Radio Reception
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Tourer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 375
Likes: 13
From: Salem, IN
Radio Reception
To those guys/gals who live 30+ miles away from a major city, how is your radio reception with the HD Boom Hidden Antenna?
I've got an aftermarket shorty antenna on my '08 Ultra right now and reception sucks until I get within 15-20 miles of say Louisville, KY. I'd like to get decent reception at home (Salem, IN). I've installed Sirius/XM on my bike, but I still like to listen to the local stations. I'd prefer not to put the OEM antenna back on the bike.
I've got an aftermarket shorty antenna on my '08 Ultra right now and reception sucks until I get within 15-20 miles of say Louisville, KY. I'd like to get decent reception at home (Salem, IN). I've installed Sirius/XM on my bike, but I still like to listen to the local stations. I'd prefer not to put the OEM antenna back on the bike.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Hidden antennae simply put; sucks. Had one and took it off immediately. The shorty is way better than the hidden arrangement. There is a shorty I bought on line, I can't find the site at the moment, it's book marked in my old computer but this particular antennae was better than stock. If I find it I'll let you know.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 336
Likes: 181
From: West Central MN
Had a similar issue, had the boom shortys on the bike. sucked. traded someone for the 09+ style - a lot shorter than the older ones, and much much better reception.
Also cleaned/scuffed the contacts, and used dilectric grease. helped notably with the shortys.
Also cleaned/scuffed the contacts, and used dilectric grease. helped notably with the shortys.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 375
Likes: 13
From: Salem, IN
I think I've figured the problem. I took the very solid short antenna off my bike and learned that the contacts were not screwed into each other. Once I screwed them in, the radio had better reception. I think the short antenna I have is NOT the HD version. It is a solid antenna. The reception is better without the short antenna than with it.
I'm going to pickup the short HD Boom antenna tomorrow and see how that works. I will post results tomorrow.
I'm going to pickup the short HD Boom antenna tomorrow and see how that works. I will post results tomorrow.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,601
Likes: 1,588
From: Eastern Ohio
I think I've figured the problem. I took the very solid short antenna off my bike and learned that the contacts were not screwed into each other. Once I screwed them in, the radio had better reception. I think the short antenna I have is NOT the HD version. It is a solid antenna. The reception is better without the short antenna than with it.
I'm going to pickup the short HD Boom antenna tomorrow and see how that works. I will post results tomorrow.
I'm going to pickup the short HD Boom antenna tomorrow and see how that works. I will post results tomorrow.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 375
Likes: 13
From: Salem, IN
Where are you located and how did it work on your bike?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,601
Likes: 1,588
From: Eastern Ohio
I'm in Calcutta OH.
I honestly never used the FM radio since I bought the bike in March. Factory radio or the 2 aftermarket radios I've had in it. I kept hooking the antenna back up thinking, just in case I decide to ever use it. I don't and decided I won't. Some of the amps interfere with reception too. I'm going to be upgrading my upgraded upgrade soon. Let me know if you want to try it out.
I honestly never used the FM radio since I bought the bike in March. Factory radio or the 2 aftermarket radios I've had in it. I kept hooking the antenna back up thinking, just in case I decide to ever use it. I don't and decided I won't. Some of the amps interfere with reception too. I'm going to be upgrading my upgraded upgrade soon. Let me know if you want to try it out.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,601
Likes: 1,588
From: Eastern Ohio
I'm in Calcutta OH.
I honestly never used the FM radio since I bought the bike in March. Factory radio or the 2 aftermarket radios I've had in it. I kept hooking the antenna back up thinking, just in case I decide to ever use it. I don't and decided I won't. Some of the amps interfere with reception too. I'm going to be upgrading my upgraded upgrade soon. Let me know if you want to try it out.
I honestly never used the FM radio since I bought the bike in March. Factory radio or the 2 aftermarket radios I've had in it. I kept hooking the antenna back up thinking, just in case I decide to ever use it. I don't and decided I won't. Some of the amps interfere with reception too. I'm going to be upgrading my upgraded upgrade soon. Let me know if you want to try it out.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 375
Likes: 13
From: Salem, IN
I picked up the shorty antenna to try today. I found the contacts were not screwed together in the antenna mount. Let me see how it works this weekend and I may get that fairing mounted antenna from you.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,601
Likes: 1,588
From: Eastern Ohio
No problem. I had an HD shorty on my Electra Glide. It worked well enough. I'm between Cleveland (2 hrs) and Pittsburgh (1 hr). I could pick up Pittsburgh stations and some an hour or so north of me. I bet it will work pretty well.
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