Antenna Upgrade
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 368
From: Panama City Beach, FL
Antenna Upgrade
I have a stock antenna on my 2007 Street Glide, which is down right terrible! The signal cuts in/out as I ride, which I think is because of it whipping around in the wind. It is about 4 1/2 feet long, and is just in the way in the garage too.
Any suggestions for a shorter, cleaner looking antenna? Do they have anything like a short, plastic covered antenna - kind of like an antenna for a police walkie-talkie? Or any other suggestions?
Any suggestions for a shorter, cleaner looking antenna? Do they have anything like a short, plastic covered antenna - kind of like an antenna for a police walkie-talkie? Or any other suggestions?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
check that your wiring connections are tight and clean, antenna screwed on tight and all that.
no surprise that the length of the antenna is calculated to match the wavelength of the radio frequencies you want to pick up
random cuts will give random results.
the $8 pep boys rubber stubby works fine, that's what i use most of the time.
and when my tour pak is on, it fits underneath
I don't miss getting whacked in the face by an antenna in a dark garage
mike
no surprise that the length of the antenna is calculated to match the wavelength of the radio frequencies you want to pick up
random cuts will give random results.
the $8 pep boys rubber stubby works fine, that's what i use most of the time.
and when my tour pak is on, it fits underneath
I don't miss getting whacked in the face by an antenna in a dark garage
mike
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 120
From: Fairbanks, AK.
If you want to loose the whip install HD's hidden AM/FM antenna inside the fairing. The wires attach to the inside of the fairing out of the weather. Performance is ok due to the integrated signal amplifier.
If you want to fix the existing antenna, do this. Unscrew the coax cable feed line fitting from the antenna base, clean the metal contact surfaces on the coax and in the antenna's base, and reinstall the coax to the base. Unscrew the whip and clean the base threads and inside contact of the whip. Reinstall. Make sure the antenna's mount to the bike's frame has clean surfaces that make electrical contact. Ideally the antenna depends on the frame contact to work well.
The whole setup is a poor design that exposes the low antenna feed line connection to weather and road crap. It can be maintained and weatherproofed but few have any interest to do that.
If you want to fix the existing antenna, do this. Unscrew the coax cable feed line fitting from the antenna base, clean the metal contact surfaces on the coax and in the antenna's base, and reinstall the coax to the base. Unscrew the whip and clean the base threads and inside contact of the whip. Reinstall. Make sure the antenna's mount to the bike's frame has clean surfaces that make electrical contact. Ideally the antenna depends on the frame contact to work well.
The whole setup is a poor design that exposes the low antenna feed line connection to weather and road crap. It can be maintained and weatherproofed but few have any interest to do that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
Is there anything out there designed to cover or dress up the studs if you choose to remove the antennae all together?
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 894
Likes: 6
Rubber vacuum line plugs from Auto Zone. Pack of various sizes is about $5.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 120
From: Fairbanks, AK.
If the AM/FM antenna is removed from the trunk on those models, I suppose a nice chrome round head bolt could be installed in the trunk's hole. The CB antenna can be relocated to the lower rear saddlebag rail with a HD adapter kit and extension coax.
If desired, there are shortened AM/FM and CB whip antennas available from various motorcycle radio accessory dealers.
Examples:
http://www.sierra-mc.com/default.asp
http://www.jpcycles.com/motorcycle-a...nd-electronics
http://www.motorcycle-communications.com/index.html
