FRporscheman

Sunset wants about $116 for a new one. I noticed my brother's VW Corrado has the same roof antenna, so I called the local VW dealer and they want $130.

I usually don't mind paying up for new parts, but that's a lot of money for an antenna. I couldn't help but notice very similar antennas on ebay in the range of $20, except they have the wrong angle (too vertical). I have a used one, but I don't want to do this job again later.

I remember reading somewhere that there is a cheap version of the properly shaped antenna out there. I forgot where I read that and whether it said where to find one. Does anyone know?

FRporscheman

After hours of scouring the web, trying different makes/models, and sifting through different brands and part numbers, I think I found one worth trying. I found the brand Metra on Crutchfield, then eventually found a Metra antenna on Amazon which is the right angle (only a rough visual comparison) and has the right connectors. I think I'm going to give it a shot.

http://www.amazon.com/Metra-44UA30-C.../dp/B0007WRQ8U

I couldn't seem to find the Fuba Betaflex-D (or Beta-flex D) for sale anywhere, which I believe is the OE. Maybe it's NLA.

Darryl92Cab

Try this:

http://www.antennax.com/p-1168-fuba-...tenna-kit.aspx

I don't know if they sell just the mount. I actually may have a spare mount, brand new, left over from a kit that I bought for a customer. He only needed/wanted the antennae. I've used this place for replacement antennas as they sell the Fuba mast separately from the kit.

- Darryl

FRporscheman

Thanks Darryl, that looks even better than what I found. But is it amplified?

Darryl92Cab

No, I don't believe it is amplified. There are no specs listed as to signal gain or any technical characteristics, just that it's a direct replacement. My assumption is that the factory booster will work fine with this version. Are you having reception problems too?

- Darryl

FRporscheman

Well I assume you're referring to the factory booster used in the cab. The coupe does not have that same separate booster - the booster was inside the antenna. I guess it would be possible to get a booster from a 944 (since they use a similar windshield antenna and thus a similar booster unit) but I don't want to do that.

Yes, reception problems, I tried temporarily connecting a spare antenna and it improved the reception greatly. So I wanted to just replace it with a new one because I don't think a used one will last very long.

Darryl92Cab

There is a booster for the coupe. It is a small black box located behind the trim panel that covers the sunroof lifting arms. It is directly under the antennae mounting location.

I've got crappy reception too but I suspect that the previous owner didn't connect the power to the booster and replacing my antennae didn't improve the reception all that well. That's when I found the booster location as I had thought about running a new cable all the way to the head unit.

I'll sort things out when I swap in a new head unit in the near future.

FRporscheman

Hmm. Are you sure? I don't have any kind of black box under my antenna. I've seen pics of a fuba antenna cut open and it has a circuit board inside - I can't think of why else an antenna would need a circuit board.

I confirmed that my head unit's power antenna wire is indeed connected to the antenna booster wire.

Thanks for all your help.

EEZATOY

Arash

I replaced my antenna with one from a accura MDX - I don't have a good pix of it on the car here at work but below is the antenna - its FUBA, I neeeded an adapter that I got from crutchfield's and had to splice the power connections...

I still have my old bee sting somewhere (less the power contacts) it was working fine when I changed it out - just like the look better....

Sam

FRporscheman

Sam, that antenna look pretty cool. Do you remember where you bought it and how much it cost? Thanks.

Darryl92Cab

I'll snap a pic of what's under my rear trim cover next time I have it apart, which may be soon as I need to adjust my sunroof arms yet again.

I like that MDX antennae as well...nice to have an option or two.

- Darryl

EEZATOY

I got it off ebay probably fours years ago now. At the time it cost about $30 and the adapter(I believe it was a VW adapter) from crutchfield was another $10 or so...here's a couple of actual pix

ErichCS

Does the MDX antenna work similarly to the amplified oem? thanks

EEZATOY

Yes the MDX antenna is powered (fuba) so plug and play with the for mentioned adapter...reception is same as with powered bee sting...

Sam

jblaw

Not to thread jack, but does anyone know how to remove and reinstall the base? A windstorm caused my car cover to separate the base and I'm not sure how to reinstall. Do I need to remove the headliner?

Thanks,

Jeff