quattro5.v.2

Having fought with dead Fuba's on at least 2 other cars, when my radio reception started to die on the old battlewagon, I was determined to find a 'better way'. Some people who have had similar issues might remember me discovering that <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/s4s6/msgs/238930.phtml">yanking the cable to the OEM analog cell phone</a> was a big bonus to begin with.

Well knowing that a basic ground-plane steel whip antenna like on any pre-1990's car virtually always out performs a coil-loaded job like the Fuba, about a month ago I finally homebrewed up a quick 1/4 wave steel whip antenna as a 'proof of concept', and it kicked ***. So it's taken me the ensuing month to craft up a nice permanent job, but the end result is very nice.

The recipe consists of one brass rod core, one stainless steel outer tube for strength and general bling-bling coolness, one stainless welding rod as the main whip, and a little carbon fiber tube to stiffen discourage drunken pedestrian bending and additional slick finish.

<img src="http://www.j2c3.com/misc/Audi/CustomS6AvantAntenna/CustomS6AvantAntenna01.jpg">
<img src="http://www.j2c3.com/misc/Audi/CustomS6AvantAntenna/CustomS6AvantAntenna02.jpg">
<img src="http://www.j2c3.com/misc/Audi/CustomS6AvantAntenna/CustomS6AvantAntenna03.jpg">
<img src="http://www.j2c3.com/misc/Audi/CustomS6AvantAntenna/CustomS6AvantAntenna04.jpg">

Looks great on it's own, and not too "CB Radio" at all on the car, which was certainly the fear. Reception is OUTSTANDING on AM and FM. Stations that were formerly fuzzy at my house, I can now get clearly driving 30+ miles further out.

<img src="http://www.j2c3.com/misc/Audi/CustomS6AvantAntenna/CustomS6AvantAntenna05.jpg">
<img src="http://www.j2c3.com/misc/Audi/CustomS6AvantAntenna/CustomS6AvantAntenna06.jpg">

I can't say the final job <i>works</i> much better than the proof-of-concept prototype seen below - aka "6mm screw cut down and drilled with a welding rod soldered in" - but it looks great, and won't be easily bent by the ice storms (or drunken passers-by...)

<img src="http://www.j2c3.com/misc/Audi/CustomS6AvantAntenna/CustomS6AvantAntenna08.jpg">

gietl

Regardless, nice work.

quattro5.v.2

not bad - old one touched once or twice, but it's really not that big. a van or 4x4 is taller.

gietl

Good solution to an old annoying problem.

quattro5.v.2

estimated just short of 7', which is about the height of an F-250 roof &amp; most comm garages