Black Antenna with OEM or better signal

[flsupraguy]

Looking to buy a replacement antenna that is black that has oem or better signal. Any suggestions?

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[Mr._Bill]

I bought one of these. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S1C2QVK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[flsupraguy]

I bought one of these. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S1C2QVK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for sharing. Do you feel the signal is still as strong as the oem antenna?

 

[AggieJeep]

Thanks for sharing. Do you feel the signal is still as strong as the oem antenna?

The laws of physics are clear, shorter antennas will deliver LESS signal to the radio receiver. How much less you personally wish to tolerate it very specific to your location and listening habits. If you are 10 miles from a high-power FM station, you can get by with a small paper clip. That won’t work in places like West Texas.

If the color is all that concerns you, I’ve heard of guys Plasti-Dipping the factory antenna black.

 

[flsupraguy]

The laws of physics are clear, shorter antennas will deliver LESS signal to the radio receiver. How much less you personally wish to tolerate it very specific to your location and listening habits. If you are 10 miles from a high-power FM station, you can get by with a small paper clip. That won’t work in places like West Texas.

If the color is all that concerns you, I’ve heard of guys Plasti-Dipping the factory antenna black.

I understand what you are saying but your logic is partially flawed. Yes, on average a longer antenna will typically pick up a signal better. However, it has been known that some aftermarket manufacturers have a wider antenna where not as tall as oem make up for things to an extent by their width and materials used.

 

[primethios]

The function of am/fm antennas is dictated by wavelength. The defacto standard for radio communication is generally a quarter wave length antenna so the shorter the antenna the lower the receive db (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, wave etc) mathematically they all work but the shorter the antenna the overall lower db of reception. So for your use depends on where you are generally using the am/fm radio. For someone like me 35 miles out of chicago I can get away with quite a bit but the further away you are from the radio transmitters the more you will benefit from a longer antenna. Ultimately with the various manufacturers and the quality of materials and builds you are at the mercy of the gods but most radio antennas are not that expensive so sometimes you have to roll the dice and if it doesn't work as well as you like you put in on the shelf as a backup in case of breakage. It is the age old adage of aesthetics vs operability.

I have not heard of plastic dipping the antenna as listed above but that is actually an interesting idea I may try as plastic should have no effect on reception.

My fun is trying to figure out where to put ham radio antennas on my JT between the removable top and doors as well as my tonneau cover. Plus I have never been the ham radio guy who likes to drill holes in their truck.

 

[AggieJeep]

I understand what you are saying but your logic is partially flawed. Yes, on average a longer antenna will typically pick up a signal better. However, it has been known that some aftermarket manufacturers have a wider antenna where not as tall as oem make up for things to an extent by their width and materials used.

I disagree that width adds appreciably to the amount of received signal. Whatever gains that might be seen in a full lab test would also be mitigated by the side mount on our Jeeps where the short antennas don’t reach above the body much, if at all. These are simple omnidirectional devices and not some form of panel array that lets you go wider to “be longer”.

Admittedly, I have not researched all offerings, but I have never seen one of these provide a real gain specification with respect to isotopic, dipole, or just a simple comparison to the factory element. The comparisons are always purely anecdotal.

OP wants oem or better performance. I keep my stock antenna because I do listen to AM/FM for more local content. I would buy a good aftermarket antenna myself if it matches the OP’s requirements. Oddly, none I’ve seen will put numbers out there for comparison...

 

[Mr._Bill]

Thanks for sharing. Do you feel the signal is still as strong as the oem antenna?

I put one from this same manufacturer on my Nissan Leaf. It worked as well as the OEM antenna. It seemed fine on the Gladiator, for what little time I tested it. I have a year trial from Jeep on the SiriusXM, so that is all I listen to, for now. They offer a full satisfaction guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose but your time to test the antenna. The big factor will be your distance from the stations. It may not work as well as OEM in a rural area.

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