Car radio in-glass antennas

[Radio-X]

I have a 1994 Volvo 850 wagon with an antenna mounted on the driver side cargo window. Results?

- Hooked up to the standard Volvo head unit, reception was moderate-poor on FM and horrible on AM
- Hooked up to a cheap Pioneer Supertuner IIID unit, reception was much better on FM but I had terrible engine noise on AM
- When the Pioneer bit the dust a few years ago, I hooked up a Sony head unit, FM performance dropped a little, but AM has no engine noise. I have a much easier time picking up clear channel stations like WSM or Radio Reloj in Cuba than I do the 500w nighttime signal of the sports station 6 miles away, though.

On the flipside, my Dad has a 1996 Volvo 850R 4-door with a retractable whip. Reception with the stock Volvo head unit is quite impressive!

Which leads me to my next question: How do you improve AM/FM reception with an in-window antenna? I can see the point where it attaches from the window to the cable...any use to splicing some wire and tucking it underneath the plastic trim all around the inside of the car (or in the cargo area)?

Functionality is key here...don't care how bad it looks (I'm a male in my 20's and drive a 15 yr. old Volvo wagon with no headliner...it can't get any worse)

Radio-X

 

[crainbebo]

In Glass antennas really suck bad! At night, you can just get the locals, and maybe 2 or 3 of the clearest far stations (CFFR Calgary, KFBK Sacramento) but that's it.

-crainbebo

 

[LibertyNT]

the WORST thing about Inglass antennas are...
THEY ARE DIRECTIONAL!
Which Results in Horrendous Reception of AM and Distant FM stations.

My Idea how to improve reception?

Tape a Whip To The Window With The Antenna.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

the WORST thing about Inglass antennas are...
THEY ARE DIRECTIONAL!
Which Results in Horrendous Reception of AM and Distant FM stations.

My Idea how to improve reception?

Tape a Whip To The Window With The Antenna.

My solution? Drill a hole in the fender for a whip antenna, available at most auto parts stores. Bypass the cr@ppy antenna the car maker provides, IF the front end of the radio isn't up there with the antenna - then you are screwed unless you go after market radio. If you even can. Oh - BTW - IBOC fans: have fun putting an after market HD radio in anything manufactured after 2005 or so - the radio is so integrated with the vehicle you just about disable the vehicle doing it ---- I've seen some really bizarre things lately - distributed front end I mentioned above, distributed amps that won't support anything but the original radio, distributed controls in steering wheels and back seats, theft guard systems that call OnStar if you take the radio out - the list goes on and on. IBOC folks better hope for major auto makers to pick it up, because after market installation is no longer taking out the stock radio and putting in an aftermarket with a wiring kit and mounting kit.