better reception (shark fin)

**kenp** · 16th April 2010, 16:08

Hi Guys

I am/was thinking of putting in a "shark fin" arieal to the estate. instead of the current "wip"

i am thinking of putting in the wires from a current arial, so the plugs will work ect.

as you can see in the picture ive all ready taken both apart

(not a problem, as the vectra one is a "import" as a extra to use...)

But thinking was what about reception.. as the "arieal" part of the sharfin... is actually only about 1 inch more wire.. than there is in the base of the Vectra one.. (and on the vectra one you also have a wip!!)

what do you think... would longer wire put in the new base improve it or dosnt it matter?

**ditchp** · 16th April 2010, 16:25

ken, IAN T fitted a skarkfin to his car and the reception was ok iirc

hth

**kenp** · 16th April 2010, 20:13

A bit of a crazy idea i just had

as i dont have an alarm, but do have the "alarm wires" in my 2 rear windows, couldnt i use them as a aerial? (and would they work?)

**rockh** · 16th April 2010, 22:39

Possibly, plenty of cars use that sort of method including the insignia (if you have the nav version).
Would probably be best to have some form of temporary install to try it.

**kenp** · 17th April 2010, 15:48

well took the dive today... and changed the wires over an put the shark fin on the car

its not too bad reception.. but ill let it go for a few weeks... before decide to either go back, or keep... (or maby just put OEM radio antenna inside the roof....) but listen alot to Danish p3 where trafic radio takes over with annoncements.. and that reception wasnt very good...

A few pictures.. (and nearly a complet how2

)

**rockh** · 17th April 2010, 17:58

Looks neat

**davree** · 17th April 2010, 18:28

I did this with mine a couple of weeks ago, TBH I am not happy at all with the results!!

I changed it as the rubber seal on my OEM one had gone and water was getting in, a shark fin seemed like a good idea as it was only £15 instead of the £44+Vat I was quoted by my local stealers.

The reception from my shark fin is RUBBISH, the only thing it will pick up without interference is my Iphone transmitter.

I will definitely be going back to the original aerial!

Glad to hear you had more success with yours!!!

**kenp** · 17th April 2010, 18:32

15£ .... mine was 6£

Ive also changed the rubber seal on mine but wanted to try this one anyway... so got a secondhand aerial from ebay, just for the plug, so i swaped the wires over to keep original radio.

**kenp** · 18th April 2010, 18:19

well was out driving today... most of the time the reception was okay.. but other places not good enough... so put the origial aerial back on the car...

Can i just lengten the "aerial" inside the sharkfin? as its just 4-6 inches of wire? to eg. 40 inche (if theres room enough..) and would it work better? (if yes i can just add like 1½ meter... so i can reach the "alarm" wire in my rear windows..