Short car antenna: How is the reception?

I noticed more and more new cars with small antennas mounted on
the roof (BMW, Civics, Toyota Matrix, PontiacVibes, etc..). They
are perhaps like 20 inches long or even smaller (some seem as
little as perhaps 7 or 10 inches long). I was under the
impression that car antennas needed to be like 30 inches or more.
Do short antennas work well? Are these for show only? Is there
another antenna hidden somewhere else?

I am thinking replacing my current (in-glass) antenna with one of
these (the Civic SI ones are really nice and are perhaps 7 inches
long). Do you think it is a simple as installing any other
aftermarket antennas (drill hole, install antenna and connect
lead)?

TIA

 

Most of those short antennas are amplified.
Just about any external antenna is better than in in glass antenna

 

Most of those short antennas are amplified.
Just about any external antenna is better than in in glass antenna

 

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Frank,

Without knowing what car, or the year, it's hard to guess whether yours
(is it even a Honda?) has the output for the powered antenna amplifier
on the stereo. You'd also have to get the (+power) wire to wherever you
decide to install the antenna.
My (unamplified) CR-v antenna extends to about 2.5 feet, but under 10"
is sufficient unless I'm trying to pull in something on another
continent

'Curly'

 

----------------------------

Frank,

Without knowing what car, or the year, it's hard to guess whether yours
(is it even a Honda?) has the output for the powered antenna amplifier
on the stereo. You'd also have to get the (+power) wire to wherever you
decide to install the antenna.
My (unamplified) CR-v antenna extends to about 2.5 feet, but under 10"
is sufficient unless I'm trying to pull in something on another
continent

'Curly'