MINI2

BeauCoop · May 26th, 2003, 10:17 PM

I've noticed a number of stubby after-market antennas which are aesthetically a vast improvment over the stock version on my MCS. The big question for me is have people noticed that the reception is equivalent to the stock antenna? Any recommendations? Any feedback would be appreciated.

MiniMan7 · May 26th, 2003, 10:22 PM

I have heard the reception is just as good as the stock antenna, I also heard of some people just taking their antenna off and having the reception still just as good.

moorlockx · May 26th, 2003, 11:28 PM

I bought the Honda S2000 antenna. Reception's fine with it. It's not a super-stubby, but only stands about 7".

Rich.Wolfson · May 27th, 2003, 05:32 AM

I have the S2000 antenna as well and have tested it against the stock one.

There is absolutely no difference other than the shorter antenna looks much better.

Rich

mia · May 27th, 2003, 08:43 AM

i think this has been mentioned before, but i can't remember....how much does the stubby one cost, from the dealer and can you buy it somewhere else, for most likely a better price?

BeauCoop · May 27th, 2003, 09:03 AM

If you go to the link below MossMini.com has 4 different shorty antennas priced from $20 to $25. Don't know anything about how well they function, but they all look much better than the stock antenna.
Link:
http://www.mossmini.com/Browse/Plate...componentID=64

sniece · May 27th, 2003, 09:05 AM

I put on the stubby antenna, and felt that the reception wasn't as good. However, I had my Mini in for service today, and had a new 320i as a loaner car, and found the reception dropped out in the same places...so bully for the shorty antenna! It looks good, and does the same job. My antenna is super short, and I got it from a VW performance shop in BC.

Steve

BillK · May 28th, 2003, 12:36 AM

The short antenna will not have the same performance as a long antenna. The question is will it have adequate performance for where you drive.

If you drive in areas with week reception on the stations you like to hear, the longer antenna will give you better reception than a short one. If you drive in good signal areas, the short one should be fine.

Romhog · May 28th, 2003, 12:41 AM

I also have had no problems with mine. Even to a station 40 miles away.

OBXMini · May 28th, 2003, 01:27 AM

Can you shorten the one that comes on the car?

Couldn't you just cut it down and wrap the whole wire in a tighter coil-pattern and re-cover the tip with a tool dip substance....

laclede · May 28th, 2003, 01:31 AM

I got the aluminum billet antenna (aluminum/stubby $19.95) from mossmini and actually think I get better reception than the stock. I have a particular radio station that I enjoy but only got in parts of town and now get it in a larger portion of town now than with the stock.

Mike & Donna in Ca. · May 28th, 2003, 01:39 AM

We have the aluminum stubby - no problems in any areas that we have found yet

Donna

Minty · May 28th, 2003, 05:01 AM

mine is from www.buyabeesting.com (or co.uk??) no problems with reception.

mikeythemini · May 28th, 2003, 06:00 AM

I tried a honda one - not as good as the orig one
Then a shorty - same problem
If you are listening to a powerful station you won't have a problem, I listen to smaller stations and don't get good results
mike

sniece · May 28th, 2003, 07:16 AM

If I remember the theory correctly, the length of the antenna doesn't have much to do with the reception quality (no jokes please)

...that is to say, you could have a 10 foot antenna, and it wouldn't necessarily get any better reception.
To get the best reception, you really need to tune the length of the antenna to the frequency of the station you want to pull in. Standard automotive antennas are kind of a happy medium that will bring in some frequencies well, and some not so well.

I don't know the formula or anything...so I may be talking out of my *****, but that's what I seem to recall.

Steve

minidriverUSA · May 28th, 2003, 07:43 AM

Has anyone bought this one from Alta? I like the look. I called and they say excellent reception.

http://www.altaminiperformance.com/p...ntenna/ANT.htm

BillK · May 28th, 2003, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sniece
If I remember the theory correctly, the length of the antenna doesn't have much to do with the reception quality (no jokes please) ...that is to say, you could have a 10 foot antenna, and it wouldn't necessarily get any better reception.
To get the best reception, you really need to tune the length of the antenna to the frequency of the station you want to pull in. Standard automotive antennas are kind of a happy medium that will bring in some frequencies well, and some not so well.

I don't know the formula or anything...so I may be talking out of my *****, but that's what I seem to recall.

Steve

Part true. You do want an antenna tuned for the frequency you want to receive, quite a trick for an automotive antenna where you have a.m. broadcast (MW), FM broadcast, and in some cases SW bands to receive, but there is also the matter of "capture area".

A larger fraction of the desired wavelength will be more sensitive than a smaller fraction of the wavelength, although both may be tuned to the same frequency. Another way to say this is that a 1/4 wave and a 5/8 wave antenna may both be tuned to the same frequency, but the 5/8 wave will be more sensitive and better receive a weaker signal.

I am sure this is more than you wanted to know . . .

minidriverUSA · May 28th, 2003, 07:47 AM

HUH?

BillK · May 28th, 2003, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by minidriverUSA
HUH?

Bigger IS better.

addman · May 28th, 2003, 02:16 PM

My Richbrook anti-theft aerial has much worse reception than tha standard one. The aerial is supplied with two shafts, and I'm using the short one. It's a very quick job to change the aerial if I needed to, but I was prepared to accept the loss of quality - I didn't buy an MP3 head unit to listen to Sara 'potty-mouth' Cox of a morning

May 26th, 2003, 10:17 PM	#1
BeauCoop MINI2 Newbie Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 34 Offline	Do Stubby Antennas Work? I've noticed a number of stubby after-market antennas which are aesthetically a vast improvment over the stock version on my MCS. The big question for me is have people noticed that the reception is equivalent to the stock antenna? Any recommendations? Any feedback would be appreciated. Whoa Jesse!

May 26th, 2003, 10:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
MiniMan7 Let's Motor. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Local Time: 08:10 PM Posts: 2,891 Offline	I have heard the reception is just as good as the stock antenna, I also heard of some people just taking their antenna off and having the reception still just as good. http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/16791/32165.jpg

May 26th, 2003, 11:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
moorlockx MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fayetteville, NC, US Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 884 Offline	I bought the Honda S2000 antenna. Reception's fine with it. It's not a super-stubby, but only stands about 7". -- '03 S B/W

May 27th, 2003, 08:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
mia MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: lower macungie, penn Local Time: 07:10 PM Posts: 473 Offline	hi guys i think this has been mentioned before, but i can't remember....how much does the stubby one cost, from the dealer and can you buy it somewhere else, for most likely a better price? 2002silkgreen/black cooper-cvt-premium-sport-xenon-ss+

May 27th, 2003, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
BeauCoop MINI2 Newbie Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 34 Offline	If you go to the link below MossMini.com has 4 different shorty antennas priced from $20 to $25. Don't know anything about how well they function, but they all look much better than the stock antenna. Link: http://www.mossmini.com/Browse/Plate...componentID=64 Whoa Jesse!

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May 27th, 2003, 05:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rich.Wolfson Motor On Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northern New Jersey Local Time: 07:10 PM Posts: 63 Offline	I have the S2000 antenna as well and have tested it against the stock one. There is absolutely no difference other than the shorter antenna looks much better. Rich

May 27th, 2003, 09:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
sniece MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hamilton Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 143 Offline	I put on the stubby antenna, and felt that the reception wasn't as good. However, I had my Mini in for service today, and had a new 320i as a loaner car, and found the reception dropped out in the same places...so bully for the shorty antenna! It looks good, and does the same job. My antenna is super short, and I got it from a VW performance shop in BC. Steve 2002 Pure Silver and Black Cooper

May 28th, 2003, 12:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
BillK MINI2 Senior Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Local Time: 04:10 PM Posts: 541 Offline	The short antenna will not have the same performance as a long antenna. The question is will it have adequate performance for where you drive. If you drive in areas with week reception on the stations you like to hear, the longer antenna will give you better reception than a short one. If you drive in good signal areas, the short one should be fine. MC/VR/B/PP&SP/CVT/Xenon

May 28th, 2003, 12:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
Romhog My mini is my casket Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dayton, Ohio Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 499 Offline	I also have had no problems with mine. Even to a station 40 miles away.

May 28th, 2003, 01:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
OBXMini MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kill Devil Hills, NC Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 63 Offline	Can you shorten the one that comes on the car? Couldn't you just cut it down and wrap the whole wire in a tighter coil-pattern and re-cover the tip with a tool dip substance....

May 28th, 2003, 01:31 AM	#11 (permalink)
laclede MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 49 Offline	I got the aluminum billet antenna (aluminum/stubby $19.95) from mossmini and actually think I get better reception than the stock. I have a particular radio station that I enjoy but only got in parts of town and now get it in a larger portion of town now than with the stock.

May 28th, 2003, 01:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
Mike & Donna in Ca. MINI2 Senior Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oceanside, CA Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 384 Offline	We have the aluminum stubby - no problems in any areas that we have found yet Donna '05 HB/W MCS "Gizmo" + '05 Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

May 28th, 2003, 05:01 AM	#13 (permalink)
Minty Man in the know! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Rugby Local Time: 11:10 PM Posts: 3,967 Offline	mine is from www.buyabeesting.com (or co.uk??) no problems with reception. MINI-3 @ Cotswold MINI \| BMW-four @ Cotswold BMW \| E-Mail Me \| Minty - Part of the IT Crowd! Last edited by Minty : May 28th, 2003 at 03:03 PM.

May 28th, 2003, 06:00 AM	#14 (permalink)
mikeythemini I can't get no sleep My Classifieds Join Date: May 2002 Location: Capital of Culture Local Time: 11:10 PM Posts: 9,437 Offline	I tried a honda one - not as good as the orig one Then a shorty - same problem If you are listening to a powerful station you won't have a problem, I listen to smaller stations and don't get good results mike Lakes Tour 2008 coming soon Are you ready for Lakes 2008 - details soon

May 28th, 2003, 07:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
sniece MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hamilton Local Time: 06:10 PM Posts: 143 Offline	If I remember the theory correctly, the length of the antenna doesn't have much to do with the reception quality (no jokes please) ...that is to say, you could have a 10 foot antenna, and it wouldn't necessarily get any better reception. To get the best reception, you really need to tune the length of the antenna to the frequency of the station you want to pull in. Standard automotive antennas are kind of a happy medium that will bring in some frequencies well, and some not so well. I don't know the formula or anything...so I may be talking out of my *****, but that's what I seem to recall. Steve 2002 Pure Silver and Black Cooper

May 28th, 2003, 07:43 AM	#16 (permalink)
minidriverUSA MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Connecticut USA Local Time: 07:10 PM Posts: 134 Offline	Has anyone bought this one from Alta? I like the look. I called and they say excellent reception. http://www.altaminiperformance.com/p...ntenna/ANT.htm Attached Thumbnails

May 28th, 2003, 07:44 AM	#17 (permalink)
BillK MINI2 Senior Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Local Time: 04:10 PM Posts: 541 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by sniece If I remember the theory correctly, the length of the antenna doesn't have much to do with the reception quality (no jokes please) ...that is to say, you could have a 10 foot antenna, and it wouldn't necessarily get any better reception. To get the best reception, you really need to tune the length of the antenna to the frequency of the station you want to pull in. Standard automotive antennas are kind of a happy medium that will bring in some frequencies well, and some not so well. I don't know the formula or anything...so I may be talking out of my *****, but that's what I seem to recall. Steve Part true. You do want an antenna tuned for the frequency you want to receive, quite a trick for an automotive antenna where you have a.m. broadcast (MW), FM broadcast, and in some cases SW bands to receive, but there is also the matter of "capture area". A larger fraction of the desired wavelength will be more sensitive than a smaller fraction of the wavelength, although both may be tuned to the same frequency. Another way to say this is that a 1/4 wave and a 5/8 wave antenna may both be tuned to the same frequency, but the 5/8 wave will be more sensitive and better receive a weaker signal. I am sure this is more than you wanted to know . . . MC/VR/B/PP&SP/CVT/Xenon

May 28th, 2003, 07:47 AM	#18 (permalink)
minidriverUSA MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Connecticut USA Local Time: 07:10 PM Posts: 134 Offline	HUH?

May 28th, 2003, 08:00 AM	#19 (permalink)
BillK MINI2 Senior Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Local Time: 04:10 PM Posts: 541 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by minidriverUSA HUH? Bigger IS better. MC/VR/B/PP&SP/CVT/Xenon

May 28th, 2003, 02:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
addman MINI2 Senior Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Harlow, Essex Local Time: 12:10 AM Posts: 389 Offline	My Richbrook anti-theft aerial has much worse reception than tha standard one. The aerial is supplied with two shafts, and I'm using the short one. It's a very quick job to change the aerial if I needed to, but I was prepared to accept the loss of quality - I didn't buy an MP3 head unit to listen to Sara 'potty-mouth' Cox of a morning

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