Marine antenna?

[deafen]

So I've finished my TINASV (This Is Not A Super Valk) setup, replacing the trunk with a stock backrest and luggage rack.  Last problem to solve is the radio antenna.

I know there are several places to mount a rubber ducky, but I'm thinking about using a marine soft wire antenna instead.  Should be easy to tuck it away around the bags, seat, etc., and keeps it out of sight.

Anybody tried one of these?

[Pete]

No, it was easier to just build an upside down L bracket from aluminum angle and bolt it to backrest bolts on the right side and mount the OEM antenna.

I angled the antenna so it matched the angle of the backrest.

I have used those wire antennas on the inside of an auto and they work fine.

[Bighead]

You can get an antenna that has a sticky tape
On one side and put inside the fairing thats what is inside my woodys fairing.
If no fairi g it cound be located just about anywhere out of site.

[gordonv]

I'm trying to understand this. Instead of being a whip/ridged wire antenna, you have a flexible wire, which you can basically put anywhere you can think of, and this is connected into your radio?

We are not talking about one of those little rubber 1' - 1.5' antennas?

[Pappy!]

Nope, he's not. I deal in them weekly. Yes, it will plug right into a normal antenna receptacle. Yes you can sticky tape it anywhere you want and in any direction you want. They are basically shaped like a "T" and look like a piece of semi-transparent tape about 1/2-5/8" thick. I tape them underneath boat dashboards when I have to rig a new boat.

[deafen]

Yup, and there are also some that aren't sticky, just a wire.  Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electronics-MAW40-Universal-Corrosion/dp/B000O8SQNG/ref=sr_1_1

We've got good strong stations here, so I might try just running it around under the seat.  For $7, it's worth a shot.  I'll let y'all know.

[Bighead]

Nope, he's not. I deal in them weekly. Yes, it will plug right into a normal antenna receptacle. Yes you can sticky tape it anywhere you want and in any direction you want. They are basically shaped like a "T" and look like a piece of semi-transparent tape about 1/2-5/8" thick. I tape them underneath boat dashboards when I have to rig a new boat.

Exactly ,the one I have is straight and about 15" long but it can be stuck down and reversed back and forth and fir anywhere. And It works well.

[gordonv]

OK, so I've looked at these marine ant, found the straight wire one, a Jensen 6' wire. I also found a Boss dipole, I see 2 styles, one looks like a Y wire one, and the other is a 2' leader, to a coax where the 6' wire screws into.

But I can't find ANY information, nor from the local Marine store, on how these should be mounted.

Should I avoid placing it behind metal, should I avoid looping, what?

Seems I can pay less in CAD $ than MSRP in the US, which is like $7 - $8. Very inexpensive. I'm thinking the dipole one, plug into the radio, run it to the rear of the bike, then take the wire ant and run it all the way to the front along the frame. This way it would stay hidden and out of the way, no reason to play with it if I remove the fairing.

I'm thinking remove the stock ant from it's mount, replace with the above, then take my CB ant and place it on the right side in the radio ant mount. A lot cheaper and easier than finding the left side CB ant mount.

[Jess from VA]

I'm watching this closely. 

My permanent supervalk came with a very nice looking Firestik CB antenna mounted on chrome spring hardware to my bag rails in back.  But I did not get the CB (didn't want it), and it is a lousy FM antenna (compared to the reception on my stock trunked interstate whip antenna).  I pulled the (FM/CB) signal splitter out that was in there, and it didn't get any better.  The 20 feet of CB antenna lead is still bundled up under the bag.

I had been using a satellite radio XM on that bike, but it died and the XM subscription people have pissed me off once too many and I don't think I'm going back. 

[deafen]

Following up: I bought the antenna I linked above, plugged it into the socket under the right side cover, then ran it tucked around the seat.  I think I had a few inches at the end that I just tucked behind something on the left side?  Don't remember.  In any case, I didn't give it much thought other than making sure it wasn't going to fall into the wheel.

It works great!  But as I mentioned, we have really strong transmitters here, and I stay within about 20 miles of them at almost all times.  I can tell it's right on the edge of good reception inside my garage, but once I'm outside it's fine.  I can certainly live with it, especially since I'm probably going to be using Google Play Music on my phone most of the time anyway.

[Pete]

Ecklers Corvette offers an enhanced, easily hidden amplified AM/FM antenna for roughly $35.00.

[fudgie]

Ecklers Corvette offers an enhanced, easily hidden amplified AM/FM antenna for roughly $35.00.

Wow Ecklers. Havent heard that name in yrs. Dad use to order vette parts from there.