Antenna mythbusting

[mtbjeep]

My first car wash was my last. August 2018. Antenna scratched the f**k out of the Jeep. Now I do the self wash thingy. It’s a real thing.

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[DKAwildcat]

I replaced the stock antenna with the 7” stubby Rydonair because the stock antenna is a pain in the ass to deal with when scrubbing the dead bugs off the windshield. It works great in the Greater Kansas City area but begins to lose reception when I get 50+ miles outside the city. I generally stream downloaded music or Pandora when traveling so being able to pick up local stations is not an issue for me.

 

[Rubi SoHo]

I installed this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDFQDVJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) and have a few comments.

There are two recuring concerns about antennas on this forum:

1. They break off in an automated carwash. My Jeep has been through countless times, incident-free, with the OEM cheapo as well as the new rubberized shorty.
2. Aftermarket shorty antennas have lousy reception. My shorty has lost no ability to pull in stations. Furthermore, my Jeep still gets great reception WITHOUT any antenna at all.

FWIW, I listen to FM exclusively.

I’ve got the 7” version and agree, it works great!

 

[JP29]

Stubby antennas just plain suck.

Btw... I've noticed a couple comments over the past year by members claiming their OEM antenna has struck the body/windshield...I'm not buying it... How TF is that even possible?

It's basically a long, taut spring. Either car washes or bad winds have made mine whip into the side of mine hard and often enough to remove paint.

 

[mosa8084]

My OEM antenna got bent badly in a car wash. One of these days I'll replace it with another OEM antenna because I for one like the old school look.

I went back to the original as well. I think it looks cool

 

[SH556JL]

Stubby antennas just plain suck.

Btw... I've noticed a couple comments over the past year by members claiming their OEM antenna has struck the body/windshield...I'm not buying it... How TF is that even possible?

Only when I hit on low hanging branches had it hit paint or glass.

 

[Murphydog]

Call me crazy, but I only hand wash my Jeep. That said with my Ram 1500, I simply unscrewed the stock antenna before going through any car wash.

 

[Jeffy56]

In rural areas even the stock antennae has mediocre reception. 75 miles from Phoenix. For protection against aggressive shrubbery or car washes sleeve the lower 8"and/or tip with 1/4" rubber vacuum line or vacuum port cap.

 

[mgroeger]

I installed this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDFQDVJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) and have a few comments.

There are two recuring concerns about antennas on this forum:

1. They break off in an automated carwash. My Jeep has been through countless times, incident-free, with the OEM cheapo as well as the new rubberized shorty.
2. Aftermarket shorty antennas have lousy reception. My shorty has lost no ability to pull in stations. Furthermore, my Jeep still gets great reception WITHOUT any antenna at all.

FWIW, I listen to FM exclusively.

I've run that exact antenna on three JLs now and have zero complaints.

 

[El Jefe]

I can't remember the last time I listened to AM or FM intentionally. On past Jeeps, I removed the antenna & fabbed up a custom stainless antenna mount in the same location for a CB, GMRS, or HAM Antenna. On this Jeep I chose a simpler path & just threw on a stubby from Amazon & bought a cowl mount for the antenna. I live 20 miles North of Denver, and it receives some stations. Since I don't listen to any stations, I can't tell if it's worse or not - but for my use, it doesn't matter. (Yes, I understand antenna theory & know it should be worse)

 

[rickinAZ]

What I’ve gleaned from the responses:

• Shorties don’t work in rural areas. It doesn’t have to be BFE, just outside of a metro will cause challenges
• The car wash complaints are more of a mystery. IMO, it has everything to do with how modern your car wash is. The oldest that I use is less than ten years old. If you use a modern car wash and still have problems, I don’t know what to tell you. The whole process is computer driven and it’s hard to do it “wrong”. Maybe I’m just lucky, but zero problems after dozens of car washes? I’m not that lucky

 

[JSFoster75]

I installed this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDFQDVJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) and have a few comments.

There are two recuring concerns about antennas on this forum:

1. They break off in an automated carwash. My Jeep has been through countless times, incident-free, with the OEM cheapo as well as the new rubberized shorty.
2. Aftermarket shorty antennas have lousy reception. My shorty has lost no ability to pull in stations. Furthermore, my Jeep still gets great reception WITHOUT any antenna at all.

FWIW, I listen to FM exclusively.

I've never had car wash damage, but I did experience significant reception loss from my favorite radio station (FM). I was using the 21" Black antenna.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073RRNCZB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[realMacNeil]

I installed this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDFQDVJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) and have a few comments.

There are two recuring concerns about antennas on this forum:

1. They break off in an automated carwash. My Jeep has been through countless times, incident-free, with the OEM cheapo as well as the new rubberized shorty.
2. Aftermarket shorty antennas have lousy reception. My shorty has lost no ability to pull in stations. Furthermore, my Jeep still gets great reception WITHOUT any antenna at all.

FWIW, I listen to FM exclusively.

I always get out of my Jeep and take off the OEM antenna before going through the carwash.

 

[2mnycars]

What I’ve gleaned from the responses:

• Shorties don’t work in rural areas. It doesn’t have to be BFE, just outside of a metro will cause challenges
• The car wash complaints are more of a mystery. IMO, it has everything to do with how modern your car wash is. The oldest that I use is less than ten years old. If you use a modern car wash and still have problems, I don’t know what to tell you. The whole process is computer driven and it’s hard to do it “wrong”. Maybe I’m just lucky, but zero problems after dozens of car washes? I’m not that lucky

Maitenance of the carwash is a concern. Bad maintenance = possible problems.
Just had a carwash experience that I don't want to have again. That's 1/2 an hour can't get back.

 

[Bevo]

I did this antenna upgrade and it works well for me but I've only used it in a greater metro area so far.

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