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From back when this was normal, windshield antenna is going to work better than any external one you can get short of a long pole cb style.
next windshield replacement, may swap my post out the other way.
next windshield replacement, may swap my post out the other way.
MikeNH
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It would be tough. Antenna cable is up at top of the windshield with a proprietary connection.
Hootbro
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Looking at the wiring diagrams I have for 2025 with all three audio systems and I am not seeing a separate windshield antenna. Per the diagrams, there is one combination antenna with three inputs and I do not know if that is referring to the windshield or not.
I am suspect if replacing the 2024+ windshields with a prior year regular windshield would disable more than the AM/FM signal.
I am suspect if replacing the 2024+ windshields with a prior year regular windshield would disable more than the AM/FM signal.
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Where do you get these? I'd love have a set for my 2022 in the library
Hootbro
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My personal collection from when I had a temp subscription to Chrysler Tech Authority and just print to PDF the wiring diagrams.
JL side has a list of their diagrams that will get you 90% of most things that are similar between the two.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jeep-jl-wrangler-wiring-diagrams.19185/
WILDHOBO
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I’d just ignore the wire going to the windshield and run a new one from the head unit to the fender.
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MikeNH
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I haven’t looked into it obviously but I guess I’d hope the radio still uses the standard antenna jack and not something odd.
Hootbro
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By now you have some answers to work with. I'll just add there is indeed science that goes into matching signal wavelength to have an efficient antenna. Rather than get deep into that, consider that the mast antenna that you will find on any vehicle from their factory, will be roughly 31 inches tall. Not a small rubber duck sold by the aftermarket. Not a mast that is 62 inches tall or taller.
The best compromise of efficient signal reception and practical height for garage openings, neighborhood and elsewhere tree canopies, etc is this nominal 31 inch tall signal collector.
Actually that length, give or take a little for a variety of electrical and mechanical issues involving Inductance and Capacitance factors in particular, is set for us in the middle of the FM band. If the antenna length was matched for the low end of the FM band, the antenna mast would be a bit taller. like wise as the frequency we tune in at the 107 Megacycle , or as new kids know today, "Megahertz", abbreviated as Mhz. Ok, so we really don't want to go down that rabbit hole; we just wants something to work as decently as we can afford with practicality in mind. Ergo the simple, 31-ish inch mast antenna. Or... A similar length, factoring in the almost invisible diameter of the wire, embedded into a windshield. A clever way to have the tuned for optimal reception FM antenna where it can't be stolen, vandalized or broken off by a tree limb, low low garage door opening or just some jerk that likes to destroy what someone else has.
Re the seemingly sensible, short rubber duck antennas in place of a standard mast antenna, do they work? Yes. Terribly bad with some station reception situations but there are defenders of the stubby that will tell you they are fine. But the reality is, winding even the 31 or so inches of wire into a coil that fits into a smaller height tube or rubber covering, whacks the heck out of the electrical characteristics. A broadcast signal at a greater distance from the vehicle that is received well on a straightened piece of wire in that 31 inch-arena, might fade in and our, or even no reception of it at all on that compacted size antenna. Which may in some cases, like a JEEP, have all of its short mass, beside the sheet metal of the vehicle. Thats like putting a hand partly over your ear. Cuts down the reception, right? Louder lawn mower next door versus same power lawn mower a block away - cup your hand over your ear and the neighbors mower droning is still pretty much present but the volume of the one down the block has faded a bit more.
So yes, the shorty works but bigger is better. And just the right length is very welcoming. In the windshield, this is accomplished too although it will have a trifle bit less reception capability. Because it's just slightly compromised by the metal framed location but it's been found to be pretty darn great. In part because it has a matching wire up, and across the other direction in the windshield. An efficient "dipole" design in a not perfect location, versus a monopole vertical with the entire sheet metal and frame of the car as the other half of a dipole.... except it's not a "tuned", or resonant length like the window's dual elements are. Pros and cons. The windshield antenna wins, except maybe, rarely, when the vehicles direction versus the windshields dipole are a wee bit at odds. Never mind - more science at work. The windshield dipole checks off more good points vs bad than pretty much any other practical antenna we might try connecting to our radio. Err, Infotainment system.
What about AM band you ask? (most nobody does anymore) Well, it's at such a low frequency, it can deal with just about any decent length of wire without calculating measurements, to receive something.
If you do have a mast antenna of any size, unspool a really, really long length of insulated wire and just let it lay on the ground. Put a few wraps of that wire around the mast antenna. Do this in the cool of night or early, early morning before the sun comes up. You will be surprised at what you can hear from stations hundreds of miles away. Just tune across the band and you'll see. Unless you and your JEEP are parked underground. Worse if your underground concrete bunker is also lined with steel.
I would say do yourself a favor; choose windshield antenna or a full length standard mast on the fender antenna. If you commonly drive with the windshield down, you'll want to have the mast antenna for sure. Although if you're JEEP'ing in a canyon somewhere, radio reception will be terrible if at all. Use your 8-track tape player in that case.
Gene
The best compromise of efficient signal reception and practical height for garage openings, neighborhood and elsewhere tree canopies, etc is this nominal 31 inch tall signal collector.
Actually that length, give or take a little for a variety of electrical and mechanical issues involving Inductance and Capacitance factors in particular, is set for us in the middle of the FM band. If the antenna length was matched for the low end of the FM band, the antenna mast would be a bit taller. like wise as the frequency we tune in at the 107 Megacycle , or as new kids know today, "Megahertz", abbreviated as Mhz. Ok, so we really don't want to go down that rabbit hole; we just wants something to work as decently as we can afford with practicality in mind. Ergo the simple, 31-ish inch mast antenna. Or... A similar length, factoring in the almost invisible diameter of the wire, embedded into a windshield. A clever way to have the tuned for optimal reception FM antenna where it can't be stolen, vandalized or broken off by a tree limb, low low garage door opening or just some jerk that likes to destroy what someone else has.
Re the seemingly sensible, short rubber duck antennas in place of a standard mast antenna, do they work? Yes. Terribly bad with some station reception situations but there are defenders of the stubby that will tell you they are fine. But the reality is, winding even the 31 or so inches of wire into a coil that fits into a smaller height tube or rubber covering, whacks the heck out of the electrical characteristics. A broadcast signal at a greater distance from the vehicle that is received well on a straightened piece of wire in that 31 inch-arena, might fade in and our, or even no reception of it at all on that compacted size antenna. Which may in some cases, like a JEEP, have all of its short mass, beside the sheet metal of the vehicle. Thats like putting a hand partly over your ear. Cuts down the reception, right? Louder lawn mower next door versus same power lawn mower a block away - cup your hand over your ear and the neighbors mower droning is still pretty much present but the volume of the one down the block has faded a bit more.
So yes, the shorty works but bigger is better. And just the right length is very welcoming. In the windshield, this is accomplished too although it will have a trifle bit less reception capability. Because it's just slightly compromised by the metal framed location but it's been found to be pretty darn great. In part because it has a matching wire up, and across the other direction in the windshield. An efficient "dipole" design in a not perfect location, versus a monopole vertical with the entire sheet metal and frame of the car as the other half of a dipole.... except it's not a "tuned", or resonant length like the window's dual elements are. Pros and cons. The windshield antenna wins, except maybe, rarely, when the vehicles direction versus the windshields dipole are a wee bit at odds. Never mind - more science at work. The windshield dipole checks off more good points vs bad than pretty much any other practical antenna we might try connecting to our radio. Err, Infotainment system.
What about AM band you ask? (most nobody does anymore) Well, it's at such a low frequency, it can deal with just about any decent length of wire without calculating measurements, to receive something.
If you do have a mast antenna of any size, unspool a really, really long length of insulated wire and just let it lay on the ground. Put a few wraps of that wire around the mast antenna. Do this in the cool of night or early, early morning before the sun comes up. You will be surprised at what you can hear from stations hundreds of miles away. Just tune across the band and you'll see. Unless you and your JEEP are parked underground. Worse if your underground concrete bunker is also lined with steel.
I would say do yourself a favor; choose windshield antenna or a full length standard mast on the fender antenna. If you commonly drive with the windshield down, you'll want to have the mast antenna for sure. Although if you're JEEP'ing in a canyon somewhere, radio reception will be terrible if at all. Use your 8-track tape player in that case.
Gene
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