Antenna/Reception Issues - Help

[agildawg]

After repairing my power antenna and getting it working right, and then replacing the radio with a new one, I wasn't happy with the radio reception. To troubleshoot it, I hooked the new radio up to the antenna in my truck using an antenna extension cable and reception was great. I hooked the truck radio up to the vette antenna, and reception was bad. So that narrowed it down to the antenna in the vette causing the problems. I decided to re-check the connections at the antenna-end and discovered a couple of things. 1) The threads on the antenna have been cross-threaded and I can't tighten it down completely where there is no play in the cable where it connects to the antenna itself. I assume I can use a tap/die set and rethread that. The other thing I discovered is that by wiggling the antenna wire, it got somewhat better but still not great, but when I put a wrench against the nut connecting the cable to the antenna itself, reception got MUCH better. So does that tell me there is a grounding issue with the antenna itself? There is a ground strap from the antenna to the frame. Do any of you antenna gurus have any suggestions on improving reception? It was really pretty good just by putting the wrench against the nut......

Thx,
Dawg

 

[KANE]

After repairing my power antenna and getting it working right, and then replacing the radio with a new one, I wasn't happy with the radio reception. To troubleshoot it, I hooked the new radio up to the antenna in my truck using an antenna extension cable and reception was great. I hooked the truck radio up to the vette antenna, and reception was bad. So that narrowed it down to the antenna in the vette causing the problems. I decided to re-check the connections at the antenna-end and discovered a couple of things. 1) The threads on the antenna have been cross-threaded and I can't tighten it down completely where there is no play in the cable where it connects to the antenna itself. I assume I can use a tap/die set and rethread that. The other thing I discovered is that by wiggling the antenna wire, it got somewhat better but still not great, but when I put a wrench against the nut connecting the cable to the antenna itself, reception got MUCH better. So does that tell me there is a grounding issue with the antenna itself? There is a ground strap from the antenna to the frame. Do any of you antenna gurus have any suggestions on improving reception? It was really pretty good just by putting the wrench against the nut......

Thx,
Dawg

If you aren't worried about originality- then go with an after market antenna that doesn't need a ground. You can find conservative looking designs at O'Reiley's or sometimes through NAPA or Advance Auto.

Or, you could get a new antenna from Eckler's or Mid America (I'm pretty sure they sell them). The issue with trying to repair the OEM comes down to the level of rot with respect to the coaxial cable and the crimp at the factory fitting. Copper corrodes, plastic deteriorates, your signal goes to heck without a good contact between the mast and base.

FYI- Even after you get it fixed... I think BestBuy and Circuit City sell signal boosters. Years ago when I lived in Greensboro, I had a signal booster and I picked up stations in Greenville, SC and in Roanoke, VA. Beats getting only the triad's and triangle's stations.