New GM car antennas

gmiller220 · 09-12-2002

I just got a quick question. Would one of those antennas, that come pretty much standard on any GM based car, work with my Orinoco Gold card? Just wondering cause I was looking at my brother in laws 2002 impala and noticed the connector was detachable (you could replace the antenna without having to run new cable). Just wondering.

Ai42 · 09-12-2002

Short answer:
No

Long answer:
The antenna is most likely detachable however they are designed for much lower radio bandwidths. AM/FM radio is all under 1Ghz range and 802.11b runs on 2.4ghz - 2.45 ghz. It my be possible that the lengths corrospond (highly unlikely) to make it a decent antenna but don't expect more than 2dba using a way off antenna.

As far as replacing the antenna it is possible, but I am uncertain if radio uses reverse polarity coax or what not. It is theoretically possible. That would of course require a fair amount of rewiring of course.

gmiller220 · 09-12-2002

Well it's not a radio antenna (that's built into the rear window!). This antenna is made for the OnStar service\Cellular Service that you can get with the car. Does that make a differance?

Ai42 · 09-12-2002

Radio range is still way off. Most cell phones ues 819mhz band. And the antennas are designed as such.

Also if is on the back window it could be a passive repater and you would lose signifgant signal strength there.

Something I would love to see is that some satalite phones do use ISM 2.4ghz band and theoretically you could use a passive repeater in 2.4ghz band and repeat the signal across the entire inside cab. But you will never see it as to boost a signal of a satalite phone is pointless as the gain is so insignifagant that it wouldn't matter.

gmiller220 · 09-12-2002

Ok. Good deal. I was just wondering cause it looks sharp and doesn't stand out. Thanks.

Daveoh · 09-13-2002

I believe the onstar units use the EXternal antenna for sat reception for GPS.. ya can read the book to figure it out..

09-12-2002	#1 (permalink)
gmiller220 People are dumb Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 466	New GM car antennas I just got a quick question. Would one of those antennas, that come pretty much standard on any GM based car, work with my Orinoco Gold card? Just wondering cause I was looking at my brother in laws 2002 impala and noticed the connector was detachable (you could replace the antenna without having to run new cable). Just wondering.

09-12-2002	#2 (permalink)
Ai42 SSID=Wardriver Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dallas Posts: 79	Short answer: No Long answer: The antenna is most likely detachable however they are designed for much lower radio bandwidths. AM/FM radio is all under 1Ghz range and 802.11b runs on 2.4ghz - 2.45 ghz. It my be possible that the lengths corrospond (highly unlikely) to make it a decent antenna but don't expect more than 2dba using a way off antenna. As far as replacing the antenna it is possible, but I am uncertain if radio uses reverse polarity coax or what not. It is theoretically possible. That would of course require a fair amount of rewiring of course. Last edited by Ai42 : 09-12-2002 at 10:14 PM.

09-13-2002	#6 (permalink)
Daveoh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: IN. Posts: 11	onstar I believe the onstar units use the EXternal antenna for sat reception for GPS.. ya can read the book to figure it out..

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09-12-2002	#3 (permalink)
gmiller220 People are dumb Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 466	Well it's not a radio antenna (that's built into the rear window!). This antenna is made for the OnStar service\Cellular Service that you can get with the car. Does that make a differance?

09-12-2002	#4 (permalink)
Ai42 SSID=Wardriver Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dallas Posts: 79	Radio range is still way off. Most cell phones ues 819mhz band. And the antennas are designed as such. Also if is on the back window it could be a passive repater and you would lose signifgant signal strength there. Something I would love to see is that some satalite phones do use ISM 2.4ghz band and theoretically you could use a passive repeater in 2.4ghz band and repeat the signal across the entire inside cab. But you will never see it as to boost a signal of a satalite phone is pointless as the gain is so insignifagant that it wouldn't matter.

09-12-2002	#5 (permalink)
gmiller220 People are dumb Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 466	Ok. Good deal. I was just wondering cause it looks sharp and doesn't stand out. Thanks.