Hidden AM/FM Antenna

[Irun]

I'm tired of the stock antenna beating against the windshield frame. Does anyone have experience with hidden AM/FM antennas? Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/GF-link-Hidden-Windshield-Antenna-vehicle/dp/B07CNMDTY8/?tag=wranglerorg-20

FWIW, I'm guessing reception won't be as good, but that's not a concern.

 

[Zorba]

Its probably a piece of shite, but if you don't care about reception, it'll do what it does however well or bad it does it!

 

[Irun]

Its probably a piece of shite, but if you don't care about reception, it'll do what it does however well or bad it does it!

Looking at the reviews, all of the hidden antenna's got mixed reviews, which verifies your assumption. Since I rarely ever listen to FM, and I'm in an area with very good FM reception, I'm not concerned. That said, I do want it to at least nominally work.

BTW, I just realized where you are. I was born in New Smyrna Beach and love that area between NSB and the Space Center. It has managed to not get overcrowded!

 

[KennethS]

Do not put an antenna such as that behind metal areas (A-pillar, windshield frame, etc) as the metal will block the radio waves.

I would say just replace your original 30” mast with a shorter one.

 

[DaveC]

No experience with the hidden ones but I have a number of friends who have replaced the OEM antenna on their trucks with the stubby ones that then produce marginal at best reception in the OEM location.

 

[whyhike]

I have one about two feet long just under the dash buy the floor that works fine. Stock one was removed for armor.

 

[TheBoogieman]

I'm tired of the stock antenna beating against the windshield frame.

My stubby antenna picks up local stations fine. I can even get Fox news.

 

[John Cooper]

I'm tired of the stock antenna beating against the windshield frame. Does anyone have experience with hidden AM/FM antennas? Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/GF-link-Hidden-Windshield-Antenna-vehicle/dp/B07CNMDTY8/?tag=wranglerorg-20

FWIW, I'm guessing reception won't be as good, but that's not a concern.

Did you ever follow up on this?? I've been thinking about doing the same antenna and was hoping you were the guinea pig

 

[GATORB8]

I have Cravenspeed Stubbys on the JL and truck. Have no idea on reception because I literally never use FM.

I just deleted AM/FM on the LJ and replaced the antenna with a Midland Ghost GMRS.

 

[Woodrow]

I have Cravenspeed Stubbys on the JL and truck. Have no idea on reception because I literally never use FM.

I just deleted AM/FM on the LJ and replaced the antenna with a Midland Ghost GMRS.

View attachment 692506

Did you write that up? I’ve been thinking about something similar. I did a headless sound system a while back. There is a blue tooth amp controller and phone mount where the head unit was. Since there is no am/fm, I removed the antenna.

Using the spot for a hardwired GMRS antenna like you did has been in the back of my mind. I know little about them but I assume much better range than my hand helds.

 

[joelachr]

I tried a quick search but didn't come up with anything significantly different than the linked option. I was hoping to see a universal solution similar to below.

My family had a 1976 Blazer and I specifically remember the antenna being built into the windshield. It was 2 wires that started at the bottom center of the windshield and went up. At the top of the windshield, they split and ran to each side for a length. I'm not sure if it would have better performance or be about the same.

 

[GATORB8]

Did you write that up? I’ve been thinking about something similar. I did a headless sound system a while back. There is a blue tooth amp controller and phone mount where the head unit was. Since there is no am/fm, I removed the antenna.

Using the spot for a hardwired GMRS antenna like you did has been in the back of my mind. I know little about them but I assume much better range than my hand helds.

Not really a write up, but I took a couple pictures. https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/gatorb8-lj-build.87046/post-1796529

I put the Midland MXT 275 head in the dash behind the stereo head unit. I followed the factory antenna run, cut the back side of the antenna off and drilled a hole through the base big enough to run the mini side of the antenna line through. I flipped the trim upside down and siliconed it so that I could put a drip loop in the cable to keep water out. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FN2FBML?tag=wranglerorg-20

The bracket is a Rugged Radios "Jeep B" mount, antenna is Midland Ghost. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D237G3RL?tag=wranglerorg-20

I replaced the cigarette lighter with a bulkhead CAT6 pass through, that connects to the head, and I can plug the pigtail from the mic into that. The MXT275 has both a speaker and controls in the microphone, so you can bury the head. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJVX8S2?tag=wranglerorg-20



EDIT: I forgot to clarify that you can't use the antenna cable that comes with the MXT because it's hardwired to the magnetic antenna.

Pretty sure I ordered this kit and just swapped the bracket: https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...-midland-mxt275-micromobile-two-way-radio-kit

 

[Irun]

Did you ever follow up on this?? I've been thinking about doing the same antenna and was hoping you were the guinea pig

I deleted the stock antenna and am waiting on the new hidden antenna to arrive. It should be here today. FWIW, I tried a stubby antenna, which was useless. That will be my baseline. Will report back!

 

[JMT]

I looked into motorcycle antennas one time. Never got one. Just don’t run an antenna anymore.

 

[JMT]

Had that ghost antenna bracket. It ruined the paint. Having it there is just waiting to smash it. I moved it inside. Now I’m figuring out how to make a new mount.

 

[John Cooper]

I have Cravenspeed Stubbys on the JL and truck. Have no idea on reception because I literally never use FM.

I just deleted AM/FM on the LJ and replaced the antenna with a Midland Ghost GMRS.

View attachment 692506

My antenna hole is covered up........

With one of these, picture isn't of the antenna hole.

 

[suicideking]

Subscribing. I went with a cheap stubby from Amazon. Reception is pretty shitty, but I don't listen to FM much in the Jeep. I use USB or bluetooth on my Alpine.

 

[JMT]

Subscribing. I went with a cheap stubby from Amazon. Reception is pretty shitty, but I don't listen to FM much in the Jeep. I use USB or bluetooth on my Alpine.

Yeah, like how many people are listening to AM/FM these days? It's like CD's, why have a head unit with a CD player? Or worse an 8-track? Keeping features around that we don't use is kinda senseless and they eventually go away on new vehicles.

I got tired of the radio antenna beating on the A pillar area too. It just destroys the paint.

 

[GATORB8]

Yeah, like how many people are listening to AM/FM these days? It's like CD's, why have a head unit with a CD player? Or worse an 8-track? Keeping features around that we don't use is kinda senseless and they eventually go away on new vehicles.

I got tired of the radio antenna beating on the A pillar area too. It just destroys the paint.

Every once in a while, I'll end up in one of our work trucks that still only has AM/FM, it's miserable. At this point, the country station has to be more than 50% commercials.

 

[WVJeep304]

Yeah, like how many people are listening to AM/FM these days? It's like CD's, why have a head unit with a CD player? Or worse an 8-track? Keeping features around that we don't use is kinda senseless and they eventually go away on new vehicles.

I got tired of the radio antenna beating on the A pillar area too. It just destroys the paint.

I don't listen to anything as much as I used to. However, if I'm feeling too lazy to find a playlist or something on Amazon Music, I'll turn on a local FM station. In fact, I actually listen to FM daily going to & from work if for no other reason to monitor traffic, as well as for weather alerts & emergency broadcasts. We get a fair amount of severe weather here, and I live in what's known as Chemical Valley.

We've had multiple chemical leaks in the past 90 days, and none of them triggered the EAS on my phone. Only one tornado warning hit my phone and it was 15min AFTER the initial warning was issued. If you're not in an area that can hear the emergency siren and your phone doesn't get the alert for whatever reason, FM radio is the next best bet.