How's the radio reception with shorter antennas?

[LordBritish]

I have a 2005 Mustang GT with an antenna that looks like a fishing rod !!

I hate the way it looks !

But I'm afraid that my radio reception will diminish if I get those "shorty" antennas. My radio reception isn't that great to begin with. I have a stock Shaker 500 unit FYI.

Anybody with experience on this?

 

[stkjock]

I have one, reception is def not as good, I live in a area with a lot of strong signal stations, so I manage, however, definately weaker

 

[ghunt81]

Yeah, I put a shorty antenna on my old Thunderbird and it definitely negatively affected my reception.

 

[07gts197]

It depends on where you live. I have a 12” shorty antenna and dont live near many strong towers and have yet to have a problem, even travelling accross the state. But I also live in flat Florida so signal isnt affected by things like hills or mountains.

 

[AndrewNagle]

I have a 2005 Mustang GT with an antenna that looks like a fishing rod !!

I hate the way it looks !

But I'm afraid that my radio reception will diminish if I get those "shorty" antennas. My radio reception isn't that great to begin with. I have a stock Shaker 500 unit FYI.

Anybody with experience on this?

Have a shorty antenna and live in the mountains in a small town no issue with the local radio station but mainly listen either to SiriusXm or AirPlay

 

[tjm73]

Who still listens to crappy AM/FM radio? Too many commercials. Annoying announcers. Same crap songs every hour or two. Did I mention how many commercials for total shit are played?

 

[ox white]

Do an antenna delete and just use the AUX jack. I did do a short antenna on an 08 though. Reception was fine.

 

[Scott]

Had a 14" shorty on mine for awhile but went back to OEM. To know for sure if it will satisfy you I guess you will just have to try one.

 

[07gts197]

Not to thread jack but has anyone used one of those hidden antennas? The reviews are all over the place. I thought about using one (in case my music ever bores me lol) and deleting the antenna and base.

 

[Bingo]

If it negatively impacted my reception, it wasn't enough to make me want to go back to a giant whip antenna. If you have an aux jack or a bluetooth stereo, you can use your phone to pick up radio stations with TuneIn Radio (uses data) or NextFM (which supposedly doesn't use data if your phone's FM chip is enabled).

 

[oldVOR]

As others have stated, the reception was weaker and on marginal stations, they dropped off enough to warrant not listening to that station.

 

[tjm73]

Radio antennas are actually a specific length to catch the range of radio frequencies that AM/FM broadcast at.

 

[46addict]

I've removed the stock 3 feet antenna before just to see, and my radio stations came in just fine with no antenna. The ones that did not come in were weak to begin with on the stock antenna.

 

[ox white]

Not to thread jack but has anyone used one of those hidden antennas? The reviews are all over the place. I thought about using one (in case my music ever bores me lol) and deleting the antenna and base.

I had one on a 96 GT. Reception was not as good, but was acceptable. Removed the antenna and base and covered the hole in the fender with a delete plate intended for a 93 Cobra R.

 

[07gts197]

I had one on a 96 GT. Reception was not as good, but was acceptable. Removed the antenna and base and covered the hole in the fender with a delete plate intended for a 93 Cobra R.

Thanks. That seems to be the consensus sadly. I like the idea but not if it will negatively affect signal clarity in case I have to listen to the radio. I usually dont but my tunes can bore me sometimes.

 

[stkjock]

they are less than $20, not a big risk buying one....

 

[AndrewNagle]

they are less than $20, not a big risk buying one....

or $15 and free returns if it doesn't work to your liking

https://www.amazon.com/Steadfast-Au...rd_wg=gLa4E&psc=1&refRID=EH7SF3AAAGF4Z73P5EGP

 

[07gts197]

Ive seen a few on ebay for less and thats what caught my attention in the first place. I originally wanted one for my vic because the radio reception is already reduced from being integrated into the rear defroster grid but I sold it last month. I might end up trying one on my 02 gt since it doesnt have an aux connection and I listen to the radio more in it.

 

[kazman59]

I installed one and a new head unit, added a 64g mini stick.
I don't know, never selected the radio input.
I'll hafta try it once for s&g.

 

[LikeabossTM]

Where are you located, you can have the one off my 2014 vert if it's of any use to you.

Probably not worth shipping tho.