advice on antenna

[tomboyjr]

Hello, I am looking for any advice on changing or getting rid of the long-ass antennas on my new Ultra. I was looking at the stubby ones, 13" inches or so, was wondering if they work as good as the stock long ones. I guess I could just buy 1 shorty cuz I'll never use the CB. 
But Ive seen ads for the hidden antenna that goes up in the front fairing, has anyone used this?  I guess I'm just itching to buy new gadgets-lol.
Cant wait til the spring when I do a stage 1.

Tom

[Hog.pilot]

I bought a set of stubby's for my '07 Ultra and found no change in the performance of the radios.  I did experience a problem with the Harmon-Karden system.  It went totally dead so I changed back to my standard antennas before I took it to the dealer so there would be no questions about add-on products.  I have not yet reinstalled my shortys but I don't believe they were the root cause of the problem.  I used them for several months  before my radio took a dump.  I really believe that when the bike was serviced someone got careless and shorted something out.  I noticed the problem within a mile after picking up the bike.  "But I digress"  The radio reception was not effected by switching antennas. 

[4DWUDS]

The hidden antenna works just fine on my ultra, but I took off my tour pak. If you leave the tour pak on then the shortys from J&M work perfect. Plus it gives those mounts for the antenna's something to do.<img src="http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-char029.gif">

[Scramjet]

The factory long (eye whacker) antenna works the best.  That is why it is on the bike from the factory.  That being said, if you are in a high signal strength area it may not matter if you get a shorter antenna.  I live in a fringe area and it does matter.  I went with the HD short (about half length) antenna and will live with the slightly reduced reception.  The internal antennas tend to be a little more directional than the vertical whips.  Again, if you live in the city and not a fringe reception area it may not matter.

Hope this helps.

B

[harleyjt]

I upgraded to the stock 09-up shorter antennae.  Not the stubbies - I just don't like the way they look.  Although they look identical, they are very much different.  If you interchange them, you will quickly burn up a CB.  Each is marked at the base of the antenna either "AMFM" or "CB" and you gotta look hard to see it.  If you make the change, you also have to remove the load coil in the tour pak and replace it with a jumper cable.  No big deal.  I really like the shorter 09s - no more clanking on the garage door. And no more seeing that crazy load coil on the antenna itself.  Total cost is a little less than a hundred bucks.
jt

[sandrooney]

There is an allen screw in the antenna base loosen it and pull out the whip and cut to any length you want. I did mine and it works fine, I don't know about the CB I don't use it, I took that whip off.
SR

[nidan]

+1 on the cut it to your own length .  I did it to mine ..works fine ..even up in the mountains.

[rabbit]

I don't use the CB, so I just bought (2) of the short stubbies from Idiot Zone, $7.95 ea. Works just fine for me.

[Coyote]

The factory long (eye whacker) antenna works the best.  That is why it is on the bike from the factory.  That being said, if you are in a high signal strength area it may not matter if you get a shorter antenna.  I live in a fringe area and it does matter.  I went with the HD short (about half length) antenna and will live with the slightly reduced reception.  The internal antennas tend to be a little more directional than the vertical whips.  Again, if you live in the city and not a fringe reception area it may not matter.

Hope this helps.

B

I've spent 28 years designing wireless systems. This is exactly right.

[harleyjt]

There is an allen screw in the antenna base loosen it and pull out the whip and cut to any length you want. I did mine and it works fine, I don't know about the CB I don't use it, I took that whip off.
SR

Bad advice if you ever intend to use the CB.  AM/FM doesn't care.   CB receive doesn't care.  But transmit on the CB and you will burn up the output circuit very quickly. 
jt

[Coyote]

There is an allen screw in the antenna base loosen it and pull out the whip and cut to any length you want. I did mine and it works fine, I don't know about the CB I don't use it, I took that whip off.
SR

Bad advice if you ever intend to use the CB.  AM/FM doesn't care.   CB receive doesn't care.  But transmit on the CB and you will burn up the output circuit very quickly. 
jt

This used to be true but is not anymore. Modern rf transistors (the final) are tested to extreme load mismatch and will not be damaged by a mis tuned antenna. The range will be severely reduced but you won't damage the unit.

[harleyjt]

There is an allen screw in the antenna base loosen it and pull out the whip and cut to any length you want. I did mine and it works fine, I don't know about the CB I don't use it, I took that whip off.
SR

Bad advice if you ever intend to use the CB.  AM/FM doesn't care.   CB receive doesn't care.  But transmit on the CB and you will burn up the output circuit very quickly. 
jt

This used to be true but is not anymore. Modern rf transistors (the final) are tested to extreme load mismatch and will not be damaged by a mis tuned antenna. The range will be severely reduced but you won't damage the unit.

Ok.  Then I stand corrected.  I was  not aware of that.  Thanks for the update.   I just know that I have, in years past, damaged CBs with a bad antenna.  That may explain why a buddy of mine who always insists on cutting his antennae down always sounds like crap - nobody can hear him, unless they are parked right next to him.   

Do you know when Harley started using this type of output transistor?  How far back does this hold true on their CB units?  I do not believe its been forever on their radios. 

Regardless, I still wouldn't do it.  It's just one of those things that's too easy to do right and not screw it up.   
jt

[Coyote]

There is an allen screw in the antenna base loosen it and pull out the whip and cut to any length you want. I did mine and it works fine, I don't know about the CB I don't use it, I took that whip off.
SR

Bad advice if you ever intend to use the CB.  AM/FM doesn't care.   CB receive doesn't care.  But transmit on the CB and you will burn up the output circuit very quickly.  
jt

Ok.  Then I stand corrected.  I was  not aware of that.  Thanks for the update.   I just know that I have, in years past, damaged CBs with a bad antenna.  That may explain why a buddy of mine who always insists on cutting his antennae down always sounds like crap - nobody can hear him, unless they are parked right next to him.  

Do you know when Harley started using this type of output transistor?  How far back does this hold true on their CB units?  I do not believe its been forever on their radios.  

Regardless, I still wouldn't do it.  It's just one of those things that's too easy to do right and not screw it up.  
jt

Well, I spent 4 years designing hand held and mobile radios from 10 meters to 2.4 GHz back in the early 90's (and still design higher frequency stuff today) and for anything below 50 watts, the devices were pretty much indestructible. Hand held radios are horrible on antenna match and we never had a failure from high VSWR. The original problem with them being fragile was because a mis matched could cause the voltage on the final collector to spike up and would damage the junction of the device. Now days, the only thing you have to look out for is power dissipation. But with only 4 watts, it's just not a big deal unless you keyed the thing up and held it for an hour and let it heat up. I don't think damaging a radio has been an issue since the late 80's, early 90's anyway (maybe earlier).

This used to be true but is not anymore. Modern rf transistors (the final) are tested to extreme load mismatch and will not be damaged by a mis tuned antenna. The range will be severely reduced but you won't damage the unit.

[marc]

Try these...Been using them for 3 years and have no complaints...

http://www.eglidegoodies.com/id109.html

[gtnot]

I've been trying a hidden antenna (Dakota), but the range is short.

[HDDOC]

http://antennaconcept.com/link3.php   CVO guys are useing this with good luck.  Doc

[tomboyjr]

Well, thanks for your replies. Since free is good I will try the 'cutting it myself' option first-lol.
Living in southern New England there is always a signal somewhere.

Tom

[martida01]

Anyone try this one out yet?  I have one in my garage, but have yet to put it 'in' the bike. 


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hidden-ANTENNA-Harley-Road-Electra-Ultra-Street-Glide_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem19b7df7d4cQQitemZ110459059532QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Coyote]

Anyone try this one out yet?  I have one in my garage, but have yet to put it 'in' the bike. 


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hidden-ANTENNA-Harley-Road-Electra-Ultra-Street-Glide_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem19b7df7d4cQQitemZ110459059532QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

One thing for sure, they don't know how many screws there are to take the fairing off.

[x52gnr]

Well, thanks for your replies. Since free is good I will try the 'cutting it myself' option first-lol.
Living in southern New England there is always a signal somewhere.

Tom

I did this,its free and worse comes to worse ya get something else....

[tomboyjr]

Well, it seems on the 2010 Ultra there is no set screw to hold the antenna in. I'm thinking I can just cut the top.

[Coyote]

Well, it seems on the 2010 Ultra there is no set screw to hold the antenna in. I'm thinking I can just cut the top.

Maybe you can find someone that has the 2010 Touring Electrical manual and get the procedure for tuning the CB. I'd think they should have a way to cut the antenna without leaving a jagged edge at the top...

[tomboyjr]

I'll never use the CB. Or the headset for that matter.
I can cut the top of the antenna and just put that little top on it.

Thanks for all the replies.

[JWUltra]

Sounds like a plan. I bought the stubby black plastic ones but probably should have done what you are suggesting.

JW