Car antennas for radio, car antenna design, DIY car antenna. Active antenna: reliable radio reception in any conditions Antennas similar to car cables operating principle
An article about how to choose an antenna for an FM radio in a car. Types of antennas and their mounts. At the end of the article there is a video on how to install and connect an antenna in a car.
The content of the article:
The audio playback system is built into many car models, especially newer brands. As a rule, the system consists of a player that reproduces information from various media, and a radio receiver. The latter device cannot do without an antenna.
A car radio antenna must meet certain requirements, among them its ability to receive high-quality reception. Radio broadcasts must be broadcast in excellent quality not only within the city limits, but also at a distance from the point of signal distribution.
To understand which antenna you need, you need to have an idea of the types of such devices. Their purpose may be as follows:
- a regular antenna for listening to radio broadcasts from a car radio;
- antenna for receiving a television signal;
- A universal device that allows you to listen to radio broadcasts and view television broadcast channels. It is also suitable for interacting with a navigator. Such devices receive a signal of slightly higher quality than the options described above.
Don't rush to make a choice. It is better to choose the antenna that is most suitable for use in your car.
Car antenna installation options
Based on installation options, antennas are divided into the following groups:
- attached with magnets;
- attached with suction cups;
- mortise mounting option;
- threaded devices;
- antennas connected to the car body using a clamp;
- built-in option.
These devices have one noticeable disadvantage - they are influenced by the state of the external environment. An amplifier can be used to enhance the signal supplied from them. When using it, you can receive signals from distant radio stations. Such devices are installed at the highest point of the body. This is the only way to achieve the highest quality signal. There are a lot of external antenna configurations, and not all of them will be suitable for your car.
In-cabin devices are sold with amplification systems built into them. They can be installed anywhere in the cabin - everything here will depend only on the wishes of the driver. The instructions for such devices indicate at what distance they should be located from the body. It is advisable to follow these recommendations.
Interior antennas are active devices. Along with a lot of advantages, they also have their negative points. These include too high power, which leads to signal distortion. In this case, the antenna should be switched to a passive state. This function is provided in almost all devices. Another disadvantage of active interior antennas is the relatively high price.
Types of external antenna mounts for cars
When choosing an antenna for a car, you need to take into account the features of its mounting. Below we will talk about external type devices.
External mortise-type antennas
Many cars have telescopic mount antennas. They receive the signal quite reliably, but they also have their disadvantages:
- To insert the antenna, a hole is drilled in the housing, and it can soon become a source of rust.
- In strong winds and high speeds, the antenna may break.
- The telescopic antenna consists of several sections, which gradually become loose and may rust, which will lead to poor contact between them. Because of this, the radio signal weakens. To prevent this from happening, the contacts of the sections should be lubricated. To do this, use graphite lubricant.
To fold such antennas, a motor with a gearbox is used. The differences between these types of devices are small. Semi-automatic machines will expand and fold only after pressing a certain button located on the control panel. Automatic devices retract and deploy themselves immediately after turning on the sound-producing device. Such antennas are connected to a special contact on radio tape recorders.
External magnetic antennas for cars
To mount antennas operating in the FM range, magnetic mounting options are often used. They have a fairly simple design, are easy to install and are inexpensive.
But they have their drawbacks. First of all, it is short in length. And this circumstance can significantly affect the quality of the received signal. In addition, there is a need to remove the antenna at night, since it can be easily removed and could easily be stolen.
External Pin Mount Devices
Such antennas are usually mounted on roofs or bumpers. They are made from a solid metal rod. Such devices are compact and reliable. They are usually mounted on the rear bumper or on the roof. If you choose a bumper mount, the antenna can be extended, which will have a positive effect on FM signal reception.
If we talk about the disadvantages of this option, then, first of all, it is the need to run the cable through the interior. The cable must be shielded and its shield must be connected to ground.
These are active devices designed to receive radio signals. As a rule, they are mounted on the front glass. Such antennas are much more expensive than external ones, since they also include amplifiers, which must be powered by electricity.
All of the above can be attributed to the disadvantages of this type of antenna. Now let's talk about their advantages:
- The FM signal will be reliably received both within the city and outside the city. Moreover, the signal level is adjusted automatically.
- The aerodynamic characteristics of the machine will not be impaired when using a device of this type.
- Such antennas cannot be broken by hooligans, and they can only be stolen by opening the door.
Connecting the antenna
There is no difficulty in connecting a car antenna. The connection option is selected depending on the complexity of the design and functionality of the device chosen for installation.
To connect the antenna, just follow 2 simple steps:
- connect the antenna directly to the sound-reproducing device;
- connect power to it (not always used).
- find a place in the compartment with fuses and power the device from one of them;
- use the radio as a power source.
New type antennas
Not so long ago, antennas integrated into dielectric glass began to be produced. They consist of very thin metal threads. Their integration into glass is done by soldering.
There are printed versions of them - in this case, a metal mesh is applied to the surface of the glass. In linear versions, the threads are located around the perimeter of the glass. Both of these options can be used on both side, rear and front windows.
Which cable to choose for a car antenna
Typically, a cable is included with the antenna, but sometimes it is missing. Or it may happen that the kit includes a cable of very poor quality, and then it will have to be replaced with another one.
When choosing a cable, you should consider some of its characteristics. So, it must be of a shielded type, its cross-sectional area must be large enough - obtaining a high-quality signal will be possible only in this case.
There is no need to shorten or lengthen the cable if you are not satisfied with its size. Remember that connections negatively affect the quality of the received signal. The cable should not be subjected to mechanical stress at all, because damage to it will also not contribute to high-quality signal reception.
Conclusion
Sometimes an antenna with declared high quality characteristics and rich functionality does not fully meet the requirements for it. This happens not only when it is performed poorly, but also when operating standards are violated.
The best antenna will be the one that can provide reliable signal reception under various conditions. Over segmented options that require use in a specific area, it is better to choose a universal one, which will provide reliable reception both in the city and at a distance from signal distribution points.
Video on how to install and connect the antenna:
Modern auto electronics can turn the interior of an ordinary car into a mobile office, concert hall or even a cinema. Famous manufacturers of electronic components from Europe, Japan, the USA, South Korea and China are constantly fighting for the attention and loyalty of car owners. The Russian market today has a huge range of car audio systems, navigators and LCD television screens. But the quality of operation of all these devices directly depends on the state of the electrical signal arriving at their input, propagated by radio waves. The work of isolating the necessary signals from the air and transmitting them to a specific electronic device is precisely what an active car antenna is designed to do.
It is worth noting that the function of receiving a signal for electronic systems inside a car can also be successfully performed by a passive car antenna, but the area of reliable operation of such a device is usually limited to city limits or the nearest suburbs. In addition, in large cities, even in urban conditions, a passive antenna cannot guarantee reliable reception of radio waves due to the negative impact on the signal quality of large reinforced concrete structures: buildings, overpasses, tunnels, etc.
The word “active” in the name of the antenna only means that the device has a built-in signal amplifier that is capable of picking up weak electromagnetic waves and “growing” them to an acceptable level. But for this purpose, the antenna also requires separate power. An antenna amplifier is necessary in cases where the car is located far from the transmitter. Taking into account the fact that transmitting stations are located mainly in cities or other large populated areas, and the distances between them in Russia can be very significant, the relevance of the task of amplifying the signal received by the antenna becomes quite obvious.
Types of active antennas
Based on their purpose, active car antennas can be divided into 3 types:
- radio antennas. Receive signals exclusively for the car receiver (radio);
- television antennas (TV antennas). In turn, active TV antennas are divided into analog and digital based on the type of signal received;
- combined antennas (universal antennas). These are multifunctional devices capable of receiving various types of signals - for audio, TV receivers, mobile phones, GSM or GPS devices, etc.
Interesting: There is another type of active car antennas - satellite dishes. These are specific devices that have not yet become widely used among motorists due to their high cost and complexity of both the equipment itself and the work required to install and configure it.
Based on the type of installation on a vehicle, active antennas are divided into:
- In-cabin. The interior antenna is usually installed on the windshield or rear window of the car. It consists of a small housing with a built-in amplifier in the shape of an oval, rectangle or circle (the most common type) and receiving elements (“whiskers”);
- external. An external active antenna can be installed on the roof, fenders or trunk lid (magnetic or mortise mount), as well as on the side door windows (clamp mount). There are whip and helical external antennas. The amplifiers of such antennas are usually designed as separate devices located inside the cabin.
The main advantages of in-cabin antennas include their compactness and reliability. Such devices are not exposed to aggressive external factors, so they retain their functionality and presentable appearance for a long time. In addition, the interior antenna is better protected from theft or mechanical damage.
External antennas have one significant advantage: they are more sensitive and provide better signal reception compared to internal ones. But external antennas also have many disadvantages: they are more bulky, spoil the appearance of the car, are difficult to install, and require additional holes in the body for laying cables from the receiving unit. In addition, external antennas are short-lived, as they are constantly exposed to negative environmental influences.
In addition to the adequate price and modern design of the device, consumers are mainly concerned with the quality of signal reception that the purchased unit can provide. Therefore, when choosing an active car antenna for a radio, you should first check whether it has two main operating modes:
- “city” - a mode with an increased level of noise immunity from the negative influence of industrial facilities;
- “turbo” - mode of maximum reception gain at a great distance from signal sources. Anti-interference protection practically does not work in this mode.
The criteria for choosing an active TV antenna are more complex. Much depends on the type of TV receiver installed in the car. Often specialized television receivers already have the necessary antenna device in their configuration. If such a task (choosing a TV antenna) does arise, it is better to seek help from a specialist with special knowledge in the field of TV signal distribution and reception.
When mounting/installing an active antenna, the following aspects deserve attention:
- the connection of the active antenna amplifier to the on-board power supply network must be carried out through a separate fuse;
- It is not recommended to trim (shorten) or extend (extend) the standard antenna cable, as this may lead to deterioration of the received signal;
- the quality of the TV signal depends on the height of the antenna (the higher, the better), and the quality of the radio signal depends on the distance between the antenna and the underlying conductive surface - the roof or wing (the smaller, the better);
- when installing an active antenna, you must strictly adhere to the installation instructions, which must be included in the delivery package of a quality product;
- if the antenna is glued to the windshield, before installation, the glass must be thoroughly degreased, and it is recommended to separate the protective film from the adhesive layer last;
- to increase the antenna reception efficiency in all frequency ranges (taking into account different wave polarizations), the elements of the interior antenna must be placed on the glass perpendicular to each other - one horizontally and the other vertically;
- The antenna cable along the entire length from the antenna to the device should not have sharp bends. Where it passes through car bulkheads, rubber bushings must be used.
Conclusion
The task of choosing the right active antenna for a new car gadget seems simple at first glance. The variety of offers on the market also increases the difficulty of making the right decision. Therefore, before purchasing such a device, it is always useful to consult with a specialist.
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The external car antenna of most popular cars often breaks down and gets damaged. There are frequent cases of theft or vandalism when parking a car in a yard. Finding a factory antenna is problematic; car manufacturers rarely produce simple devices as spare parts. If the receiving device on your car of an outdated design is broken or stolen, there is often no other choice but to make an antenna for the car radio with your own hands. Most drivers prefer to listen to FM radio broadcasts, which do not require long flexible or telescopic antennas for stable reception.
General principles of operation of a car antenna
Making an antenna for a car radio with your own hands at home is quite simple. But before manufacturing, you need to decide on the main parameters - the length of the antenna, its location, and the complexity of the design.
According to the postulates of radio engineering, a car antenna is defined as a quarter-wave vibrator grounded to the car body. Antennas for automobile transmitting radio stations reach a length of two and a half meters and must operate in a vertical position. For standard car radio receivers, such parameters are redundant.
For stable reception of radio signals in the most popular VHF FM band, where most stations for motorists operate, a whip antenna 10–20 centimeters long is sufficient. A do-it-yourself external antenna for a car radio will be the simplest solution when replacing outdated head units designed only for receiving long and medium waves.
Without considering antennas for receiving television signals and Wi-Fi Internet radio waves, we will focus on simple car antennas, which are divided into external and internal. Internal antennas, shielded by the car body, have weaker reception of radio waves. For their stable operation, additional reinforcement or a complex frame structure is required. Only a trained radio amateur can independently calculate and manufacture a high-quality internal antenna; there is no point in starting such a design for novice tuning enthusiasts.
The process of making a homemade antenna
Flexible and telescopic antennas for manufacturing require the selection of special antenna materials and additional radio components. Plus, they break just as easily as your car's previous antennas.
A stationary solid antenna that imitates the fashionable “shark fin” receiving device is easy to manufacture. To make such a homemade antenna for a car radio with your own hands, you will need simple materials and tools:
- metal pin with thread;
- fixing nuts;
- copper wire;
- metal tools;
- soldering iron and soldering supplies (flux, solder, rosin);
- insulators;
- antenna cable.
The main element of the antenna is a metal pin, the thread of which is selected according to the size of the standard location of the antenna or the mounting bracket you have chosen. Standard pre-threaded anchor bolts work well for the antenna base. At the opposite ends of the pin, you need to drill two holes for attaching the copper wire of the antenna vibrator. Unshielded wire is wound in two layers along the entire length of the pin. 
The wound wire is clamped with fixing bolts and sealed in the upper hole of the antenna. For the outer layer of insulation, amateurs use various materials: Cold Welding glue, epoxy resin, polymorphus, thermoplastics. Molten vinyl and carbon fiber have proven themselves to be bad, causing interference with radio wave reception.
After manually molding thermoplastic or “epoxy”, the antenna will look inconspicuous. 
After trying on the antenna at the installation site and checking its performance, the outer surface is processed on a lathe and finished by hand. 
Depending on the color of the material used, the finished antenna can be left black or painted with waterproof acrylic paint to match the body color.
You can watch the video on how to make an antenna for a car radio with your own hands for outdoor trips:
Connecting an external antenna
The easiest way to install an antenna is for owners of cars that have a regular place on the body for installing a receiving device. In such models, it is enough to carefully screw the antenna into the existing connector (usually a screw one), without having to worry about laying the internal cable.
A well-processed homemade antenna on the roof looks no worse than the fashionable “shark fin” antennas that are equipped with expensive Mercedes, Audi and BMW.
If there is no regular place on the car body, a homemade antenna for a car radio can be installed on magnetic brackets or vacuum suction cups. It is preferable to use magnetic holders, which are more firmly held on the roof of the car while in motion.
It is undesirable to make unnecessary cuts in the car body, so you can use existing technological holes or minimally expand the grooves of the rear light seals. All cable outlets on the body must be sealed with sealant. Remote magnetic brackets for taxi drivers' radios are well suited for conversion. In this design, you only need to remove the extension coil (located at the base of the antenna) and connect the cable directly to the pin. Theoretically, the best place to install the antenna is considered to be the center of the roof, but usually car enthusiasts install a homemade device on the left wing or in the rear of the roof.
To connect an outdoor antenna, you must use a shielded coaxial cable. To lay the cable inside the cabin you will need:
- Remove the interior trim from the cable entry point to the center panel. All operations must be carried out carefully, without using brute force, while maintaining the plastic clips of the fasteners.
- Lay and secure the cable. It is advisable to avoid intersections with standard electrical wiring, which cause additional interference to radio reception.
- Compare the antenna and head unit connectors. If necessary, resolder the antenna connector or use an adapter.
- Check the operation of the car radio receiver.
- Assemble the removed interior elements.
If the antenna is assembled correctly and the cable is laid, the new receiving device will work no worse than the standard antenna.
Conclusion
By working on the appearance of the receiving device, you will avoid claims from traffic police inspectors who may find fault with a sloppy homemade antenna. By sending us your feedback on your own experience in making antennas yourself, you will help fellow motorists avoid common mistakes.
