Attention! The accuracy of the information and the results of the ranking is subjective and is not an advertisement.
7 best car antennas
In the reception area
Author: Stepan Kagner
The main task of a good car antenna is high-quality signal reception. But which model to choose depends on the needs of the motorist. One is enough listening to the radio, while others want to watch TV-programs and use the navigator on the way. For the third important quality work with the radio. Therefore, before buying it is important to determine the budget, technical features and place of installation of the device.
Not long ago, a 27 MHz antenna was a mandatory attribute of a taxi driver, on long journeys GSM-antenna can provide significant assistance, which allows to achieve confident telephone communication on “deaf” sections of the route (taxi drivers who have now switched to mobile applications should also take a closer look at this class). For multimedia complex You may need not only a radio antenna that improves the sound quality of the music, but also a television antenna.
We offer you a rating that includes the best car antennas in various categories. It is difficult to understand such a variety, therefore we will include in the rating several samples of each class that can be called the most successful and, not least importantly, widely represented in the trading network.
| Category | A place | Name | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The best external GSM antennas for the car | 1 | TRIAD-2696 | 9.7 / 10 | 2 000 |
| 2 | Antey 914 | 9.6 / 10 | 470 | |
| The best antennas for car radios | 1 | Alan X Turbo 80 | 9.7 / 10 | 4 200 |
| 2 | MegaJet ML-145 MAG-160 | 9.1 / 10 | 1 900 | |
| The best radio antenna for the car | 1 | Bosch Autofun PRO | 9.5 / 10 | 800 |
| 2 | SUPRA SAF-3 | 8.9 / 10 | 320 | |
| Best Car TV Antennas | 1 | Triad 690 | 9.4 / 10 | 1 000 |
The best external GSM antennas for the car
|
TRIAD-2696
2 000
This antenna is not suitable for everyone: both the cable itself and the mountings provide for holes in the car's roof. So, it is intended primarily for those who need an external GSM-range antenna all the time, and with the need to drill the roof will reconcile the anti-vandal performance: there is simply nothing to break.
In terms of technical characteristics, the Triad is noteworthy: it supports both standard GSM 900/1800 MHz and 3G (2100 MHz) and 4G / LTE (2600 MHz) bands. Support for the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band is a bonus rather than a practical necessity. Gain depends on the range: the minimum due to the small size for GSM 900 (4.9 dB), the largest - for LTE (5.8 dB). Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.7 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Put it on the truck. I use a 2DIN-radio with a Yandex-navigator, the cards are now loaded much better. Yes, and the same SMS come with confidence. |
|
Antey 914
470
Domestic low-cost car antenna copes well with its responsibilities for receiving a GSM signal in the 900/1800 MHz bands. In other ranges, its characteristics deteriorate for obvious reasons, since its length is matched exactly to the most popular ones. Therefore, in the first place, it will suit those who are interested in confident reception of telephone calls. For work in 3G / 4G networks, it is better to choose “Triad”.
In the regular bands (to which GSM 1900 is also close), the Antey 914 gain is 5.5 dB. Simply put, the signal power increases 3.55 times - for a relatively compact antenna, this is an excellent indicator. It comes on sale with different types of connectors, so you can immediately choose the right one (SMA or FME) without the need for additional adapters. 65mm magnetic base allows you to quickly mount the antenna in a suitable place.The manufacturer promises wind resistance up to 150 km / h, but with proper placement in an aerodynamic shade, you can achieve better results. Unfortunately, the points in the rating had to be cut a bit for prevalence: being one of the best GSM antennas for a car in terms of price / quality, it is not as widely represented in stores as we would like. But the search will bring excellent results - and at a bargain price. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.6 / 10
Rating
Reviews
I use it on long journeys since I realized that in the most remote places of the route I couldn’t call even 112. For my money, it is more than effective. |
The best antennas for car radios
|
Alan X Turbo 80
4 200
The main problem of antennas for CB-band radio stations is their length: alas, the whip antenna needs to be a multiple of the integer number of radio wave half-waves, and for 27 MHz this figure is 11 m. So in the case of the best car antennas for radio stations, you have to even not about quarter-wave, but about even less efficient antennas.
Specifically, the X-Turbo 80 has a length of 1.8 m, which can be called a reasonable compromise between efficiency and safety of use. With proper configuration, you can bring the CWS to a value less than 1.2, which can be called an excellent result. Most of all in this antenna liked the workmanship: the rod itself is made of stainless steel, as well as the mounting base. In comparison with the “folk” antennas with a silumin fixing knot, which is capable of souring seasonally, this is a significant advantage, for which it is worth giving money. Moreover, the weight of the antenna is small (690 grams), which reduces the load on the mount. Although, of course, most of all it will still work on bending under the action of the wind. The nominal power of the antenna is 1 kW with the possibility of short-term operation of 1.7 kW. Although other manufacturers indicate large numbers, is it worth paying attention to them, even if a kilowatt in the CB-range is able to provide an excessive link radius? (Not to mention the fact that to work at such facilities you need to have the first amateur category). Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.7 / 10
Rating
Reviews
We use in the trophy-raids. Compared to cheap Lemm antennas, the quality is much higher, the antenna is easily and precisely tuned to a low VSWR, so the reception / transmission quality is excellent. |
|
MegaJet ML-145 MAG-160
1 900
At one time, this small-sized antenna became a hit among private taxi drivers - with its length a little less than one and a half meters it was securely held by a magnetic base (160 mm is serious!), So you could not get involved with rigid brackets and quickly remove it for the night, The built-in matching coil provided the CWS 1.2 even after assembly out of the box. Of course, like all antennas on a magnetic mount, the exact value of the CWS depends on many factors, including the owner’s care: without sticking the supplied sheet of glue foil onto the base, you can say goodbye to the quality of communication. So, reading the instructions is never superfluous, and this antenna is sufficiently capable of pulling out sufficient for operation of the CWS over the entire width of the high-frequency range. Structurally, we note, it is almost a complete copy of the magnetic antennas Alan, the price of which is significantly higher.
So, given the more than decent quality workmanship, this antenna deserves a mention in the rating without a doubt. If there is a thought about a stationary installation (which will improve the quality of communication) - the manufacturer has in the list of proposals and an inexpensive adapter for tapping into the roof. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.1 / 10
Rating
Reviews
With the five-watt Alan station, a steady reception in the city, normal modulation quality. The CWS did not measure, and so everything suits. |
The best radio antenna for the car
|
Bosch Autofun PRO
800
A compact active car antenna will be of interest first of all with the possibility of a fast concealed installation - it is easy to place it under the screen printing of the windshield, instead of installing an outdoor antenna that can be broken and “lost” in a disadvantaged area. Although not on any machine, this installation option will be effective: like all antennas of this kind, Autofun Pro is sensitive to the distance from the “antenna” to the metal parts of the body, and to the configuration of the body itself. Therefore, you should not glue it immediately tightly, and a couple of times to estimate the optimal location for your car.
With a competent installation, Autofun Pro provides reception of FM radio stations at a distance of up to 70 km from the city, which can already be called a physical limit for the ultra-shortwave range: do not forget that radio waves propagate in it only in direct visibility. So as an option to replace the standard whistling at a speed or inefficient outdoor antenna it can be advised. We especially note that the package has everything you need, including an alcohol wipe for degreasing the gluing place: Chinese active antennas for 2-3 hundreds of rubles are often devoid of such trifles, and the cost of such a napkin is a penny. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.5 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Easy to install and a good antenna. Established began to whistle on the track, and catching is never better. |
|
SUPRA SAF-3
320
The main advantage of this antenna (as well as the whole Supra car electronics) is the high prevalence in auto shops: you don’t have to look for it, and it’s cheap. In contrast to the extremely unsuccessful SAF-7, in which they decided to completely abandon the “whiskers” familiar to antennas of this class, there are two of them, and these are not thin wires on a transparent adhesive basis, but elastic pins with adhesive tips — such a solution can be found for example, on signaling radios with feedback. As a result, installing the antenna is easy, and re-sticking if necessary is even easier. The reception quality of the VHF / FM band at this antenna pleasantly surprises, considering its price. The manufacturer saves on the ridiculous: there is no complete set not only alcohol wipes for degreasing, but the bilateral tape itself is clearly regretted. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 8.9 / 10
Rating
Reviews
I bought myself a "tag". It works quite well for my money, although I personally don’t have an inclusion indicator. Kleil on 3M-ovsky tape, native and little, and he is weak. |
Best Car TV Antennas
|
Triad 690
1 000
With the reception of a television signal in automobiles, an expected problem arises: the width of the bands used will require an antenna to become more complex in order to maintain its efficiency in the largest band. But you are unlikely to agree to install the Uda-Yagi antenna on your roof?
Therefore, in reality, you always have to sacrifice something. “Triad 690”, having ample opportunities (this is both the reception of analog MW / UHF broadcasting and digital television broadcasting), significantly losing ground outside the city: the level of interference increases, especially on 1-5 MW channels, where due to the short length of both vibrators, the gain falls (in this part of the range it is 17 dB, while on the UHF it reaches 24 dB). The built-in amplifier is not bad, it practically does not add its own noise to the signal. In addition, it has a built-in noise filter, controlled by the "City / Route" switch. In city mode, an old ZIL passing by, whose ignition system is a broadband noise generator in general, can only score a picture with noise. Spending time in traffic jams, watching TV shows at the cottage, if it is not so far from the city, Triad 690 will cope with these tasks easily. Main advantages:
Minuses:
|
 9.4 / 10
Rating
Reviews
The standard TV antenna that went with my multimedia center practically did not work. On the advice of friends bought the "Triad", now you can safely watch football in traffic jams. |
How to choose a car antenna?
Regardless of the destination, when choosing a car antenna you need to pay attention to at least one parameter - this is her gain, and for multi-band antennas it will be different for each frequency band. Usually, it is difficult to compare different antennas without knowing that the gain is measured on a logarithmic scale - a gain of one decibel means an increase in signal power by 1.259 times, so the difference between antennas with Q 5 dB and 7 dB is 1.6 times very tangible.
Antennas working with powerful transmitters will enrich the knowledge with another term - CWSor standing wave ratio. Without going into details and details, it determines the efficiency of the antenna and in the ideal case should be equal to one. In practice, it will be more, and it must be remembered that for most radio stations, the CWS 2 is already the limit above which damage to the transmitter is possible. Considering that the real value of the CWS can significantly fall due to installation errors, it is worth choosing an antenna with a minimum passport value, and a stationary installation on the bracket should be preferred to a magnetic base.
Have a good shopping!
16
Updated: 18.02.2019
Rating in categories:
