Page 1 of 1
Where can i get a smaller anntenna?
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:46 pm
by boostinss
Ive searched and couldnt find it. I was wondering where i can get a smaller antenna for my 05 neon SXT. LINKS
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:50 pm
by dinetuner
you can try to jerry rig a s2000 antenna... i say shave it. run the antennea under your dash zip tie it or something up there...
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:13 pm
by J-Villa
ebay has them for about 15 bucks
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:47 pm
by Nick Drake
Just cut your stocker in half, paint it black. no reception issues, i'll get a pic up tomorrow for ya, it looks great.
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:56 pm
by kirktalife
does anyone got the "ebay" one, if so how does it work, seems a little sketchy to me
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:56 pm
by MyNeonSaysHi
zapp motorsports
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:57 pm
by TNK
^whats this "ebay one" you speak of? zzap makes a really nice billet one, but im not sure of the linky at the moment, someone will post it though im sure
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:03 pm
by dangerdavex2
I got a short black one at AutoZone for a little under 8 bucks, it really does make a difference in appearance over the stocker. The only bad thing is that it bends back about 80 degrees at 70-100 MPH, its rubber though, so it wont break.
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:04 pm
by neon_ert3
i cut mines to about 6inches tall. it looks great and i still get good reception.
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:10 am
by Wisher2
TNK wrote:^whats this "ebay one" you speak of? zzap makes a really nice billet one, but im not sure of the linky at the moment, someone will post it though im sure
http://www.newedgeperformance.com/index ... ProdID=236 
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:03 am
by rOniN
I used the ebay one...it's like 13 bucks or something.
It has great reception when I checked...I didn't buy it for reception but it did quite well.
It doesn't look bad, could be better at the bottom...they are universal. Comes with 4-5 different fittings on the bottom so that it will match.
Would look best on a black car.
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:14 am
by TNK
wisher, do you have a problem with my statement? sorry i didnt have the link. jesus..... and when i was posting that, raul mustve been posting his, cuz until about 30 seconds ago, i didnt even see his post.
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:37 am
by Nick Drake
i think the eyerolling was because you were too lazy to look up a link

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:51 am
by MyNeonSaysHi
TNK wrote:^whats this "ebay one" you speak of? zzap makes a really nice billet one, but im not sure of the linky at the moment, someone will post it though im sure
I was too lazy to find the link too.

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:09 am
by kc2005ptgt
I have horrible reception with an aftermarket stereo - until I replaced that stupid dodge plug that they use (not the standard round male plug) with a real plug. I may try a Zzapp one, but I am wondering more abou this "cut antenna" someone mentioned - let us see pics.
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:08 pm
by Wisher2
No no problems with anyone's statement.
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:24 pm
by boostinss
Anyone got pics of this cut one?
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:12 pm
by Nick Drake
my bad, i had a long day and couldn't get pics. I'll try to run out there and get a pic of it now even though its dark out...brb.
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:31 pm
by Nick Drake
way too dark out, i'll snap one in the AM.
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:15 am
by jonnymopar
I cut my stock one down to 18", which when you look at the car from a distance, it looks nice and even with the roof. At that point, the rod is almost perfect size to use a die and make a #6-32 thread on the end of it. I did that and threaded a small aluminum ball on the end to make it look almost stock. Reception is still perfect and it cost me nothing. I'll put up a pic tomorrow. (friggin wake tonight, god I hate those things)
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:24 pm
by Panhead
i cut mine down to 8in. looks a hella lot better!
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:33 pm
by Nick Drake
^^Still haven't gotten around to finding something to fit on the end so it looks better. I might end up just hammering/sanding it smooth.
Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:35 pm
by jonnymopar
Yeah I drove mine around like that for a little while and I got sick of the "crap, someone cut my antenna off" look. I guess I probably didn't have to go through the effort of threading it, but at least this sucker is NEVER coming off.
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:16 pm
by koreysxt
jonnymopar, where did you get your small, alluminum ball at? I did the same thing. I cut the stocker down to about 13", and painted it flat black. Currently, I have a rubber thingy on the end. I had to paint the rubber thingy too -- as it was red. The paint will not hold up on the rubber. I looked at my local Ace, but could not find anything.
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:32 pm
by jonnymopar
koreysxt wrote:jonnymopar, where did you get your small, alluminum ball at? I did the same thing. I cut the stocker down to about 13", and painted it flat black. Currently, I have a rubber thingy on the end. I had to paint the rubber thingy too -- as it was red. The paint will not hold up on the rubber. I looked at my local Ace, but could not find anything.
Don't know if it's feasible for you, but I took a piece of 1/4" aluminum rod and made it by hand on a lathe. It's not a perfect ball, more of a rounded cylindrical look. I haven't had much time this week, but possibly today, I'll post a pic of what it looks like.
As far as buying them, McMaster-Carr is the only place I know of. I just searched and I found 1/4" brass balls, but you have to buy them in packs of 100 ($11.34). The 1/4" aluminum ones they sell are hollow, so I don't know how consistent they are. Check it out:
www.mcmaster.com
Search for "brass balls". I know, sounds like a joke, but that's how I found it.
EDIT: Pics
Total length sticking out from the car is just over 18". As said before, when you look at the car from the side, it's pretty even with the roof. I'm pleased with it. Sure as hell beats spending money on one.
Now if I can just figure out a way to machine my own silver gauge rings... hmm...
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:28 pm
by koreysxt
That looks good. I was thinking of doing something similar. My local Ace H/W sold small, alluminum spacers (cylinder shape). I as thinking of rouding the edges a bit. At 40 cents each, I can play with a couple until it looks OK. If I bought a solid ball, then I would have the problem of drilling into it with a hand drill. I tried getting the stock ball off, but it wasn't salvagable... Thanks for the info!
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:47 pm
by 03sxt
That looks real nice, jonnymopar!

Did you notice any decrease in performance as far as the reception goes?
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:30 pm
by jonnymopar
03sxt wrote:That looks real nice, jonnymopar!

Did you notice any decrease in performance as far as the reception goes?
Nope

. I even verified it using a simple test I came up with. All you need to do is find a station that barely comes in. One that's mostly static, but you can still make out what's playing. After you replace your antenna, try that same station with your car parked in the same place on a day with the same kind of weather (ie. don't try it on a sunny day, then replace the antenna and try it again in a thunderstorm). The station I tried came in the same before and after. I don't know how accurate that is, but it's a good baseline.
Maybe you'll see it at the Carlisle meet. Trying to finalize plans right now.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:40 pm
by 03sxt
jonnymopar wrote:Nope

. I even verified it using a simple test I came up with. All you need to do is find a station that barely comes in. One that's mostly static, but you can still make out what's playing. After you replace your antenna, try that same station with your car parked in the same place on a day with the same kind of weather (ie. don't try it on a sunny day, then replace the antenna and try it again in a thunderstorm). The station I tried came in the same before and after. I don't know how accurate that is, but it's a good baseline.
Maybe you'll see it at the Carlisle meet. Trying to finalize plans right now.
Sweetness!

Sounds good to me!