07_SKY_RL]

Received the Hirschmann antenna today.

It is of slightly better quality than the generic part store model, but is basically the same configuration. However, it does not come with the part store bracketry. So, if you're going to do something like this, you'll probably need both, or to make your own bracket. or just settle for the part-store model.

Here are some pics as it came...

Out of the box


Detail of the adjustable-angle head and locking mechanism. (Sorry its fuzzy, I'll try to get another later)


Fully Extended



The part store antenna, even when angled, was as tall vertically as the OEM - in other words, its longer, but when you tilt it back, its still as high as the OEM. I don't know enough about radio to know if that's good, bad, or unimportant.



It looks like it will fit identically. The only mod was the pot-metal piece (semi-circular grey piece that goes underneath the fender skin) has two aligning tabs that go up through the hole. I had to grind a little bit of metal off them to get them through the Sky's existing antenna hole so I didn't have to mod the car body.


If there's interest, I will post more when I get it fully installed...