How To: Hidden Antenna Mod

[TacHoe]

I am wanting to know this as well but for a different reason, one I haven't seen to this point ANYWHERE on here ....

Will fill everyone in on it if I can find out the size of the nut that screws on top of the threaded base piece

Anyone else?

 

[sparks]

i'll probably do this mod one evening this week. i'll post what size the nut needs to be.

 

[Claymationzoo]

Just did this mod on my 01 hoe and ran the antenna down the fender with a ring wire connecter between the base and antenna and ran the wire up the passenger side

And for those who were asking the size for the nut is 1/4 inch

Btw great write and thread overall thanks for the ideas

 

[2005SnowKon]

Is there anything you can do to try to get better reception when you do this?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PlazaEJ]

I used the same mod as 05nali, on my '02 Avalanche and it worked great.
Tried it on my '01 Denali, and the reception went right in the toilet. FM was terrible, and AM became non-existent. So, I tried an amplified/hidden antenna that sticks to the inside of windshield. Put mine above mirror opposite side of OnStar GPS antenna. Reception is exactly the same as OEM mast antenna. What a disappointment. I'm almost wondering if there isn't something wrong with my radio?

EJ

 

[PlazaEJ]

Nope not the radio.

OMG!

Believe it, or not, it made a difference in the orientation of the antenna/box.
I had, originally, mounted it to the windshield in a horizontal manner, pushed up against the headliner. But, today while eating lunch, I looked up at the box and thought, what if I turn it 90 degrees, so it sits vertical. WOW! I noticed a difference, immediately. Even while I was messing with it, I could tell a difference, as I was parked under a covered parking roof and the AM channel I was tuned to was giving a touch of static. After turning the box that static disappeared, and 'Seek' stops at more stations.

Funny, how the little things make such a big difference.

 

[doubletap1911]

Nope not the radio.

OMG!

Believe it, or not, it made a difference in the orientation of the antenna/box.
I had, originally, mounted it to the windshield in a horizontal manner, pushed up against the headliner. But, today while eating lunch, I looked up at the box and thought, what if I turn it 90 degrees, so it sits vertical. WOW! I noticed a difference, immediately. Even while I was messing with it, I could tell a difference, as I was parked under a covered parking roof and the AM channel I was tuned to was giving a touch of static. After turning the box that static disappeared, and 'Seek' stops at more stations.

Funny, how the little things make such a big difference.

Can you snag a few pics of your setup?

 

[PlazaEJ]

Sorry, for the wait.

As it appears on EBay...

From inside...

From outside, pretty well obscured by shading...

 

[BaMaDuDe87]

I haven't saw this answered yet but the antenna threads should be 1/4-28

 

[FishinCricket]

Awesome mod!!

 

[Soundmound]

Find of the day!

Totally knocked this out today after I got debadged and buffed. The sum cost $2.96 and two minutes time. You have no idea the joy it gives me to be rid of that monstrosity. There was minimal signal loss FM and I don't do AM ever, so..... The juice is worth the squeeze. Do it up the A pillar 10 gauge stranded wire, might go solid core in the future since its a cheap theory to test. One ring terminal and M6-1.00 nut and four feet of wire, he'll you could go 6-8 feet and see if it helps reception all the way down the body. Oh, just buy black wire don't be a cheapo and use whatever's laying around. I will do the esky cap though.

 

[nickbaldwin86]

to lazy to read 11 pages..

did this kill signal?

Is there a replacement cover that doesnt have the hole in it?

Thanks

 

[Tahoewhat]

To further the ? above, anyone have HD radio? Hows reception with it.
(did this along time ago, but never tried the wire up the pillar and roof)

 

[donut slayer]

I did the wire under the molding trick, but the reception was terrible. I went to a short rubber flexable antenna.

 

[Tahoewhat]

Yeah did this as well. Reception is alright. Alot of static when driving. Going to try another way

 

[jomulk56]

just did it today...

I wraped some copper wire around the base and ran it up through the weather seal to get better reception. I get better reception than with the original antenna! Esky piece is on order...for now i put duct tape over the hole

Does the Esky piece fit over the base that way?

 

[Tahoewhat]

Yeah it fits fine. The base is lower than the esky cover.

I even put a nut on the base and still fits.

 

[jomulk56]

Awesome if it works for me I'll be buying the cover

 

[Tahoewhat]

it will work, no doubt. Unless you put something on the base that makes it alot higher. But even the screw thats there is lower. So your good.

Just switched up to putting antenna down fender and works much better for me, than pillar, etc.

 

[doubletap1911]

Has anyone tried laying the antenna on the fender AND also running a wire up the weatherstripping?