Entertainment Electronics 1st Gen Most liked posts in thread: Radio has poor reception, can it be the "stubby" antenna

What is this radio thing you are talking about?

I have a 120 gig iPod and have not listened to the radio in 6 years.:wink::ihih::lol:

 

:cornut: We mistakenly thought that this was the; "You're older than dirt if you remember........." thread. Sorry

Jason

 

The hard top "refresh" gen1 mini has dual antennas...a second one is embidded in the glass...they have a "diversity" antenna, so a shorty on a 2005+ causes little change in fm reception (am is a different issues, as antenna length is more important).
Since the op has a cabrio, not a hard top, and no 2nd anteanna, i would think his issue is the antenna....
if you want a short one for looks, a "rubber ducky" one is more effective than many short ones that a billet metal, since the antenna is a wound wire covered in rubber...so more effective length.

 

so you're saying size does matter and a rubber ducky will give more effective length? :ihih:

 

:cornut: That's a definite maybe. The more metal hanging out, the better that the reception should be. My Margi(08 R56 MCS/JCWm) has the tiny 2in antenna and gets very good reception from 70mi away in Dallas. Do you have a friend with a MINI who would swap with you for a day or so such that you could experience what difference the whip antenna makes? Don't buy one until you know for sure.

Jason

 

Jerseymini if I had an old OEM long antenna laying around I would send it to you. Good luck on your search.

 

The stubby antenna on my MINI seems to make no difference in reception that I can determine. Wonder if there is more to the static that the length of your antenna?

 

Just 2 cents worth, my AM reception sucked from day one.

 

Check for corrosion in the base where the antenna screws in. You stated that it did NOT have an antenna when you bought it. Sometimes water gets in there and can cause the antenna base to go bad. See it more with hard tops the convertibles, but it is worth checking out before you buy a longer antenna.