b2884987

I have a 2001 Lexus RX with a stock OEM antenna mast. The thing is, I got tired of replacing the antenna mast every time I accidentally break it from backing into a tree branch (I forget to turn off radio before backing up, and the antenna mast is at a blind spot), so I bought a new antenna mast, left it unretracted, and removed the power to the motor. So now my radio antenna signal is weak. I can only hear some radio local stations, but some gets static-ee when I drive under the bridge/overpass.

Does antenna signal booster help me get better reception? I'm looking to buy this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-RX8-RADIO...QAAOSwEetV-nNC

maxSteel

I'm kind of confused by the fix. You were tired of breaking masts, so you put in a new mast and made it non-retractable?

b2884987

My car has an OEM antenna mast. I left it unretracted by removing the wire that powers the motor. So the antenna sits inside the car, and none of it is exposed (just the tip of it of course).

maxSteel

OK, so your car has the powered OEM mast, you replaced the broken one, it is fully retracted into the housing, and you have pulled the power plug so the antenna can not extend?

Extended the antenna is almost 3' long. Retracted it is about 7" and encased in the metal car body. It might be a bit better than not having an antenna.
A window antenna might be an alternative if you don't want a mast. The car already has one of those, in the left rear window.

aznlapin

My nylon cable snapped, so I unplugged the motor. Half up, I get decent signal on most stations, just a bit quiet. Anything less than half, lots of static and some stations don't even come in. You can't boost what you don't have. The mast is hollow, so it's pretty weak getting signal as is.

Someone here swapped theirs for a stubby antenna had a decent luck. There's a DIY in the sticky, take a look there.