3rd Gen Navi Prius Trailing Wire Antenna Mod...

[donee]

Hi All,

I got the salt off my car last weekend, but forgot to reattach the rubber ducky antenna. To my supprise the AM and SAT reception appeared to be uneffected (loopstick antenna for AM, and patch antenna for SAT in molding?) , and only the FM was noisey. Although most of the stations were listenable to on FM.

The big rubber duck thing they supply with the Prius always annoyed me aerodymically, anyways.

So, I attached a length of 14 gauge bare copper wire with black insulation to the screw hole there the rubber duck attaches using a spade lug. bent the wire around the spade lug and soldered it to the lug. I also bent the other end back on itself for about 1/2 inch. The thread is M5, and I found a SS M5 screws at a local Ace, and internal (towards mount) and external (between spade lug and screw) tooth lockwasers. A little heat shrink tubing, and a vinyl cap on the end. I used #10 lockwashers, as the M5 lockwashers were too loose on the screw. They had these in SS as well.

Now the reception is as it was before, at least in the parking lot. I will see how it goes this week before sealing it up with black polyurethane caulk.

Here is a picture:

[donee]

Hi All (?),

So far so good, receiving all stations I listen too, throughout my commute. So, its a keeper...