Shorten OEM Antenna

[BHo]

I’ve noticed a lot of Jeeps replacing OEM Jeep antenna with shorty aluminum ones. I figured if I’m throwing out this nice stainless steel antenna for a cheap aluminum made in China replacement I should at least cut my old one down and see how it looks and performs.

I first figured you CAN remove the safety ball at the end of the antenna for reinstallation at NEW cut. Remove with tape so ball won’t “oh Jesus” across the shop never to be found. I used a pair of visegrips loosly set to larger than OD of antenna and “slid hammered” it off the antenna.

My desired length was 10” for the test run, or almost 25” removal. Gripped disposable side with visegrips and cut.

You’ll need to change the OD of cut to the OD of the tip so the safety ball will press back on. I turned mine slowly on a grinder to get the desired OD. OE Tip on right, reworked cut end to near OD on left.

I’d recommend some epoxy or adhesive for the ball. Turns out I had some leftover J-B WELD Clearweld Epoxy Adhesive from another project. But the adhesive is so minimal I wouldn’t buy something just for this. I chose to hammer (light taps) the safety ball/epoxy back on.

INSTALLED

Pretty easy mod and saves $20-$40 instead of buying aftermarket aluminum ones. Also consider you won’t have as good of AM/FM reception with ANY short antenna modification.

I’ve also read some people are having galvanic corrosion issues with most aftermarket shorty antennas. So you might not be able to remove the aftermarket ones once you install them. Just my frugal 2 certs worth of mods.

Sponsored

 

[jrohan07]

Shorty works OK and looks great, but you just undid what JEEP had in mind for the tall antenna..to help you in parking in garages with low clearances and to sweep branches away on the trail.

 

[Bryce]

Shorty works OK and looks great, but you just undid what JEEP had in mind for the tall antenna..to help you in parking in garages with low clearances and to sweep branches away on the trail.

That and its not the proper wavelength by cutting it down. I'd suspect its performance will suffer.

The shorties are coiled up in the antenna so that they are the proper wavelength.

 

[Ohio Hiker]

That and its noon the proper wavelength by cutting it down. I'd suspect its performance will suffer.

The shorties are coiled up in the antenna so that they are the proper wavelength.

Yep. Just guessing that is probably down to less than an 1/8th wavelength. The reception should decrease quite a bit the further away from the transmission towers.

 

[BHo]

Yep. Just guessing that is probably down to less than an 1/8th wavelength. The reception should decrease quite a bit the further away from the transmission towers.

As stated in the post “Also consider you won’t have as good of AM/FM reception with ANY short antenna modification”

 

[Ohio Hiker]

The spiral is to assist with wind shedding, it hasn't anything to do for signal reception.
What gives the antenna the ability to work properly is by being "tuned" to a frequency range, as you alluded to. With a monopole antenna the size is typically determined by wavelength. Wavelength is calculated by dividing the speed of light (theoretically the speed of radio waves) by the frequency of the transmission. Most car antenna are quarter wave antennas, 1/4 wavelength. Its tuned range covers both your AM and FM frequency ranges.

 

[Will_Jeep]

Pretty easy mod and saves $20-$40 instead of buying aftermarket aluminum ones. Also consider you won’t have as good of AM/FM reception with ANY short antenna modification.

1. Nice little mod
2. I have a shorty, it was one of my first mods, same brand that I have had on on three Jeeps now. I live in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, and I pull in loads of FM stations, but only listen to a couple
3. I have repurposed my stock antenna, and I use it as a wire fish, particularly good for fishing wires through the frame of the Jeep
4. @Ohio Hiker, I learned something today, thanks

 

[WRGLR-JL]

What a great idea. I was looking to change out to a shorty, but went with this minor mod to the stock antenna. I've always found the size of the stock antenna a distraction I could do without. So I took a hacksaw to it this morning and a dremel tool to reduce the tip before fitting the ball back on with a dab of liquid solder. So far I have no reduction in reception but only time will tell as I venture further out...

 

[RedundanT]

Never under stand why folks do this. The factory antenna tell me if I'm going to clear that parking garage.

 

[BHo]

What a great idea. I was looking to change out to a shorty, but went with this minor mod to the stock antenna. I've always found the size of the stock antenna a distraction I could do without. So I took a hacksaw to it this morning and a dremel tool to reduce the tip before fitting the ball back on with a dab of liquid solder. So far I have no reduction in reception but only time will tell as I venture further out...

Glad it worked for you. I’ve been happy with mine too.

 

[BadAssBumbleBee]

I used to have a 24" AntennaX CB style antenna on my 2009 and 2012 JK's, but I forgot to remove it when I sold the 2012

Unfortunately they stopped making these antennas a while ago so they are impossible to find now unless you can track down a used one. That AntennaX antenna worked just as well, if not better than the factory antenna on my JK's.

Since I couldn't find the AntennaX anymore, I just swapped out my stock 35" stainless antenna for a black stainless, 31", wire wound antenna from Antenna MastsRus/Antenna Source. No loss in signal/reception whatsoever and it still sits a little higher than the top of the Jeep to provide some warning in case I get into parking garage with a low ceiling.

Antenna MastsRus/Antenna Source sells a few different antennas for the JL in various lengths from 7" to 31".

 

[JayJay]

Never under stand why folks do this. The factory antenna tell me if I'm going to clear that parking garage.

Maybe they're like me. I'd be bad lost if my jeep was ever close to a parking garage.

Later,
Johnny

 

[BHo]

Never under stand why folks do this. The factory antenna tell me if I'm going to clear that parking garage.

I’m really not sure if you’re being serious or not. But judging by some of your snarky comments from other threads. I call BS on needing an antenna to gauge height in a parking garage. Most competent Folks are fully aware of the height of their jeeps, it goes hand-and-hand with knowing your rig so you can off-road proficiently.

Secondly, International Building Code; Section 1106.5. requires parking garages “...shall be not less than 7 feet...”. Most jeeps are 6’ to 6’2” stock, and 6’-4” to 6’-6” modified.

My question to you since you “Never under stand why folks do this.” Is: how in the hell do you navigate your Jeep ON or OFF road If you need an antenna to park in city parking structure? Do you also require “curb feelers” to rock crawl? With this mindset, you wouldn’t lift your Jeep with worries of not being able to park?

Go vent about relevant modifications that jeopardize safety... like lift kits and rollovers at highway speeds. How antirock sway bars are subpar for stabilizing your rig in corrective actions on the highway. How bias ply tires are unsafe in colder climates and how lack of water sipes on mud terrain tires can jeopardize handling in wet road conditions.

And Yes, this is a rant based off of irritation from an INEPT reply to a frugal solution to shortening an antenna.

 

[RedundanT]

I’m really not sure if you’re being serious or not. But judging by some of your snarky comments from other threads. I call BS on needing an antenna to gauge height in a parking garage. Most competent Folks are fully aware of the height of their jeeps, it goes hand-and-hand with knowing your rig so you can off-road proficiently.

Secondly, International Building Code; Section 1106.5. requires parking garages “...shall be not less than 7 feet...”. Most jeeps are 6’ to 6’2” stock, and 6’-4” to 6’-6” modified.

My question to you since you “Never under stand why folks do this.” Is: how in the hell do you navigate your Jeep ON or OFF road If you need an antenna to park in city parking structure? Do you also require “curb feelers” to rock crawl? With this mindset, you wouldn’t lift your Jeep with worries of not being able to park?

Go vent about relevant modifications that jeopardize safety... like lift kits and rollovers at highway speeds. How antirock sway bars are subpar for stabilizing your rig in corrective actions on the highway. How bias ply tires are unsafe in colder climates and how lack of water sipes on mud terrain tires can jeopardize handling in wet road conditions.

And Yes, this is a rant based off of irritation from an INEPT reply to a frugal solution to shortening an antenna.

Here is my last rig deep in the woods. The JL hasn't been in the there yet, local authority likes to close the trails this time of year. Save the mall crawler attacks for the dudes with the dubs.

Sponsored