In-windshield radio antenna reception boost - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bandit130 · 08-28-2021, 10:34 AM

Wanting to find something that will boost my reception. AM is especially weaker than FM. I listen to AM to and from work to get traffic reports. Don't want to add external mast antenna cause don't want to cut holes in fender or anywhere else.

Any suggestions that aren't too expensive?

Pontiac1976 · 08-28-2021, 11:12 AM

The longer the antenna the better the reception, and the clear air way to the station the better it will be.
Now they had some in the passed at LMC/Classic auto Parts. Check there sites.
These antennas are powered and in line at the radio ant port or the ant line the wind shield up to you space opening on your ride.
Try any radio in stall shop if there still some in your area. They can order and in stall if needed. Just about any on line radio shop.
I hope this helps.

72c20customcamper · 08-28-2021, 02:45 PM

Factory or aftermarket am/fm ? Reason being my 77 burban with the factory am/fm and windshield antenna sucked. Reception was terrible on both bands . Close stations came in great but hit the valleys and they would fade out.

Conversely my 85 with an aftermarket Alpine radio with the windshield antenna has great reception .

Ziegelsteinfaust · 08-28-2021, 02:49 PM

What about the electronic antennas?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...oaAuGkEALw_wcB

Bandit130 · 08-28-2021, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Factory or aftermarket am/fm ? Reason being my 77 burban with the factory am/fm and windshield antenna sucked. Reception was terrible on both bands . Close stations came in great but hit the valleys and they would fade out.

Conversely my 85 with an aftermarket Alpine radio with the windshield antenna has great reception .

It is a factory radio. FM works great. AM not so good at times. Radio stations are around 20 miles away from me.

cadillac_al · 08-28-2021, 10:22 PM

If you travel in a hilly area it may not be the antenna. AM radio waves kinda travel in a straight line. I usually have the best reception in my windshield antenna cars.

Bandit130 · 08-28-2021, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

If you travel in a hilly area it may not be the antenna. AM radio waves kinda travel in a straight line. I usually have the best reception in my windshield antenna cars.

No hilly areas here in the DFW area.

chrismoore701 · 08-30-2021, 07:45 AM

Reset the snap on the windshield. I had that issue with mine and worked 10 times better

65chevysub · 09-01-2021, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit130

Wanting to find something that will boost my reception. AM is especially weaker than FM. I listen to AM to and from work to get traffic reports. Don't want to add external mast antenna cause don't want to cut holes in fender or anywhere else.

Any suggestions that aren't too expensive?

I have a right fender on my 84 I need to replace. If you were close, I'd see if you wanted to teade....

65chevysub · 09-01-2021, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit130

Wanting to find something that will boost my reception. AM is especially weaker than FM. I listen to AM to and from work to get traffic reports. Don't want to add external mast antenna cause don't want to cut holes in fender or anywhere else.

Any suggestions that aren't too expensive?

I have a right fender on my 84 I need to replace. If you were close, I'd see if you wanted to teade....it has a factory antenna hole

**hooverfish** · 09-05-2021, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

Reset the snap on the windshield. I had that issue with mine and worked 10 times better

Can you explain, at the base of the windshield ?
I'd like to try this on mine.

**Warrens69GMC** · 09-05-2021, 12:59 PM

https://purdylounge.com/best-car-antenna-booster/

Greenlee · 09-06-2021, 02:42 PM

I always thought the in the windshield antenna on my 83 works surprisingly well on either AM or FM. Made me wonder why they quit using them. This is the first complaint I’ve ever seen about them.

Greenlee · 09-06-2021, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hooverfish

Can you explain, at the base of the windshield ?
I'd like to try this on mine.

The antenna wire from the radio snaps on to the windshield in the middle at the bottom.

**hatzie** · 09-06-2021, 03:31 PM

Generally the wire-in-glass antenna seemed to work quite well.

The windshield has a male button similar to the kind you snapped RV curtains onto in the 1970's.
The wire from the radio terminates in a jack that's screwed to the dash substructure under the centre of the dash pad.
There's a little stubby pigtail or "lead in cable" with a female snap on one end and a metal barb on the other end. The snap fits the button on the windshield and the barb plugs into the coaxial cable jack from the radio.

I have seen the little stubby pigtail that snaps onto the button on the windshield come apart or the button appear to be loose. Probably boogered up from rough handling when the glass was replaced.

Yank out the dash pad and replace what's boogered up.
lead in and antenna cable is 7 & 8 from LMC
https://www.lmctruck.com/1973-91-che...973-87-antenna

**hooverfish** · 09-20-2021, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenlee

The antenna wire from the radio snaps on to the windshield in the middle at the bottom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatzie

Generally the wire-in-glass antenna seemed to work quite well.

The windshield has a male button similar to the kind you snapped RV curtains onto in the 1970's.
The wire from the radio terminates in a jack that's screwed to the dash substructure under the centre of the dash pad.
There's a little stubby pigtail or "lead in cable" with a female snap on one end and a metal barb on the other end. The snap fits the button on the windshield and the barb plugs into the coaxial cable jack from the radio.

I have seen the little stubby pigtail that snaps onto the button on the windshield come apart or the button appear to be loose. Probably boogered up from rough handling when the glass was replaced.

Yank out the dash pad and replace what's boogered up.
lead in and antenna cable is 7 & 8 from LMC
https://www.lmctruck.com/1973-91-che...973-87-antenna

Thank you both ! Appreciate the help, I will give it a try.

**hooverfish** · 12-24-2021, 12:29 PM

Finally got around to checking the little plug at base of windshield. The female part is broken, metal circle is partially gone, fell apart or broke off I guess.
Going to order from LMC, part #8 in the diagram.
Thanks again for the help, hatzie and Greenlee.

08-28-2021, 10:34 AM	#1
Bandit130 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Euless, Texas Posts: 520	In-windshield radio antenna reception boost Wanting to find something that will boost my reception. AM is especially weaker than FM. I listen to AM to and from work to get traffic reports. Don't want to add external mast antenna cause don't want to cut holes in fender or anywhere else. Any suggestions that aren't too expensive? __________________ 1974 Cheyenne 10 LWB Stock 350 W/HEI /TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet Mopar by Birth Chevy by Choice

08-28-2021, 11:12 AM	#2
Pontiac1976 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 769	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost The longer the antenna the better the reception, and the clear air way to the station the better it will be. Now they had some in the passed at LMC/Classic auto Parts. Check there sites. These antennas are powered and in line at the radio ant port or the ant line the wind shield up to you space opening on your ride. Try any radio in stall shop if there still some in your area. They can order and in stall if needed. Just about any on line radio shop. I hope this helps. __________________ 1977 REG cab Long Bed with a 1984 Front Clip, 82 305 .60 over 9.0.1 flat top pistons, 4bbl, TH350, w/84 SS-intake & cam , w/ 1977 big block rad, 1975 gear box, 1984 master w/ metric fittings top & SAE fitting @ portion block, 1975 3.42 gear open diff. Duel 77-87 Factory air cleaner, duel inlet from rad support . Down sized 9' to new 8' Steel flat bed Was a 77 454 w/308 gear. Taken out 550 lbs. up front with motor clip change.

08-28-2021, 02:45 PM	#3
72c20customcamper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Catskill Mountains,NY Posts: 8,737	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost Factory or aftermarket am/fm ? Reason being my 77 burban with the factory am/fm and windshield antenna sucked. Reception was terrible on both bands . Close stations came in great but hit the valleys and they would fade out. Conversely my 85 with an aftermarket Alpine radio with the windshield antenna has great reception . __________________ Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary.

08-28-2021, 02:49 PM	#4
Ziegelsteinfaust Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Temple City Posts: 3,635	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost What about the electronic antennas? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...oaAuGkEALw_wcB

08-28-2021, 10:22 PM	#6
cadillac_al Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 2,376	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost If you travel in a hilly area it may not be the antenna. AM radio waves kinda travel in a straight line. I usually have the best reception in my windshield antenna cars. __________________ 76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10

08-30-2021, 07:45 AM	#8
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost Reset the snap on the windshield. I had that issue with mine and worked 10 times better __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

09-05-2021, 12:59 PM	#12
Warrens69GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Safford,AZ Posts: 3,625	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost https://purdylounge.com/best-car-antenna-booster/ __________________ 1969 307, t350 1950 Chevy Wagon 1978 Big 10 1967 C10, 250,3-OTT

09-06-2021, 02:42 PM	#13
Greenlee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 1,668	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost I always thought the in the windshield antenna on my 83 works surprisingly well on either AM or FM. Made me wonder why they quit using them. This is the first complaint I’ve ever seen about them.

09-06-2021, 03:31 PM	#15
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 4,977	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost Generally the wire-in-glass antenna seemed to work quite well. The windshield has a male button similar to the kind you snapped RV curtains onto in the 1970's. The wire from the radio terminates in a jack that's screwed to the dash substructure under the centre of the dash pad. There's a little stubby pigtail or "lead in cable" with a female snap on one end and a metal barb on the other end. The snap fits the button on the windshield and the barb plugs into the coaxial cable jack from the radio. I have seen the little stubby pigtail that snaps onto the button on the windshield come apart or the button appear to be loose. Probably boogered up from rough handling when the glass was replaced. Yank out the dash pad and replace what's boogered up. lead in and antenna cable is 7 & 8 from LMC https://www.lmctruck.com/1973-91-che...973-87-antenna __________________ 1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions. And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 09-06-2021 at 03:58 PM.

12-24-2021, 12:29 PM	#17
hooverfish Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,147	Re: In-windshield radio antenna reception boost Finally got around to checking the little plug at base of windshield. The female part is broken, metal circle is partially gone, fell apart or broke off I guess. Going to order from LMC, part #8 in the diagram. Thanks again for the help, hatzie and Greenlee. __________________ Larry 84 Chevy SWB, "Roy", dark blue OG paint, 5.7 LS1, 4L60, Vintage Air, 96k miles. "It's a sorry man who can't find his wife a good job"



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