Everyone hates that ugly stock antenna. A lot of people go out and buy Billet antenna or other after market antenna. I didn't have the money to go out and buy a nice antenna, so being me I used what I had around the house. I found an old Motorola 2 way radio that barely worked anymore, I said to myself "hmm.. this small antenna would look great on the truck!"

Heres the materials and instructions...

Materials:
1. Any Motorola 2-way radio antenna (rubber cover only).
2. Screw that fits into the antenna hole, 3-3.5" long(or long
enough to fit the antenna over tightly).
3. Either a hammer, sander or small metal cutters to get the big
tip of the screw small enough to fit the antenna over.
4. Tiny bit of weather resistant glue.

instructions:
1. Remove the rubber part of the antenna of the 2-way radio.
2. Remove the ugly old stock antenna from your truck.
3. Replace the antenna with the screw
4. Place the rubber antenna over the screw
5. If the rubber antenna cover does not fit on the screw remove
the screw and either beat, grind, or cut the big tip of the
screw.
6. Repeat step 4.
7. Once the rubber antenna cover is on remove it and apply the
weather resistant glue inside of the rubber piece.
8. Repeat step 4, and position it the way you like and wait for
the glue to dry.
9. Finally grab a case of beer and girl and enjoy.

I'll post pics of mine tomorrow when it's light outside.

pics......................sounds cool

I will get pics TOMORROW

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/devilish2821/Photo005.jpg

As of now this is the best pic I have of it. Tomorrow I will get a lot better pics of it.

that thing is little. right on

I'm going to say that it's about 3.5 inches tall? I'll measure tomorrow.

I said that I would post pics and here they are.


http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/devilish2821/Photo008.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/devilish2821/Photo007.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/devilish2821/Photo006.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/devilish2821/Photo005-1.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/devilish2821/Photo002.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/devilish2821/Photo001.jpg


I'm currently working on getting it completely flush to the base, it looks great now but will look better once flush, and it works great!

link not working for me.......i get the idea though very cool

link not working for me.......i get the idea though very cool

They should work now, there was a problem with the URL, it's fixed now. Sorry about that.

How is your radio reception now with a shorter antena?

looks awsome. hmm what about mounting it on the cab right above the rear brake light like a lot of the newer beemers? im with Z28 on this one..... how is the reception? if the reception is as good or better then stock i will have to use my idea of mounting it on the cab and do the same. good work man.

The reception is just as good as the stock antenna, I didn't notice any difference. I live out in the country so I'd have to say it's pretty darn good.

For all that hassle I woulda just ran the wires to the antenna and mount it inside the pillar, then shave the whole.

but it is different, and doesnt look half bad. Good write up!

since its been a while how is it? and just another question how is the reception in the city? most towers for radio are out in the middle of know where or in the middle of downtown...so saying you are in the woods doesnt always help just curios i have a coulple laying around might try this

hmmmn

Thanks for the idea. I used to have a broken motorola, now I have a nice shorty antena :)

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/Jdog1928/Ranger/th_OldAntena.jpg (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/Jdog1928/Ranger/OldAntena.jpg)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/Jdog1928/Ranger/th_NewAntena.jpg (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i310/Jdog1928/Ranger/NewAntena.jpg)

Electrically speaking....antennas are kind of made to certain lengths based on which frequencies they are made to "capture" (or transmit). The two way radios use a good bit of wire coiled up and set in rubber. I don't know how length compares to a stock antenna, or how close the frequences of two way radio and car radio's are, someone who does, please chime in?

I don't mind the stock antenna a single bit, and don't really like the stubby antenna look :)

Electrically speaking....antennas are kind of made to certain lengths based on which frequencies they are made to "capture" (or transmit).


Close enough, for a non-technical answer. :thumbsup:

An antenna is resonant at a particular frequency (or set of frequencies). This means that the antenna impedence matches the input impedence of the radio receiver (and/or transmitter) and the SWR (standing wave ratio) is as close to ideal as possible (usu. under 2:1 is okay). This match is far more critical on a transmitting radio than on a simple receiver -- you can receive something with just a random length hunk of wire (we've all seen at least one car driving around town with an old wire coat hangar poked into the fender!), but that doesn't mean it's an ideal antenna. If it's matched for transmit, it's probably ideal for receive as well.

The two way radios use a good bit of wire coiled up and set in rubber.


...as would a good receiving antenna (see above). These coils help to achieve a good impedence match (which is important for optimal performance of the antenna/radio) while, at the same time, electrically lengthening the antenna.

I don't know how length compares to a stock antenna...


An antenna is typically "full wavelength" (the length of the antenna is equal to the length of the radio wave at the center frequency), or some portion (1/2, 5/8, 1/4, etc) thereof. A typical vehicle FM receiving antenna is a 5/8 wave antenna. This means that the antenna is 5/8ths the length of the radio wave in the center of the FM band (~98MHz).

...or how close the frequences of two way radio and car radio's are...


That would, naturally, depend on the frequencies covered by the two-way radio in question. :-) In North America, the FM band is, roughly, 88 ~ 108 MHz.

There is an amateur radio band (the 2 meter band) a bit above there, operating between 144 ~ 148 MHz.

There is a public safety band (the old VHF 'police/fire band') above that (at around 160 MHz). Today, a lot of public safety radio is in the 800 MHz band -- these are usually trunked radio systems, that use a number of discrete frequencies within the 800 MHz band to provide service to a large number of public service agencies (police, fire, EMS, etc.) within the same radio system.

Citizen's Band radios (which many here are probably familiar with) operate well below the commercial FM band at around 27 MHz.

...someone who does, please chime in?


::ding:: See this post. :8)

I could go on and on, but this isn't an electronics, radio, or engineering forum, so I won't. ;)

...oh, and I should (since this is a Ranger forum) mention the word 'Ranger' at least two or three times!

I just bought my first truck, a 2001 Ranger XLT :8)

This mod Looks Awesome, BUT..to warn those who are thinking about doing it, I personally lost a lot of reception, and stattions I always recieve, I lost with doing this. I am however am going to relocate the wires, and original antenna to a new place, but leave the "stubby" antenna becuase I think it looks sweet!