Does short antenna effect reception?
Novice
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: NorthEast, Il
It will all come down to how far you live from the radio station transmitter. I live 40 miles north of Chicago near the Wis. state line and with the stock whips ('08 Ultra) I can generally pickup any of the stations based in Chgo.
With the the J&M shorties, I noticed an immediate loss of many radio stations. If I were to touch the shorties (as I had to when I instantly removed them) I was then able to receive the stations again.
Bottonm line: They lasted about 10 mins. and I took them off and put them back in the bag.
With the the J&M shorties, I noticed an immediate loss of many radio stations. If I were to touch the shorties (as I had to when I instantly removed them) I was then able to receive the stations again.
Bottonm line: They lasted about 10 mins. and I took them off and put them back in the bag.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 808
Likes: 1
From: so.jersey
cut below the ear
I have the J&M shorty. I thought it was just as good as the stock one until I was sitting beside my bud one day in a parking lot. There was a song on the radio that my wife liked, so I turned my radio station to the same one he was listening to at the time. His station was coming in crystal clear and mine was not.
That was the same day we both hit the same deer. I took the ears from the deer that night for reminders of what happened. I mounted my deer ear on the top of my J&M shorty antenna. About two weeks later someone decided they needed that ear worse than me and cut my atennna off just below the ear. Now the reception really sucks with 2 or 3" missing off the shorty.
Dennis
That was the same day we both hit the same deer. I took the ears from the deer that night for reminders of what happened. I mounted my deer ear on the top of my J&M shorty antenna. About two weeks later someone decided they needed that ear worse than me and cut my atennna off just below the ear. Now the reception really sucks with 2 or 3" missing off the shorty.
Dennis
i have really heard some tragic and distasteful things on the forum and in other places
but to cut off another mans deer ear .that is really about as low as you can go.
what the hell is this world coming to? even though i did get a bit of a chuckle out of it
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 461
From: Illinois
yeah, I know. I still can't believe anyone would do that. My guess is it was a peta type of person and took offense to me displaying the ear. I guess cutting my antenna off was better than trashing the whole bike like they probably wanted to do.
Dennis
Dennis
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
That may be. It looked to me like the 09 antenna was about 30" long. (a little longer than the J&M antenna) Most auto antennas are about 30" long. I wonder if the extra long length on the older models is just so the AM/FM antenna matches the CB antenna. I would expect the longer antenna would be better for AM though. I can see where the little shortie J&M antenna would not work as good unless you have a strong signal.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
You won't notice much difference in reception. If your reception is bad with the shorty, it probably wasn't up to snuff with the long one either. I didn't realize I was getting bad reception until a buddy with an Ultra parked next to me on a poker run and he was listening to an FM station that had faded out on me an hour earlier. When I got home I did some checking with a ohmmeter and found out that the antenna relocation bracket wasn't installed right and I didn't have a good electrical connection at the base.
One suggestion I would make is to get your rubber duck at Auto Zone for about $5 instead of buying a "name brand" and having to wait for it to arrive. Then if you don't like it and want to change back it's no big deal. You could probably even return it.
I use both on mine. I use the rubber duck on the tourpack, and the whip--shortened to below eye level!--when I don't have the tourpack mounted. And if you decide to shorten your stock whip--remember to trim from the bottom, not the end with the little ball.
One suggestion I would make is to get your rubber duck at Auto Zone for about $5 instead of buying a "name brand" and having to wait for it to arrive. Then if you don't like it and want to change back it's no big deal. You could probably even return it.
I use both on mine. I use the rubber duck on the tourpack, and the whip--shortened to below eye level!--when I don't have the tourpack mounted. And if you decide to shorten your stock whip--remember to trim from the bottom, not the end with the little ball.
Last edited by Sharknose; Oct 18, 2008 at 08:30 AM.
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
From: Central NY
I found out that 2 parts are incompatible. I bought the Harley hidden powered antenna and HID. Nothing but static with the headlights on. Had to unhook and go back to stock antenna. I was going to shorten it for detachable tourpak, but maybe I should get the Autozone shorty so I could switch back.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 620
Likes: 61
From: Castle Rock, CO
I have the HD shorty antenna. As long as I am close to town, the reception is fine. But when I go out into the boondocks (Eastern Colorado, Western Kansas, Rocky Mountains) I notice a distinct loss of range. When I know I am going to be out there, I swap the shorty for the stock long one. Takes about a minute.