Stubby Antenna

tranquility · 09-12-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

Don't see how it would be possible... You won't see a difference anyway if you don't use FM radio.

I thought it was AM that would be affected w/ a smaller antenna? Too bad then, that OEM antenna is such an eyesore!

Rafale · 09-13-2010, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

I thought it was AM that would be affected w/ a smaller antenna? Too bad then, that OEM antenna is such an eyesore!

I meant to type AM not FM sorry.

tranquility · 09-13-2010, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

I meant to type AM not FM sorry.

No prb. Guess I'm stuck w/ the OEM since I sometimes listen to AM.

Memphis1 · 09-15-2010, 06:13 PM

you guys!!!! check it out!!!!

http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemVi...roductId=3013#

Mr Breeze · 09-15-2010, 06:53 PM

As expected....3X as much than one from Mangowalk.

marcw · 09-15-2010, 07:19 PM

Probably from the same Chinese manufacturer too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Breeze

As expected....3X as much than one from Mangowalk.

Rafale · 09-15-2010, 07:56 PM

I think my Peugeot Antenna looks better...

MikeChrista · 09-16-2010, 07:09 AM

I think we need a 'sticky' for this subject as it keeps coming up.

tranquility · 09-16-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Memphis1

you guys!!!! check it out!!!!

http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemVi...roductId=3013#

I guess the reception's still worse than the original OEM?

Rafale · 09-16-2010, 12:41 PM

Don't believe the marketing. An Antenna is just a metal rod. The longer and the more direction it covers, the more sensitive, ... There is not much you can do to improve reception outside of increasing the size of the antenna and the number or direction the metal bars are being oriented. In this case it is just one bar... so.

tranquility · 09-16-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

Don't believe the marketing. An Antenna is just a metal rod. The longer and the more direction it covers, the more sensitive, ... There is not much you can do to improve reception outside of increasing the size of the antenna and the number or direction the metal bars are being oriented. In this case it is just one bar... so.

Thx, that makes sense. Actually, I don't even notice my OEM antenna too much anymore, maybe only when I'm washing the car and nearly poking my eyes out being too close to that damned monstrosity LOL.

Dr Stig 2 · 09-18-2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

Don't believe the marketing. An Antenna is just a metal rod. The longer and the more direction it covers, the more sensitive, ... There is not much you can do to improve reception outside of increasing the size of the antenna and the number or direction the metal bars are being oriented. In this case it is just one bar... so.

Actually, antenna theory is quite specialised, and it is a long time since I had to study or teach it, so I wont claim to be an expert anymore.
The shape, dipole length, alignment to the carrier wave of the source signal all come into play. Manufacturers have become decidedly better at electronically enhancing the signals and tuning the noise out, and also in effectively shrinking the physical size of the antennas to be much shorter than the simple theoretical length required for different signal frequencies.

To paraphrase Castrol:
"Antennas aint antennas"

Rafale · 09-18-2010, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

Actually, antenna theory is quite specialised, and it is a long time since I had to study or teach it, so I wont claim to be an expert anymore.
The shape, dipole length, alignment to the carrier wave of the source signal all come into play. Manufacturers have become decidedly better at electronically enhancing the signals and tuning the noise out, and also in effectively shrinking the physical size of the antennas to be much shorter than the simple theoretical length required for different signal frequencies.

To paraphrase Castrol:
"Antennas aint antennas"

What I was saying was exactly what you said in a more prosaic way...
The shape can influence interference and signal to noise ratio. The alignment to the carrier is what I meant to describe by talking about directionality. At the end you have amplification and noise filtration which is done electronically allowing the antenna to be smaller and smaller. In our case however we are just replacing the antenna which appears to be just a rod... I am an engineer as well.
There is no way with the same shape we have on our car that a shorter antenna can give the same reception.

Dr Stig 2 · 09-18-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

What I was saying was exactly what you said in a more prosaic way...
The shape can influence interference and signal to noise ratio. The alignment to the carrier is what I meant to describe by talking about directionality. At the end you have amplification and noise filtration which is done electronically allowing the antenna to be smaller and smaller. In our case however we are just replacing the antenna which appears to be just a rod... I am an engineer as well.
There is no way with the same shape we have on our car that a shorter antenna can give the same reception.

Ooooh - Please dont call me an engineer! Ouch!

It is a well researched fact that Physicists dont hang around in the same bars or have anywhere as much success with the ladies as engineers.

Some of us just end up running engineering companies and forever getting tarred with the same brush.

brisk3 · 09-23-2010, 11:41 PM

got the mangowalk one...
loving it!

car looks so much "cleaner"

nickm · 09-23-2010, 11:56 PM

I got the Peugeot one and it works great. I am thinking of colour coding mine white as it still bothers me. Why couldn't they have gone down the same route as the 6 series and put one in the rear boot..??

tranquility · 09-24-2010, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickm

I got the Peugeot one and it works great. I am thinking of colour coding mine white as it still bothers me. Why couldn't they have gone down the same route as the 6 series and put one in the rear boot..??

That's a pet peeve of mine w/ BMW, still using these cheap antennas and also putting the same engine in less expensive models.

Drjoeb · 09-24-2010, 07:22 AM

I got the mangowalk one, looks good. I also go the one Memphis1 recommend which I might add works a bit better on AM then the mangowalk. Both are about the same on FM. Least in my neck of the woods.

brisk3 · 09-26-2010, 06:19 PM

^
yea fm is the same as the factory one but am some channels won't get picked up...

o well.

persian54 · 09-26-2010, 07:53 PM

wait is the BMW one worth it?

I have the mangowalk one and it really does cut down AM reception (though I rarely use it anyways)

but the BMW website says no loss in signal at all..

mcbeee · 09-27-2010, 10:19 AM

Hmmm ? Physicists....OK in my book (I majored in Physics + Chem)

Engineers.....boo hiss, work with lots but have tons of fun riding them a bit

I bought a BMW stubby for the '03 Z4 and it's "OK", but not as good a fit on that car as the Pugeot is on the '09 Z4.

Drjoeb · 09-30-2010, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

Ooooh - Please dont call me an engineer! Ouch!

It is a well researched fact that Physicists dont hang around in the same bars or have anywhere as much success with the ladies as engineers.

Some of us just end up running engineering companies and forever getting tarred with the same brush.

Too funny. I am an engineer by profession. One of my best friends was a Physicist, oh the times we had. Oh yeah I did have better luck with the ladies though, but he did hold his own. God bless Carl.

09-15-2010, 06:13 PM	#48
Memphis1 Lieutenant Colonel 90 Rep 1,838 Posts Drives: Z4 SDrive 35i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	you guys!!!! check it out!!!! http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemVi...roductId=3013# __________________
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09-15-2010, 06:53 PM	#49
Mr Breeze Private First Class 22 Rep 140 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (1)	As expected....3X as much than one from Mangowalk.
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09-15-2010, 07:56 PM	#51
Rafale Zed Quatre 24 Rep 410 Posts Drives: '11 Z4 35is & '11 535xi GT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR. USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 535i GT xDrive [0.00] 2011 Z4 35is [7.00]	I think my Peugeot Antenna looks better... __________________
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09-16-2010, 07:09 AM	#52
MikeChrista Private 0 Rep 66 Posts Drives: SDRIVE35i Space Grey Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: East Sussex UK iTrader: (0)	I think we need a 'sticky' for this subject as it keeps coming up.
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09-16-2010, 12:41 PM	#54
Rafale Zed Quatre 24 Rep 410 Posts Drives: '11 Z4 35is & '11 535xi GT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR. USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 535i GT xDrive [0.00] 2011 Z4 35is [7.00]	Don't believe the marketing. An Antenna is just a metal rod. The longer and the more direction it covers, the more sensitive, ... There is not much you can do to improve reception outside of increasing the size of the antenna and the number or direction the metal bars are being oriented. In this case it is just one bar... so. __________________
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09-23-2010, 11:41 PM	#59
brisk3 Private 12 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 435xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	got the mangowalk one... loving it! car looks so much "cleaner"
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09-23-2010, 11:56 PM	#60
nickm Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 35i Alpine/White Des Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I got the Peugeot one and it works great. I am thinking of colour coding mine white as it still bothers me. Why couldn't they have gone down the same route as the 6 series and put one in the rear boot..??
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09-24-2010, 07:22 AM	#62
Drjoeb Private 3 Rep 89 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Freehold NJ iTrader: (0)	I got the mangowalk one, looks good. I also go the one Memphis1 recommend which I might add works a bit better on AM then the mangowalk. Both are about the same on FM. Least in my neck of the woods.
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09-26-2010, 06:19 PM	#63
brisk3 Private 12 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 435xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	^ yea fm is the same as the factory one but am some channels won't get picked up... o well.
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09-26-2010, 07:53 PM	#64
persian54 Lieutenant General 923 Rep 15,818 Posts Drives: M760/G83M4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Valley, SoCal iTrader: (298)	wait is the BMW one worth it? I have the mangowalk one and it really does cut down AM reception (though I rarely use it anyways) but the BMW website says no loss in signal at all.. __________________ From E93 335i to E89 Z4 to E93 M3/E89 Z4 to E350/SL550
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09-27-2010, 10:19 AM	#65
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	Hmmm ? Physicists....OK in my book (I majored in Physics + Chem) Engineers.....boo hiss, work with lots but have tons of fun riding them a bit I bought a BMW stubby for the '03 Z4 and it's "OK", but not as good a fit on that car as the Pugeot is on the '09 Z4. __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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