Hidden antennae problem
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Hidden antennae problem
I added bag fillers to my EG then realized my antennae wouldn't fit so I bought a HD hidden antennae for inside the fairing. The reception is horrible and it differers depending On location. Once in a while it's not too bad but for the most part it is not even close to the reception I got from my external mounted antennae. I have a hog tunes amp, not sure if that makes a difference. I'm wondering if anyone has had any succes with that type or are there any tricks to get it to work better. I followed the direction to the tee
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs
Where did you mount your amp?
I recently put a hog tunes amp on my bike and the powered hidden antennae would not pick up any stations at all. I mounted my amp directly above the radio and I am thinking that I might want to move it to the side or somewhere else.
I recently put a hog tunes amp on my bike and the powered hidden antennae would not pick up any stations at all. I mounted my amp directly above the radio and I am thinking that I might want to move it to the side or somewhere else.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
antennas work best vertical & with a "ground plane"
- on bikes with tourpaks that is the steel plate in the base of the pak. on your car it is the roof, or hood or trunk deck...and to a lesser extent the road
these are hard and fast rules determined by physics.
you can mount an antenna sideways...it just won;t work as well ...as much of the time.
you can remove the ground plane...it just won;t work as well...as much of the time.
if you add an antenna amplifier- you will increase the background noise or static by the exact same ratio as the radio signal.
the best result is a stock antenna which is a 1/2 wave ( the length of the antenna determines the wavelength or frequency that it will pick up).
I use a 1/4 wave rubber stubby from pepboys $12 using a street glide mount
It works pretty good within a 60 or 75 mile radius from town.
when I tour and the tourpak goes on, I use the stock antenna
some guys for a sleeker look, zip tie the stubby so that it follows the saddlebag mount brace inside a SG or CVO fascia, and kind runs along the fender strut
Mike
- on bikes with tourpaks that is the steel plate in the base of the pak. on your car it is the roof, or hood or trunk deck...and to a lesser extent the road
these are hard and fast rules determined by physics.
you can mount an antenna sideways...it just won;t work as well ...as much of the time.
you can remove the ground plane...it just won;t work as well...as much of the time.
if you add an antenna amplifier- you will increase the background noise or static by the exact same ratio as the radio signal.
the best result is a stock antenna which is a 1/2 wave ( the length of the antenna determines the wavelength or frequency that it will pick up).
I use a 1/4 wave rubber stubby from pepboys $12 using a street glide mount
It works pretty good within a 60 or 75 mile radius from town.
when I tour and the tourpak goes on, I use the stock antenna
some guys for a sleeker look, zip tie the stubby so that it follows the saddlebag mount brace inside a SG or CVO fascia, and kind runs along the fender strut
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Apr 10, 2016 at 04:43 PM.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
I mounted the Amp on top of the Radio. I'm thinking the antennae is just inferior.
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Did the antennae work prior to putting the Amp above the radio?
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
antennas work best vertical & with a "ground plane"
- on bikes with tourpaks that is the steel plate in the base of the pak. on your car it is the roof, or hood or trunk deck...and to a lesser extent the road
these are hard and fast rules determined by physics.
you can mount an antenna sideways...it just won;t work as well ...as much of the time.
you can remove the ground plane...it just won;t work as well...as much of the time.
if you add an antenna amplifier- you will increase the background noise or static by the exact same ratio as the radio signal.
the best result is a stock antenna which is a 1/2 wave ( the length of the antenna determines the wavelength or frequency that it will pick up).
I use a 1/4 wave rubber stubby from pepboys $12 using a street glide mount
It works pretty good within a 60 or 75 mile radius from town.
when I tour and the tourpak goes on, I use the stock antenna
some guys for a sleeker look, zip tie the stubby so that it follows the saddlebag mount brace inside a SG or CVO fascia, and kind runs along the fender strut
Mike
- on bikes with tourpaks that is the steel plate in the base of the pak. on your car it is the roof, or hood or trunk deck...and to a lesser extent the road
these are hard and fast rules determined by physics.
you can mount an antenna sideways...it just won;t work as well ...as much of the time.
you can remove the ground plane...it just won;t work as well...as much of the time.
if you add an antenna amplifier- you will increase the background noise or static by the exact same ratio as the radio signal.
the best result is a stock antenna which is a 1/2 wave ( the length of the antenna determines the wavelength or frequency that it will pick up).
I use a 1/4 wave rubber stubby from pepboys $12 using a street glide mount
It works pretty good within a 60 or 75 mile radius from town.
when I tour and the tourpak goes on, I use the stock antenna
some guys for a sleeker look, zip tie the stubby so that it follows the saddlebag mount brace inside a SG or CVO fascia, and kind runs along the fender strut
Mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 814
From: Nevada
I tried a hidden antenna and short stubby antennas. Reception sucked, so I went back to the stock whips.
Last edited by Geoff; Apr 11, 2016 at 01:34 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 254
From: US
I have the HD hidden antenna on my current SGS and my previous '13 UC, both work just as well as stock ant, with exception of loosing some weather channels. I've had times were I lost cell signal and Pandara stopped, so I switch over to FM. A buddy has one on his SG with a RF amp and has no loss either. Curious why some of you guys experience a signal loss while some of us don't?
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 3
From: Colorado Springs
Yes, it did. I am thinking of taking the fairing off again next weekend and moving the amp to see if it clears up the reception. Currently I put the whip back on and have ran it up under my seat but it is not cutting it either.
Maybe we are getting interference when the amp is so close to the antennae port on the radio?
Maybe we are getting interference when the amp is so close to the antennae port on the radio?