Hard to find antenna booster

[Jeffrey Travis]

8 years ago I test drive a Jeep Wrangler and it has this inverted tear drop shaped booster sitting on top of the antenna. I think nothing of it at the time.



Time passes and I start listening to more AM radio and Atlanta is famous for weak signal outside the Perimeter (OTP), especially after the time change in the Fall.



Over the years I have looked off and on, put word to a friend who worked at Radio Shack but to no avail.



So this morning I am driving to work and lo and behold don't I see one of those on the truck in front of me. We both take a right onto a 4 lane divided, I am going to pull up next to him and find out where he bought his. Well the traffic lanes did not pan out right for me so I have to get back behind him, figure I have a few lights to get positioning. Damned if he doesn't run a stale yellow at the first light and I lose him.



So I spend a little time online searching again but to no avail. Sleepless nights await.



I ask at this point, if anyone has any idea of the product I am babbling about please send me a name, a link, a price, anything.



Thanks,



JT#14

 

[Dallas Starr]

have you tried ebay?

 

[Brandon Hovater]

the military uses something like what you are talking about. When I was in signal, I got one and used it on my truck and it did make a big difference.

 

[Jeffrey Travis]

eBay would have come up in my search if there was anything similar.



Now I will focus on Army surplus stores.............or maybe I will just enroll ala Bill Murray in Stripes.



JT#14

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Travis, here is what you are looking for. It's on a site called www.sportsmansguide.com. I typed that in just in case the link doesn't work. They have them for sale for $4.97 each. A guy from work gets thier magazine and I've seen them in here quite a few times. Just took me awhile to find the magazine to help me remember what the stores name was. Sorry for taking so long to post.

 

[Jeffrey Travis]

Stonemiser - Thank you many times. No real delay and it was before I missed another night of sleep!



I know why I never found it via search - they do not have very much in the description about what it is and what it does.



None the less, there are two on the way. Will report back if they actually work or are BS.



I just have to figure out if my baseball antenna topper can be cut to fit on top of this thing.



Did find some other info about it where it stated - " Previously only available to the military," so HO you were putting me down the right path.



The site Stonemiser listed has it for $4.97 and I see other sites looking for $9.95



I am pumped....8 long years - I just have a stupid smile on my face like I won something.



Thanks again Stonemiser for bringing the quest to a close.



JT#14

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

No problem. Like I said, I knew I'd seen them somewhere. Now the guy that has the magazine I saw them in has one on his radio at work and it's the ONLY radio that can pick up more than one station in our darkroom area. The darkroom area is surrounded by LEAD. (I work in an x-ray dept. in a hospital)

 

[Rick Kent]

Has anyone else noticed how the ST antenna oscillates when at cruising speed? If I add extra weight to the tip how much worse will it get?

 

[Jeffrey Travis]

Whoa, too big of a word for me............



Actually yes, I have noticed that it does have 'a little play in it"



Suggestion would be to get a stiffer one.



Still riding high...but not yet hanging out at the mailbox waiting for USPS.



JT#14

 

[Jeffrey Travis]

HO - my antennas have arrived.



When you put it on the antenna are you suppsed to actually jam it on so it actually puts the tip of the antenna up past the copper pieces (the ones that look like pie pieces that have but cut off to leave a whole in the middle) that are inside the plastic.



Any hints would help - before I go and really force it on and possible break something it would be nice to know if that is what I am suppsed to do.



They came with very limited directions.



Damn project may take some tools, or at least a vice grip.



Thanks,



JT#14

 

[Jeffrey Travis]

Finally was able to have the antenna stay straight and not bow and I have the antenna snapped on.



Will have to go out at dusk tonite and see if I get better reception. Was not sure if it was even going to help the AM side of the dial, I have been reading it is a different kind of antenna (something about loops).



JT#14

 

[Jeffrey Travis]

Ok, it's been a few weeks. I cannot definitively say this antenna booster is doing a whole lot to improve reception but then again that could be because the sun is up longer, I am not driving at dusk, etc. so I do not have proper testing conditions.



Will have to run some controlled tests once the clocks are turned back in the fall.



JT#14



p.s. Had to change my alias to remove confusion with the other two Travis'