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New GM car antennas

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2002 7:58 pm
by gmiller220
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.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2002 8:12 pm
by Ai42
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.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2002 8:14 pm
by gmiller220
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?

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2002 8:17 pm
by Ai42
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.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2002 8:22 pm
by gmiller220
Ok. Good deal. I was just wondering cause it looks sharp and doesn't stand out. Thanks.

onstar

PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2002 10:09 am
by Daveoh
I believe the onstar units use the EXternal antenna for sat reception for GPS.. ya can read the book to figure it out..