Best car antennas

Car owners often spend most of the day behind the wheel. Car radio antennas, which provide musical accompaniment in the passenger compartment, allow you to listen to news, weather forecasts, information about traffic jams in the city, help to increase the comfort of the trip. The devices are installed by taxi drivers and minibus drivers for dispatchers to correct their work. Some models are capable of receiving analogue or digital TV signals. What functions and characteristics to buy a device with will help you understand the rating, which, taking into account user reviews, contains the best car antennas.

Which car antenna is better to choose

The Russian market is filled with devices from domestic and foreign manufacturers. Each has its own pros and cons. To understand which model is better, experts recommend taking into account the manufacturer's reputation. The review presents the companies that produce the best car antennas:

• Supra - a Japanese company that manufactures inexpensive electronics and electrical equipment. Supra products can be used throughout the home. The company works under the motto: "Make quality things affordable." The products meet modern standards, which is confirmed by numerous awards.
• Blaupunkt Is a German company that produces audio and video equipment. The quality of the products was appreciated by the owners of Mercedes and other well-known car brands. The range of brand products varies by country. Antennas are assembled in Italy.
• Saratov Electromechanical Plant Is a diversified holding that manufactures equipment for communication, reception, transmission of television and radio signals under the REMO brand. The models were repeatedly awarded with diplomas of the program "100 best goods of Russia".
• Bosch Is a German company with production facilities in different countries. The popularity of the brand's products is due to high-quality assembly, interesting design, good functionality, and a full set of components.
• Triad - a company from St. Petersburg produces car antennas of all ranges and shapes. They are designed for use in Russia and the CIS countries. Due to the production of a new type of product, the company changed its name to Antenna.ru, so the goods will go on sale under a new or combined brand.
• Elko - Czech manufacturer of modular electronic devices, accessories for the RF Control system. All products and their components are manufactured in accordance with ISO standards. Products are valued for the quality of materials and workmanship. When developing models, engineers take into account the wishes of customers.
• Sirio Is an Italian company that designs and manufactures antennas of its own design. The company's products are valued for their reliability, quality of materials and workmanship. They comply with EU directives on the limitation of harmful substances in products.
• Antenna Network Laboratory Inc. Is an American company that produces high quality components for radio communications under the Anli brand. Assemble goods in Taiwan. The supplies of materials and components are carried out by a subsidiary from Japan. The assortment is represented by models of various types and ranges.
• Optim Is a Russian company that designs and manufactures various radio antennas with a good price-quality ratio. They have good characteristics, high mechanical strength, and withstand strong wind loads.

Automotive antenna rating

Devices are classified into passive and active. The former are not equipped with their own power source, therefore they are advised to be chosen for use in urban environments. Their price is lower, but the signal quality depends on the location of the radio station, the number of objects on the way of transport. Problems arise during installation due to the large size. The advantage of choosing is good resistance to third-party signals. Active devices have their own power supply, signal converter, so the sound will be clearer. The presence of an amplifier allows you to receive radio waves on intercity trips. It is easier to install, but a more complex device increases the price and reduces the reliability of the model. Which car radio antenna is better helped determine the results of comparative tests of the following characteristics:

• A type;
• Design;
• Material;
• Mounting method;
• Appointment;
• Radio frequency and standard;
• Gain;
• Length of cable;
• Dimensions;
• The weight;
• Price.

The selection took into account the complexity of the installation, the quality of signal reception. All nominees are divided into 2 categories according to the principle of the fixture location. Each section contains a description of the models, according to the analysis of user reviews, their pros and cons are highlighted.

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Best in-car antennas

Internal devices for receiving and transmitting radio signals are attached with a suction cup or tape on the windshield, rear window of the passenger compartment. They are often chosen by drivers who want to avoid drilling through the car body, the cost of buying car accessories after being stolen or damaged. In such models, amplifiers are usually built-in, which provide a longer signal reception range. The disadvantages include insufficient fastening reliability, interference from mobile phones, navigators, partial clutter of the view area. By comparing the main characteristics, the 5 best models were included in this review category out of 10 nominees.

Supra Saf 7

The body of the active car radio antenna is made of black plastic. Supplied with adhesive tape for attaching to the windshield. The ease of installation is due to the good cable length, which is 2.5 m. The model is designed to receive signals in the DV, VHF, SV, FM bands. This allows it to be used in conjunction with any type of car radio. During operation, it consumes less than 12 mA current. The possibility of multiple mounting is due to the absence of the need to install a mustache.

Advantages

• Oversensitive reception;
• Works well in urban interference, away from radio stations;
• Low price;
• Compact dimensions;
• Light weight.

disadvantages

• Car tinting affects radio waves.

Opinions about the quality of signal reception by the antenna differed among users. Some argue that there is constant interference on the air even within the city. Others point to the need for proper installation, following the rules that helped solve the problem.

Blaupunkt Autofun Pro

The round case of the model is made of durable plastic. Due to the compact size of the device, the driver does not experience any inconvenience when driving, only a small part of the field of view is covered. The cable length is 2.9 m, which makes it easy to mount the device in almost any car. The antenna receives a signal in the ranges of DV, SV, fm. A blue LED is installed in the center of the case.

Advantages

• High-quality signal reception;
• Bright backlight;
• The kit includes adhesive tape for fastening;
• Light weight.

disadvantages

• High price.

Most users note the high-quality assembly, better signal reception than the models from Bosch. I am glad that there is a backlight that can be turned off if desired. There were no negative reviews of the nominee.

REMO Track

The active antenna is made in a black plastic case, equipped with transparent flexible vibrators. You can mount it on the windshield or rear window inside the cabin. During operation, it consumes current up to 7 mA. Cable length - 3 m.The range of received radio frequencies - AM, FM, VHF, TV frequencies - UHF, VHF. The quality of television signal reception depends on the power of the television transmitter, the distance between it and the car, and the terrain. The influence of factors increases when the machine is moving.

Advantages

• Light weight;
• It picks up a signal well outside the city, in conditions of industrial interference;
• High gain;
• Compact dimensions;
• Accepts analog and digital signals.

disadvantages

• High price.

In the reviews, the owners of the top nominee note problems when watching TV channels. The signal often disappears, there is a lot of interference.

It is advised to choose such an antenna only to amplify radio frequencies, it copes with this function at 5. Noise disappears on the air, stations appear that were previously inaccessible.

Bosch Autofun Pro

The device's mounting design allows its shoulders to be positioned at an angle of 90 degrees, which ensures a secure fit on the windshield. The compact model does not obstruct the driver's view, he can control the movement of other vehicles well. The car antenna Bosch Autofun Pro has a plastic case, built-in amplifier. The latter provides high sensitivity, clarity of reception of signals from radio stations, which are located at a great distance from the car, in the AM, FM bands.

Advantages

• Lack of noise, interference on the air;
• High-quality processing of high-frequency signals;
• A voltage stabilizer protects the model from damage during overload;
• Durable body material;
• Work indicator;
• Good gain.

disadvantages

• Short cable;
• High price.

Experts point out that most of the reviews about poor signal reception are related to the purchase of fakes. If you follow the rules of the installation instructions, users do not have any problems. The kit includes all clamps, grounding gel.

Triad-619

Changes in the design of the model are related to its purpose, which is to receive digital or analog television signals. The range of its action is 80 km, it is capable of working near the TV tower. During installation, the antenna body is attached to the windshield with adhesive tape, and its fiberglass cloths are attached along the edge. The correct connection will be indicated by the LED. The kit includes adapters for connecting to a TV receiver or tuner.

Advantages

• Receives signals in all DVB-t bands;
• Shows 20 to 59 channels;
• Long cable;
• High gain;
• Low power consumption;
• Compact dimensions.

disadvantages

• Expensive.

In reviews of the Triad car antenna, users note its ease of installation, good design and reception at any speed. Cases of contacting service centers to replace the device were not recorded.

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Best outdoor antennas for cars

External devices are often included with a vehicle. Their appearance is combined with the design of the vehicle, and the technical characteristics have the best parameters. This allows you to receive high frequency radio signals from repeaters that are located at a long distance. At the same time, the installation is often associated with a number of difficulties. The owner needs to cut a hole in the machine body, constantly remove the retaining magnets. The data of comparative tests allowed us to select the 4 best outdoor car antennas from the 10 nominees.

Elko Ep AN-E

An external radio receiver from a Czech manufacturer is used to activate the switching performers RFGSM-220M, eLAN-RF-003, eLAN-RF-Wi-003, RFDA-73 / RGB, RFSA-61M, RFSA-66M, EMDC-64M, RFDEL-71M. They provide wireless control of electrical devices. Drivers use them to turn on garage or entrance gates, barriers. The antenna operating frequency is 868 MHz. You can fix it on the roof, car body.

Advantages

• Range of action - 100 m;
• Light weight;
• Metal rod;
• Long cable;
• Works at temperatures from -40 ⁰From to +50 ⁰FROM;
• Compact dimensions;
• Average price.

disadvantages

• Low resistance to weathering.

The model has good sensitivity, so users note good reception and signal transmission from the antenna. The advantages include the ability to use in harsh climatic conditions.

Sirio T3-27

The passive type device is made in the form of a pin. Receives CB radio signals at a frequency of 26.9-27.5 MHz. Mounted on the roof, car body using a bracket. In this case, in the second case, the setting gets a little lost. The length of the model is 62 cm, a rubber cap with the company logo is fixed on top. Under it is an adjusting screw with a lock nut, which is used to adjust the antenna. The set includes a foil for fixing the magnetic sole.

Advantages

• Quality materials and assembly;
• Omnidirectional;
• Good gain;
• Long cable.

disadvantages

• Heavy;
• Fakes are possible.

Most users are advised to buy an antenna for a car radio. It is easy to install and has good audibility in urban conditions.

The disadvantages include the rapid appearance of rust at the base, vibration of a thick pin at high speed.

Anli Aw-6 Vhf

The design and type of model are identical to the previous nominee. The length of the bar is increased to 133 cm, and the operating frequency range is from 136 to 172 MHz. The VHF radio signal standard has a longer communication range, so radios with such an antenna work well outside the city, in rough terrain. The device is mounted using a magnet that is included in the kit. The emitting pin is made of high alloy stainless steel.

Advantages

• Lightweight;
• Durable;
• High resistance to atmospheric agents, UV rays;
• Easy to set up;
• Suitable for most cars;
• Light weight.

disadvantages

• There is no vibration absorption spring;
• Build quality.

Users report good connection, but low resistance to mechanical stress. The coil is weak to shock, breaks quickly. It is also not possible to fold the antenna on the roof, you have to remove it.

Optim UNION CB RU

The model is not equipped with a magnet or a mortise base, therefore it is used only in Man, Scania, Volvo trucks. Installation is carried out in a standard factory base with an external thread. It works in the CBS frequency range. The height of the spiral pin is 62 cm, the diameter of the emitter is 0.1 cm. The standing wave ratio does not exceed 1.2, so the signal loss is about 1%.

Advantages

• Convenient setting of the minimum SWR value;
• A rubber cap at the top of the case protects it from water;
• Average price;
• Good gain.

disadvantages

• Small operating frequency range.

The experts found out that the nominee has high-quality signal reception. Power loss is almost invisible. The main disadvantage is the impossibility of using it in passenger cars.

Which car antenna is better to buy

The choice of the device is influenced by the purpose of the installation, because not every model is able to perceive television signals. Also consider the type of antenna, which determines the quality of work in multi-storey buildings, outside the city, in the countryside. When purchasing, inspect the main connector of the device, its quality affects the strength of the received waves. Having the necessary items in the kit will save you costs. The following tips will help make the choice easier:

• Car roof antenna - Sirio T3-27;
• Inexpensive in-salon model - Supra Saf 7;
• A device for receiving television signals - Triada-619.

When buying an antenna, check the integrity of the packaging, the absence of the box and protective packaging indicates a violation of the transportation rules, possible damage. It is also necessary to have instructions with connection diagrams, which will allow you to quickly and correctly fix the model.