While I do like listening to MP3s on my Base Fit's music player, I also like to use the radio a lot... Because I can't own everything new in music (or old either) that I like and there's several college stations in my area that play great stuff sometimes... Also there's Newark's WBGO for jazz and rhythm and blues, and also I'm not that far from Philly, which IMO is prolly the best city in the USA for broadcasting good music!

So my stock radio gets used... But up to now I wasn't overly impressed with either it's reception or its sound quality; -sheeesh, even the radio in my cheaper Toyota Echo was far superior!

So I tried experimenting with different antennas to see if I could improve things... I changed over to a Matrix 17" screw-in rear mast replacement but that was only marginally better...
And then I saw this beauty in Pep Boys and installed it. For only $10 it stands a full 30"+ above the rear of my Fit, and the improvement is simply stunning! Not only does it pull in some of the fringe stations better, but now the local stations that I got maybe fairly well before have suddenly come ALIVE! The FM now sounds crisp and clear, and broadcast HD stereo fills the car with music as well as any MP3 or CD can, -and I'm not kidding here either!

Only problem was that the adapter screw that adjusts the base of the antenna to fit into the Fit's roof mount socket was a bit too long, but I cut it down with a hacksaw, and now the base of the antenna screws in smartly flush to the roof mount.

What a difference! -Prolly the best $10 I could ever spend on this car!!! And I enjoy it's looks too; it looks to me like a model slot car racer now!

 

does your car come with a remote control?

 

Stay below 88mph and away from clock towers.

Good that you found something finally to your satisfaction.

 

yes it's the radio station

 

i'd do the same thing if the spoiler wasn't in the way. i like the way it looks.

 

it makes THAT big of a difference? i might try that..

 

You (jealous?) dudes can laugh all ya want, but after I got home last night I spent 20 minutes just sitting in my car in the driveway in total ecstasy! The ^%#$* radio's sound is so great now I can't hardly bring myself to turn it off!!

-I think I'm gonna have to give my 'ol lady a remote that turns off the radio, -just so's I can get out of the friggin' car!!!

 

Nice but I must correct you. Slot cars do not have antennas except imitation ones to look like the original 1:1 car. Remote control cars do sport one though.

Here are some of my slot cars.

There is some video and mo e pics of my track on my site

 

The sound may be better now in comparison, but it no way will OTA radio sound better than your MP3's unless you ripped them low quality. The FM band is limited to top end of 16,000khtz in frequency response at the absolute highest, and most times it won't even get that high. HD radio, doesn't improve on that either. While as your direct music source (MP3, CD's) will play the full human "hearable" audio spectrum up to 20,000khtz. This is why if you listen to song on a radio that you know really well, you'll notice stuff like the cymbals in a song aren't as crisp as your CD version.

 

Hey, great slots. The only problem I can see, and it is a problem, those are of the GD variety, instead of the superior GE8 variety! (I can hear the comments and attitudes now!) Just kidding lil' GD dudes!


Hey, B3sr... ironic you display the models and slots. I've been wanting to get back into both lately. Weird!

I don't know of any slot car tracks in my area any more. When I was a kid, I used to go to this HUGE slot car facility. It had 5 HUGE tracks. One track was HO scale... the rest were mid-sized scale. Sorry, I don't remember the exact scale. But man, that was always a blast... and I've strangely been thinking about getting a track again... preferably HO scale.

I used to have a massive HO scale track/cars. I could change wheels/tires... customize just about everything on my cars. The same with that race track I used to visit. They even sold parts and cars. My track and cars were the old school Lionel stuff (I had trains too). I wish I would have kept all of that... probably worth a fortune now. I must have had about 30-40 customized HO cars.

Anyway, what are the best slot brands now? I'd like to get another track. I want good quality stuff though... I'm sure you know what I mean.

Also, where can I find the best models? I won awards twice when I was a kid for building model cars, planes, ships, etc. It was a blast... I'd kinda' like to get back into building one every now and then.

Do you know where to pick up a GE8 "build-it-yourself"yet? I looked for one and couldn't find one. Maybe you can direct me to good online places for slots and models?

Thanks, B3sr... I appreciate any advice. BTW, nice stuff on your site. You're giving me that bug again. Oh man, am I reverting back to my childhood?

 

What was the exact name of the antenna at Peps Boys? (What are they calling it? Sorry, I can't seem to find it online) Do you have an online link? We don't have a Pep Boys in my area... at least not one I'm aware of.

Thanks, Chazz

 

I am in the same situation and wondering the same thing.

I wasn't overly impressed with the reception my radio gets (living in the mountains of SW Virginia doesn't help) and would really like to try that antennae.

 

Dude you're sucha buzz kill.

 

Curious! I got the Metra/Roadworks 31" , including threads, universal replacement mast and only got a minuscule improvement. I even had to tie nylon cords to the tip and bend it, securing the other end of the cord underneath the spoiler, to keep the antenna from hitting my carport and the concrete beams of the parking garage at work. I got that Matrix antenna and there was only a minuscule improvement over the Metra. The Metra was only $8 and change at NAPA.

 

Sounds to me like you bent it lower so it was maybe then only about as high as that marginal Matrix one? (I didn't hear much improvement with the Matrix antenna either!) Iffen it ain't sticking way up in the air then how's it gonna improve reception, is my thought?
And here's another thought: If the Sport's fugly rear spoiler gets in the way, then maybe this antenna is an improvement only good for us Base Fit guys?
-Hey, cool! For once, BASE models RULE!

('Course with modded keyless entry and stick-up map lights installed, AFAIC my Base is better now than a Sport anyway!)

 

You may be technically correct about this bro... But I'm not a sound engineer, nor a high level audiophile either. All I know is what me ears tell me, and when I turn on my radio now it sounds to me about as good as a CD or MP3! -Which IMO is one hell of a massive improvement over the feeble way the thing played with that doofus stock antenna!

 

Sorry for providing factual info.

Whatever you sounds good to you, that's great, just provided a little context, based on what Ive learned from my car audio days. If it goes unappreciated, oh well.

I thought the purpose of forums like this was sharing the collective expertise/experience of everyone? That's all I've done.

 

I tried the antenna without tying it down. Tied or untied had no effect on reception. What brand did you get? As far as the frequency response of mp3s/radio/cd quality is concerned, the ambient noise of a moving vehicle is no place to expect or appreciate an audiophile experience, especially in a Fit which is not known for a quiet interior. While technically moniz is correct, the thrust of this discussion centers on reception which is really a separate issue. I happen to be an audiophile. I know that is a pejorative term these days, but the strict definition applies to someone who enjoys music, no matter what the fidelity. While not outstanding, the stock stereo of the Sport is of high enough quality for me to enjoy the music. Just trying to pick up the fringe jazz station a little better.

 

Okay, I went and got the wrapper outa the garbage for you guys...
The antenna's made by a company called Meta AutoWorks. The wrapper says "Replacement Antenna Mast -GM/Ford/Chrysler/Japanese Cars".
The code at the top of the wrapper says "Universal----CK-RM22B"
On the back of the wrapper is also a number, "81073", whatever that means tho, I dunno?

The antenna I got is black and 30" tall. It's a plain mast, because I thought the other thicker spiral wire-wrapped one they had would be too heavy for that length added to the Fit's roof mount?

It comes with 4 adapter screws, and it doesn't take long to figure which one screws into the antenna at one end and into the Fit's roof mount at the other. However this adapter screw is a bit long, and so prevents the antenna's base from screwing down flush to the mount. So I hack-sawed the roof mount part of this screw (about in half), and then everything screwed down snugly and firmly.

I just went out and tried the Fit's radio again, just to make sure it wasn't some reception fluke I was hearing last night? And no, it definitely ain't no fluke, no exception... The fantastic improvement of the reception and sound quality over the feeble stock antenna is definitely still there!

-I gotta say tho I don't know if this will be the case in everyone's home ground, as reception certainly differs in areas around the country? I certainly hope what it did for me it will also do for you too tho, and at only $10 and being an easy DIY mod, I would suggest it certainly is worth the try, no?

(And a disclaimer here: I have absolutely NO connection with either the antenna company, nor any of the stores that sell it!)

 

Mine is AW-RM22. The other # on the back is 730-7011. It is chrome, not black. Maybe the key is to cut off the excess threading. I didn't do that.