Re: [VAL] fm whip antenna

["Fred Coldwell" <agrijeep@xxxxxxxxx>]

Stan:
 
  I am NO electronics wizard, but I recall knowledgeable
people saying the long ball mounted whip antennas seen on
Airstreams in the 1950s and 1960's require the attaching
radio have something special about it that affects its
ability to interact correctly with a long fix - as opposed
to a short or adjustable - antenna.  An acquaintance in
Aurora had the original AM only radio in his 1959 Overlander
repaired, and the old repair guy commented that the radio
obviously had a very long whip antenna based on something he
quickly saw inside the radio.  Long story short:  I don't
know where a new 2004 AM/FM radio with CD player would work
well with a very long whip antenna.  You have to be sure the
antenna is tuned for the particular radio.  Of course, you
could always mount an old Dan Matthew's Highway Patrol
"10-4" whip antenna for show only and tuck a modern short
rubber antenna nearby.  Perhaps like you, as a child in the
1950's I had a very bad case of antenna envy.  My neighbor
was a Forest Ranger who had the coooolest whip antenna on
the left side of his U.S.F.S. car between the rear window a
trunk.  Absolutely Nothing was cooler than that.  

Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO.