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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 just removed a powered hidden Harley antenna from my serg. I don't use fm, at all. If anyone wants it, pay the shipping on it and it's yours.

 

Where are you located and how did it work on your bike?

 

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 take that back. In the dealership I cranked the radio up. It was tuned to a classic rock station. Came in clear, but that's the only time I remember trying it.

 

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.

 

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.