I must be doing something wrong. My stock antenna has always been just fine. I can receive more stations than I have presets for, both AM & FM.
I went back to the stock antenna only because it's more bendable and forgiving to the items I strap onto my luggage rack. I rarely listen to the radio since I've got so much music on my USB drive, and the volume of the radio is lower than AUX is.
You can check your local auto parts store and get an aftermarket one.
2016 F6B Standard Matte Silver. Freedom Combat Slip-Ons, BaggerShield 11" - 19" Sport Shield, Kuryakyn Ergo II Highway Pegs, Ultimate King Seat w/Driver Backrest, Pathfinder Running/Turnsignal/Driving Lights, Beeline Moto Navigation, INNOVV K2 Camera, DHS Racing Shifter Linkage Upgrade, Show Chrome Handlebar Risers and Luggage Rack.
Basic Antenna Theory...
A "perfect" whip (or dipole) antenna need to be 1/4 the wave length of the frequency you're receiving. 100Mhz is in the middle of the US FM frequency spectrum of 88Mhz to 108Mhz. Basically 31" is best length, so the closer you get to 31" the better. Obviously 31 is little short for the higher frequencies and a little long for the lower frequencies but it's a workable (cheap, simple) antenna for vehicles.
Quick note just to round this out; The ground of the car, truck, or bike is the other 1/4 length making a properly installed whip a 1/2 wave length antenna "system."
I'm guessing your latest EBay antenna allows you to get it out of the way but makes the antenna reception worse when you shorten it.
Last edited by SeaSteve; 10-13-2020 at 08:53 AM.
2016 F6B Standard Matte Silver. Freedom Combat Slip-Ons, BaggerShield 11" - 19" Sport Shield, Kuryakyn Ergo II Highway Pegs, Ultimate King Seat w/Driver Backrest, Pathfinder Running/Turnsignal/Driving Lights, Beeline Moto Navigation, INNOVV K2 Camera, DHS Racing Shifter Linkage Upgrade, Show Chrome Handlebar Risers and Luggage Rack.
Hey guys,
I got out this weekend (great weather) and got to try out the last antenna some more. It is much better than stock. With stock, I was getting 1 -2 of my 6 presets to come in clearly. With the extendable antenna in the up/19" position I was getting 5-6 of the 6 presets to come in clearly.
It is nice that it collapses, because since the antenna points back quite a bit, it is "in the way" when fully extended. So I keep it in the down position and raise it when I need "more power"! aurgh, aurgh, aurgh
With all this said, I'm sure that my stock antenna used to work better. Maybe I have a grounding problem or something ...
Albuquerque, NM
Truthfully, I don't ever think I've tuned in to a radio station on my F6B. Always am listening to my own music on my iPod, on the connector in the left saddlebag.
I also have a CD player in my 2018 Tacoma. I don't even know if that works. I've never stuck a CD in it.
Last edited by willtill; 10-07-2022 at 05:51 PM.
21 years Army (retired)
...been everywhere, seen everything, done almost everything.
IBA 80537