deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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...story is, I've been trying to find a shorter but genuine Vauxhall aerial as I know they are out there. Normal aerial is about 42cm, shorter aerial is 27cm.
Found guy on eBay, said the aerial was off a Vectra but was 18.5cm, twice, in 2 emails. Thought that a bit small but bid, won, £6.10 including delivery, bargain.
It arrived yesterday, and, ermmm, was more like 18.5inches  so normal 42cm. Contact him through eBay, threatened negative feedback - he refunded me £6.10 AND let me keep the aerial.
Was bored, went out into the garage and did this  quite proud of it really.
Made a hole in the cap at the top, chopped and stripped the main aerial. Bit of liquid glue, shoved it in, then bit of sealant (left over from Depos) to seal it.
Saved me buying another one anyway. And I won't be bothered if it gets nicked.
[Edited on 28-02-2007 by deano87]
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Robin
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Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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does it work? 
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Jules
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Registered: 26th Nov 04
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Status: Happy
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Will it still pick up the signals just aswell being as it's shorter now?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Can't see why not. The metal that twirls round it doesn't go straight to the top anyway.
Jules - will probably be just like a bee sting. But being so cheap etc, I'm not hugely bothered if it doesn't work.
[Edited on 28-02-2007 by deano87]
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k e l
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Registered: 10th Dec 06
Location: Sheffield
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looks erm normal good work though. should have asked got two of the tiddlers in the garage sumwhere
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Robin
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Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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There's a metal bit in the centre too.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote:
Originally posted by k e l
looks erm normal good work though. should have asked got two of the tiddlers in the garage sumwhere
lol that's the idea, but shorter, which it is.
So you have 2, 27cm Vauxhall aerials in the garage? doh :
Robin - there isn't. It's like a white, fibre glass thing. Similar to the fibreglass bit you get in the Halfords paint touch up pen kit things.
[Edited on 28-02-2007 by deano87]
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Jules
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Registered: 26th Nov 04
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Status: Happy
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quote:
Originally posted by deano87
Can't see why not. The metal that twirls round it doesn't go straight to the top anyway.
Jules - will probably be just like a bee sting. But being so cheap etc, I'm not hugely bothered if it doesn't work.
[Edited on 28-02-2007 by deano87]
The lengths of the aerial are a certain length to get the correct sware (swr) to get a good reception, increasing or decreasing this will have an effect.
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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Just measured mine and its 28cm.
Swapped it off my mates works Combo. It was a new one.
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k e l
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Registered: 10th Dec 06
Location: Sheffield
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ye think so it a pain when you want somthing, you cant find them. but when you have it you find loads of em hahah
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Whittie
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Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
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Mine was off a golf, nice and short though
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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You should make it either half or a quarter of the current length for it to work best.
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flybikeslee
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Registered: 2nd Jan 07
Location: Liverpool
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i got one off a combo van, a lot shorter and still works mint!
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JayC
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Registered: 17th Jan 03
Location: Whitefield, Greater Manchester
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I've seen a short standard one on a Frontera sport. Have to you actually spoke to vaux parts dept?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote:
Originally posted by JayC
I've seen a short standard one on a Frontera sport. Have to you actually spoke to vaux parts dept?
Yes - I read on here a Frontera A aerial would fit. Phoned my local Vaux, they said yes, the Frontera A is shorter and would fit - this was a special order though.
I get the aerial, which cost a fair bit. It was the same length and you can't return special orders. With the Frontera A aerial, the cap is easily removed so the guy said cut it down and re cap. That was fine by me, went home, before chopping it down, checked to see if the thread fit and what do you know, it was bigger than the Corsa one  and because I didn't get the name of who I spoke to AND the invoice said "Frontera A aerial" I couldn't return it. Ended up flogging on eBay at a loss.
meh, we'll see how the one I made goes.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote:
Originally posted by Ian
You should make it either half or a quarter of the current length for it to work best.
Do you mean half of the 42cm or the one I've made? Why would it being that short make it work best?
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M2RTY
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Registered: 25th May 01
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i did that years ago, worked fine
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andy1868
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Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
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mines shorter than usual but i haven't touched it
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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shouldv'e just bought a small black aerial. mine was a chrome 10cm one and its now black, easy spray job. only bad thing is radio signal is pants but since i'v eowned the car i only listened to the radio once lol so not worth it.
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sam-smith
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Registered: 8th Jan 07
Location: plymouth, UK
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cant you just get a bee sting?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote:
Originally posted by KROOZUK-BEN
shouldv'e just bought a small black aerial. mine was a chrome 10cm one and its now black, easy spray job. only bad thing is radio signal is pants but since i'v eowned the car i only listened to the radio once lol so not worth it.
I wanted to steer away from those (I've seen loads on eBay, LMF etc) because they nearly always get stolen.
sam-smith - same reason as what I just posted.
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sam-smith
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Registered: 8th Jan 07
Location: plymouth, UK
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glue it in
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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I have thought of that, but where I live, if they can't get something, they'd kick the car in because they didn't get their own way.
I'd rather they nicked my aerial than damaged my car.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Length of aeriel is related to wavelength of the radio signals.
If you just randomly cut it it won't be as efficient as one thats been cut to a proper length.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Ok - it's worth a try anyway. If not I'll be getting a shorter one from Vaux.
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