Roof Aerial

[Astacus]

Here is a question for the electrically literate. I am toying with the idea of fitting a roof aerial on my vixen (when it eventually gets finished!) I think the car had one at some time as the hole was there when i got it and I think it would look neat. However, I understand the the aerial needs a ground plane, my understanding of this is minimal. Can anyone give any advice on this? cheers

[nwarner]

The roof aerial on my scimitar has a ground wire running to the chassis.

Nige

[Astacus]

nwarner said:

The roof aerial on my scimitar has a ground wire running to the chassis.

Nige

So the chassis acts as the ground plane?? Maybe I was just over thinking it them. Its just earthed?

[TwinKam]

I do believe that you need some sort of metal 'plate' in the roof to which the aerial lead's coaxial outer is electrically connected. Im no radio buff but I think it's to bounce (?) the radio waves back towards the aerial, or reception will be poor. I seem to remember it being done with mesh in fibreglass cars the past, but I guess that even a very thin metal e.g. aluminium foil would do the job.
Someone who knows what they're talking about may be along shortly...

[Astacus]

Thanks that's in line with what I had been told