To add my 2 cents
I bought the R170 antenna as in post #1. It didn't come with an antenna key, but whatever. I followed one of the posters advice on 37cm length. I didn't have a ruler so I approximated about 14.5" using 3x5 note cards haha. I used the 22 gauge Radio Shack cable, same part number as in post #1. I spiraled it really tight and fit it in one of those heat shrink tubes, but didn't apply heat to shrink it. I had stripped part of the end and just wrapped that around the bottom metal piece of the antenna. No soldering.
Put it back together and I got maybe 180 feet of antenna range. I was standing at maybe a 200 degree angle to where the front of the car was pointing. Radio reception is a LOT better now as well!
I usually point the key up towards the sky when pressing the buttons, but I realized that it works better if you point it in the plane of the ground...or just point it towards the car. Using the chin technique I got maybe an extra 35 feet of range.
Oh and the best part was when the bracket inside the body of the car came loose and fell down the cable. The antenna was just flopping to the side and couldn't attach to the car after that. I spent a good hour wiggling my hand inside trying to lift up that bracket and attach it back to the antenna. Fun. I'm too scared to unscrew the antenna now. |