[Mikkantoo]

So as per the title, I'm thinking about replacing the twangy little stick antenna to the infinitely more sophisticated looking shark fin type jobby, albeit a cheap one from off eBay.

Question is...is there anything I should be aware of (besides it potentially flying off the next time I gas it) before sticking this thing to the roof of my car?

I will test it with the radio on before I commit, because I actually use that quite a lot and don't want to lose too much reception.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

[The Gonz]

Nope. Last time I looked at one on eBay it was a direct replacement.

[tw2005]

So as per the title, I'm thinking about replacing the twangy little stick antenna to the infinitely more sophisticated looking shark fin type jobby, albeit a cheap one from off eBay.

Question is...is there anything I should be aware of (besides it potentially flying off the next time I gas it) before sticking this thing to the roof of my car?

I will test it with the radio on before I commit, because I actually use that quite a lot and don't want to lose too much reception.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Is that just a cover that sits over the existing antenna?
If replacing the antenna unit it may pay to check if the OEM base is a powered amplified unit. In the original FD series their antennas the base is a RF amplifier as well.

[Mikkantoo]

Ok here's the underside because I can't describe it properly

[tw2005]

Ok here's the underside because I can't describe it properly

I'm not understanding that either. looks like a huge earth strap @The Gonz  ?

[tw2005]

Ok here's the underside because I can't describe it properly

I'm not understanding that either. looks like a huge earth strap @The Gonz  ?

That could be the anteena lead I guess seeing this.

[Mikkantoo]

Yes that's just an antenna lead that's connected to an array (?) further inside the housing. It's exactly like the one @tw2005 posted.

[The Gonz]

Yup, that's what I'd seen from the eBay offerings. Unscrew the spiral wound dipole and screw in the new connector before sticking it down, I believe.

[Mikkantoo]

Thank you, gentlemen! I'll see how the reception is before I make it a more permanent feature

[Mikkantoo]

Ok, so there we go. Doesn't look too bad for $6.20

Now it's just a question of how long it'll stay on because yes, it came with 3M sticky tape, but there's 3M and then there's "3M" no doubt.

[Dazzler]

I hadn't notice that the non-sr models had a different antenna until this thread. I thought all models came with a sharkfin already. 

[Mikkantoo]

I hadn't notice that the non-sr models had a different antenna until this thread. I thought all models came with a sharkfin already. 

Well there you go, Darryl, you learnt something new today
And from what I can gather, if your car doesn't come with SatNav and/or digital radio you get the twangy stick jobby, so it's an easy identifier of a base model i30.
Does that now make my i30 a "sleeper"?

[The Gonz]

Hmm ... so the sharkfin is an up-trim feature. I might just have to do the  same for Firty! 

Big question is - is the reception any worse?

[Mikkantoo]

Hmm ... so the sharkfin is an up-trim feature. I might just have to do the  same for Firty! 

Big question is - is the reception any worse?

Good question re exception quality. I did take her out for a little 125km round trip after this but alas due to it being AFL season I only had it on AM (which was flawless) so the FM band remains a mystery.
I'll get back to you with that answer soon

[Dazzler]

Hmm ... so the sharkfin is an up-trim feature. I might just have to do the  same for Firty! 

Big question is - is the reception any worse?

I put a colour coded shark fin antenna on my 2012 Hybrid Camry and the boys on this site ribbed me a bit at the time. The next model came out with one standard.. maybe they liked my idea! 

[The Gonz]

Doesn't look too bad for $6.20

Seems to be getting cheaper every day! 
Car AM/FM Signal Shark Fin Shape Aerial Antenna Waterproof Decal Accessorie -PB5 | eBay

[Mikkantoo]

Doesn't look too bad for $6.20

Seems to be getting cheaper every day! 
Car AM/FM Signal Shark Fin Shape Aerial Antenna Waterproof Decal Accessorie -PB5 | eBay

Bastard ripped me off!

At least mine came from Vietnam, so it's not that cheap Chinese stuff

[CraigB]

Doesn't look too bad for $6.20

Seems to be getting cheaper every day! 
Car AM/FM Signal Shark Fin Shape Aerial Antenna Waterproof Decal Accessorie -PB5 | eBay

To cheap to be true reading further down it appears it's just a dummy aerial... *For Decoration Purpose Only, No electronic parts，No Reception Function

[The Gonz]

 

[Shambles]

 

[The Gonz]

New Shark Fin Shape Auto Car Roof Radio AM/FM Signal Aerial Antenna Universal SJ | eBay
 

[tw2005]

Hmm ... so the sharkfin is an up-trim feature. I might just have to do the  same for Firty! 

Big question is - is the reception any worse?

  Exactly, also I wonder if a strobing nav light could be fitted 

Also how the plastic holds up in the UV will be curious to see how it goes , I'd be  tempted to colour code it to the car

[Mikkantoo]

Also how the plastic holds up in the UV will be curious to see how it goes , I'd be  tempted to colour code it to the car

Yes, good point and one I suspect will be answered in short order considering the amount of sunlight and heat we get down here.

[Mikkantoo]

Alrighty, so after being on the car for a full 24 hours, the part of the sides where there is minimal tape holding it in place has lifted off the roof and looking side on there's clear daylight to be seen, so yeah, this isn't going to last at all unless I go a bit more drastic in holding it down (silicone? Not sure I'd want to use that...)

Also regarding the reception on FM, it's not the best if you're in a regional/marginal reception area. It was great for the first half driving home this afternoon but got patchier and scratchier the further away we drove from Mt Lofty. Although I don't listen to much FM radio, the wife does and I don't mind her having a listen to what she likes now and again.

So in essence, I'm glad it didn't cost too much, but I can't see this antenna staying on the car long, despite looking better than the old twangy stick.

[Dazzler]

Thanks for the update.  It was worth a try.  Like you say, cheap as chips and easy to reverse.   

[The Gonz]

  Exactly, also I wonder if a strobing nav light could be fitted 

Got that covered. 
LED Flashing Light rubber floating Duck with Bath Tub Shower Toy for Kids Toy 3C | eBay

[CraigB]

I wonder if better reception could be retained by using the type with complete base change and wiring the antenna and power wire shown in the eBay link are similar to the standard i30 setup if you've ever looked under the factory base CAR RADIO BLACK AERIAL UNIVERSAL SHARK FIN ROOF AMPLIFIED ANTENNA AM FM AXA218 | eBay

[Mikkantoo]

I wonder if better reception could be retained by using the type with complete base change and wiring the antenna and power wire shown in the eBay link are similar to the standard i30 setup if you've ever looked under the factory base CAR RADIO BLACK AERIAL UNIVERSAL SHARK FIN ROOF AMPLIFIED ANTENNA AM FM AXA218 | eBay

Something about pulling down the headliner in a pratically new car kinda scares me 
Technically and in reality it would be the best solution, but yeah nah, I think I'll just revert back to the original twangy stick

[CraigB]

The head liner isn't hard to drop, use a forked trim tool to pop the 4 push plugs across the top rear behind hatch and then the antenna is easily accessed 

[Mikkantoo]

The head liner isn't hard to drop, use a forked trim tool to pop the 4 push plugs across the top rear behind hatch and then the antenna is easily accessed 

Oh god, now you're giving me bad ideas...
For now I think I'll stop digging while the hole still isn't too deep, and in the mean time I still need to remove the current foreign object before I could even contemplate replacing it with a better unit