Question about the fixed antenna

[jimb05]

First, I have to say that I love the new mustang. I had an anemic 1980 vert in high school and then much later I had a 96 GT (wrecked when she was 8 days old) and a 97 GT. The last GT I drove only had 215 HP so I am certain I will apreciate the new stang. My last car was a 94 vette so I am wondering how the cars will compare.

Anyway, to my question/complaint. I cannot believe that Ford would completely redesign a car from the frame up for 2005 and still leave it with an ugly fixed antenna on the bumper. You don't expect to see fixed antennae on $30K cars. Is there an option for a window mounted antenna or is there a reliable aftermarket window mounted (hidden) antenna? Please let me know.

 

[ryanrule]

no

 

[upstate]

That was part of the retro look. I like it and will finally have a radio that will work on am.

 

[Power4]

Who even notices the antenna? If it really bothers you, you can always remove it.

 

[SVTdriver]

Who even notices the antenna? If it really bothers you, you can always remove it.

Apparently a few people notice it. As this topic has been brought up before.

 

[ryanrule]

That was part of the retro look. I like it and will finally have a radio that will work on am.

um, no

who think retro and big stalk attena?

 

[Mossberg]

I talked to a ford engineer about it. He said that they tried a window type antenna but the reception quality didn't meet their target for this particular model. There was also another reason that slips my mind.

 

[351CJ]

I talked to a ford engineer about it. He said that they tried a window type antenna but the reception quality didn't meet their target for this particular model. There was also another reason that slips my mind.

A Ford engineer told me the same thing.

I asked him if the reason for the front fender whip antenna was because of the convertible. He said it was not, that they had tried a read window antenna & putting a whip on the rear fender but neither worked very well. He said AM reception is was MUCH better with the front fender whip. I laughed and told him, who cares, almost no-one listens to AM. To which he said that around Detroit EVERYONE listens to sports on AM radio so AM reception was very important.

 

[ryanrule]

works plenty fine in my moms buick

 

[Henceforward]

The rear window antena works great in my moms 2001 Grand Prix GT...

I have seen the new GT in person, and the antena is really bad, it even sits on a 1/4 inch riser.

This is a sad problem for a car with such great engineering behind it. Clear channel Communications killed radio, so who cares about reception. That mast doesn't even work with XM/Sirius.

The antena is a problem.

 

[jadesville]

A Ford engineer told me the same thing.

I asked him if the reason for the front fender whip antenna was because of the convertible. He said it was not, that they had tried a read window antenna & putting a whip on the rear fender but neither worked very well. He said AM reception is was MUCH better with the front fender whip. I laughed and told him, who cares, almost no-one listens to AM. To which he said that around Detroit EVERYONE listens to sports on AM radio so AM reception was very important.

It is important, and thats the truth, I listen to AM radio often to, and so do alot of stangers. Reception is just best with that antenna I guess

 

[DaNd4Speed]

There's a reason why we prefer TV's without bunny ears any more, why can't Ford do it for the Mustang? Better AM reception, give me a break...you actually believe that load of crap?

 

[351CJ]

why can't Ford do it for the Mustang? Better AM reception, give me a break...you actually believe that load of crap?

Most cars with hidden radio antennas have very poor AM reception.

AM brodcast is vertically polarized. A whip like the '05 Mustang has is vertically polarized. There is no question in my mind that a vertical whip is by far the best antenna for AM radio reception on a car. I am an engineer who has worked in the RF business for many years, I know this sort of stuff. If you want to I could get into a very in debth techincal discussion about various antennas, but the answer would still be the same.

With that said, the ONLY time I ever listen to AM radio is when I have to driver through or around NYC. Then I listen to the AM news stations that have traffic reports every 10 minutes. Other than that I NEVER listen to AM radio, so I would have preferred a crappy reception hidden antenna.

There is an easy solution, though. If you don't like the whip antenna, just remove it.

 

[DaNd4Speed]

Most cars with hidden radio antennas have very poor AM reception.

AM brodcast is vertically polarized. A whip like the '05 Mustang has is vertically polarized. There is no question in my mind that a vertical whip is by far the best antenna for AM radio reception on a car. I am an engineer who has worked in the RF business for many years, I know this sort of stuff. If you want to I could get into a very in debth techincal discussion about various antennas, but the answer would still be the same.

With that said, the ONLY time I ever listen to AM radio is when I have to driver through or around NYC. Then I listen to the AM news stations that have traffic reports every 10 minutes. Other than that I NEVER listen to AM radio, so I would have preferred a crappy reception hidden antenna.

There is an easy solution, though. If you don't like the whip antenna, just remove it.

As a fellow engineer (Mechanical) I can see your point as to why a vertical whip type antenna is better for AM reception. However, I don't buy into the fact that they keep putting them on Mustangs for this reason. It all boils down to $$, the very same reason why Ford claims to have kept the solid axle in the back..for the seasoned drag racer (yeah sure).

Why not put them on Lincoln LS..or for most other cars for that matter? Why sell these people short if what they demand is AM radio reception?

I guess I could remove my antenna, but then again I have that awful looking base just sitting there next to the hood of my car. It just doesn't look clean at all. Why couldn't they place it on the roof, rake it back to be in line with the windshield (like my old '99 cougar), it actually looked pretty sharp and agressive.

 

[007]

The flagpole antenna is cheap crap. Dont buy the "its better that way" rubbish. If it was then why dont better, higher quality cars all have flagpoles sticking out. In fact all cars would since its cheaper! No... its cheap Ford crap. Same thing on my stang, so I switched it for a 6" antenna. I'd much prefer one that was hidden though.

 

[351CJ]

As a fellow engineer (Mechanical) I can see your point as to why a vertical whip type antenna is better for AM reception. However, I don't buy into the fact that they keep putting them on Mustangs for this reason. It all boils down to $$, the very same reason why Ford claims to have kept the solid axle in the back..for the seasoned drag racer (yeah sure).

Why not put them on Lincoln LS..or for most other cars for that matter? Why sell these people short if what they demand is AM radio reception?

I guess I could remove my antenna, but then again I have that awful looking base just sitting there next to the hood of my car. It just doesn't look clean at all. Why couldn't they place it on the roof, rake it back to be in line with the windshield (like my old '99 cougar), it actually looked pretty sharp and agressive.

But I agree, that $$ had something to do with the decision. The LS was designed to sell at a much higher price point than the Mustang and a hidden antenna is a requirement in it's market segment. However, AM reception on my LS is pretty lame, but it's useable. Other LS owners have complained that their AM reception is horrible. I've had many cars with hidden radio antennas, all the way back to a 1977 Buick Century and a 1981 Olds Cutlass (antenna in the windshield). AM reception was not great in those cars either.

I don't think a roof antenna, like the New Edge Cougar has would work on the '05 Mustang, but I do think that putting the antenna on the rear fender would be a huge styling improvement.

I'll probably end up pulling of the whip antenna on my '05 or '06 Mustang as I'll be moving to Sirius by then anyway. Of course ugly satellite radio antennas is another subject.

 

[jimb05]

SO is there an aftermarket window antenna?

Does anyone know if we can replace the antenna with some sort of aftermarket window antenna? I'll give the 15 spanish sports and news stations that seem to dominate AM radio in exchange for a cleaner appearance.

 

[BaronVonBigmeat]

There's always some sort of hidden antenna you see advertised in the back of street rod magazines that just plugs in, although I'm not sure who makes it or how well it works.

 

[A4B4Stang]

My concern as well...

While researching the new 05 Stang, the radio antenna literrally stood out. It was one of the cons when we were deciding on a Explorer Limited vs. Lincoln Aviator. We went with the Aviator...yes the reception is a bit worse but the clean look is worth it for me.

However, if the Stang stays with the long mast antenna, I can ignore the antenna since the car looks awesome. Plus, I'll just replace the antenna with something like:

http://www.mustangtuning.com/8fiblan.html

But regardless, the antenna won't deter me from a sliver GT with red interior!!

 

[upstate]

I have owned in the last three years an 03 Towncar antenna in rear window glass, two 00 Lincoln LS's, 02 tbird front window glass, 05 300C in the glass and 01 Windstar rear window glass. They all stunk on AM. Who listens to it? Sports radio and talk radio is on AM. If it weren't for sat radio I would of been angrier about these glass antenna's. The windstar was the worst. I took it in under warrenty 3 times for radio reception, I couldn't even get the local 50,000 watt channel. The third dealership, after filters and radio changes did something so at least that one 50,000 watt station came in weak. The 02 bird lost AM radio when I installed a cell phone antenna on the glass - had to do it there because it is a convertiable. The 300C lost it when I had the rear window tinted. Seems the good tint has metalic particals in it. So this is why I am happy for the mast antenna. Sorry but this has just been my experience that lead me to my conclusion. If they can produce a glass mount that works as good I'm all for it.