Stubby Antenna Install - Testing the loss of gain in the radio

[Brfertig [HACKED ACCOUNT]]

The stubby antenna. Why do so many Jeep owners do this mod? Is it because the stock one is huge and hits stuff? Is it because you use digital media more today than ever? Or do you not care about radio anymore? I tested the gain of my antenna vs the stubby and the results might surprise you.

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[MCATDT]

Whats AM/FM?!?! Seriously though Satellite or digital only for me. I have never even tuned the radio to an AM/FM channel. The stock antenna was removed before I drove it off the lot. The only use I have had for the stock one is to hang a trail flag on it for a club charity ride.

 

[Kevin_D]

I was gonna ask if you tested AM, but...
Guam.

Kevin

 

[TheProdigalBastard]

I have a 16" rubber antenna with a copper coil and get better reception than I did with the stock antenna.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

The stubby antenna. Why do so many Jeep owners do this mod? Is it because the stock one is huge and hits stuff? Is it because you use digital media more today than ever? Or do you not care about radio anymore? I tested the gain of my antenna vs the stubby and the results might surprise you.

The old reason and the reason I still do it are the longer antenna can whipped back and slapped the windshield on a trail and crack the windshield. It happened on JKU I had and I know more than a handful of people it's happened to. There are some stubby's that get almost as good of reception as the longer one. You can't get the rubber ones, it has to be a aluminum one and it has to have copper inside of it. Advance auto sells a good one for around $20 that is aluminum with copper in it and it's does great. Not all are created equal.

But the main reason people started putting stubby's on years ago was to keep the antenna away from the windshield and for some if you have side mount lights like I had on my JKU, the antenna sticks up to far and it gets right in the path of the light on that side.

 

[Summitsearcher]

I’m going to relocate my stubby to the bolt location for the soft top with a homemade mount. I’ll test it in both locations top on/top off and see how it does. I have a hardtop and it will fit underneath when top is on.

 

[Kevin_D]

You can't get the rubber ones, it has to be a aluminum one and it has to have copper inside of it.

There are rubberized stubby antennas available with coils inside, designed for AM/FM reception.

Kevin

 

[Brfertig [HACKED ACCOUNT]]

I’m going to relocate my stubby to the bolt location for the soft top with a homemade mount. I’ll test it in both locations top on/top off and see how it does. I have a hardtop and it will fit underneath when top is on.

Nice idea!

 

[KurtP]

I did a copper wind stubby also, because my stock one bent pretty badly.

If it causes issues out in the sticks, ill run a copper cable up to a roof rack with the comms array and extend it.

 

[fun2drum]

I changed mine because the car wash brushes were tangling in the long metal one. It never did damage but it was scary to watch it.

By the way, I tested before and after reception just for the sake of curiosity, and it’s not as good. I so rarely use radio anymore that it doesn’t matter to me.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

There are rubberized stubby antennas available with coils inside, designed for AM/FM reception.

Kevin

True but in my experience the aluminum ones with the coils get a little better reception than the rubberized ones. At least as far as driving goes. If I'm in my home town either one gets the same reception, I'm particularly talking 100 or more miles from the house I can still get some of the channels from Charlotte NC with the aluminum one I couldn't get with the rubberized one I had installed. Both were stubby ones with coils just the aluminum stubby got a little better reception.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

You can actually cut down your stock antenna and reattach the ball in the end and then plastic dip it. I know a few guys in a local jeep club who have done this and had good results as well in regards to reception. Some used JB weld to reattach the ball and some soldered it back on. Just a idea if you don't feel comfortable buying a stubby because you feel like you might lose reception.

 

[Brfertig [HACKED ACCOUNT]]

Thanks guys for all the comments and the video has shot to number 2 in my list of most watched. Would you all be interested in a showdown of multiple stubby antennas?

Brandon

 

[KurtP]

Thanks guys for all the comments and the video has shot to number 2 in my list of most watched. Would you all be interested in a showdown of multiple stubby antennas?

Brandon

I think it would be cool. Couple premium ones. Couple amazon ones. Could also test a copper fling wire up to a rack just for kicks.

 

[Jocww]

I’m going to relocate my stubby to the bolt location for the soft top with a homemade mount. I’ll test it in both locations top on/top off and see how it does. I have a hardtop and it will fit underneath when top is on.

have you done this yet?

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