Rating of the best car antennas for 2020

A high-quality car antenna, first of all, should receive a signal well. However, when choosing this device, the first thing to rely on is the driver's needs. Some people only need an antenna to listen to the radio, others to watch TV programs, and still others to work with a walkie-talkie. That is why, before making a purchase of a car antenna, you should decide not only on the budget, but also on the necessary technical characteristics.

This article will help every motorist choose the right antenna by introducing the best available options. At the same time, given the fact that today manufacturers offer consumers a huge selection of such equipment, the rating will include several of the most successful samples of each class, which can be easily found in specialized stores.

Features of choosing a TV antenna for a car

Not so long ago, one of the main attributes of taxi drivers was a car antenna, the range of which was 27 MHz. The GSM antenna will be an excellent helper when you need to travel long distances. This device will help maintain a telephone connection even on those sections of the road that motorists call “deaf”. If the purpose of using such equipment is to listen to music or watch television programs, you should pay attention not only to the radio antenna, which can improve the quality of the output sound, but also to the television one.

When choosing a television, radio, GSM or GPS antenna, you should remember that a particular model can be broadcast in a different frequency range. Based on this, it can be argued that when choosing a television antenna, you should pay attention to multifunctional devices that are able to perceive not only TV, but also AM, FM, GSM and GPS signals. This will ensure the correct operation of not only the multimedia center, but also all other gadgets, up to the navigator.

Over time, the presence of a small TV in the car ceases to amaze and becomes a kind of standard. And if this gadget has been used for a long time in such vehicles as a fixed-route taxi, then the manufacturers of passenger cars added it to the complete set of cars suitable for the category of “comfort” quite recently.

When choosing an antenna, remember that they fall into two categories:

• passive antennas;
• active antennas.

At the same time, active ones are used much more often, since they do not require the use of auxiliary equipment. You just need to connect the antenna to the TV receiver and you can already start using it.

You can place the antenna in your car on both the rear and front windows.However, if it belongs to the passive category, then an additional amplifier may be needed for its correct operation, which is easily explained by the need to improve the received signal. When connecting the antenna to a battery or on-board electrical network, it is recommended to use a filter that can smooth out the interference arising from the operation of the power source.

Despite the seeming simplicity of the choice made, the purchase of an antenna should be taken seriously. By purchasing equipment of low quality, you will not be able to enjoy watching TV. Only after installing and connecting a good antenna, the motorist will have the opportunity to use all the functions of the built-in TV, including:

• watch movies and videos from different sources;
• connect additional gadgets (set-top box, navigator, parking sensors).

When giving preference to foreign manufacturers, remember that not all antennas they produce are capable of receiving a signal with a propagation range of 1 to 3 meters. But with domestic antennas, such a problem will not arise, which is easily explained by the peculiarities of their design. They are developed on the basis of Russian broadcasting standards and will easily cope with this task.

When choosing a radio antenna, few motorists paid attention to its functionality. However, when choosing a television antenna, this factor is one of the most important. Pay attention to the presence of the "city" mode. In this mode, the antenna is able to receive a signal even in the presence of interference arising from the operation of mobile, radio communications, transformers, power grids and other energy devices.

The turbo mode will also be a huge plus. It will help to strengthen the signal if the car is moving away from its source. A trip out of town is a great example of this.

The movement of the car, in any case, has a negative impact on the quality of the received signal, which makes it necessary to regularly adjust the antenna. An exception to this rule is the installation of a satellite dish. However, due to its excessive cost, such equipment will not be considered.

How to choose an antenna in a car for a walkie-talkie

Usually a stable working radio is necessary for taxi drivers and truckers. Given the multiplicity of these two categories, the equipment that is needed for this will not be overlooked.

The main advantage of a walkie-talkie over mobile communications is the ability to use it, regardless of coverage. However, there are many disadvantages to such a connection. One of the most obvious shortcomings of the radio is the congestion of the channels and the small radius of its action.

The range of this portable device varies from 5 to 20 km and is directly dependent not only on the radio itself, but also on the antenna used. Moreover, if the device itself can be purchased at a fairly low price, then you cannot save on the antenna.

Taxi drivers working on cars tend to prefer magnetic antennas. This attachment is quick to install and is ideal for similar vehicles. However, it is worth noting the fact that such antennas will be simply useless for trucks. In this case, it is better to give preference to cut-in antennas. Due to its secure mounting and stable vibration response, such an antenna is considered the best option for trucks.

When installing car antennas, you should avoid their vertical metal parts. Otherwise, they will negatively affect the quality of the received signal, degrading it by at least 30%.

When choosing a car antenna, give preference to those models, the length of the pin of which is no more than 2 m. Such devices have a long range and perfectly receive the signal. However, in this case, one cannot do without disadvantages. The large dimensions of the device increase the risk of its deformation due to a collision with one or another obstacle.Antennas with a length of 80 to 150 cm can solve this problem. But those options whose length is less than 70 cm will not be able to provide a long signal reception range, although they look as attractive as possible, given the aesthetic side of the issue.

Mounting an antenna for a walkie-talkie is no different from the rules that were described above. But setting them up requires special attention. For this, the motorist will need special equipment, which in this case will not be possible to do without.

Best Antennas for Car Radio

Alan x-turbo 80

One of the main problems with antennas used for car radios is their length. Unfortunately, this issue cannot be resolved, since the length of such a device must be equal to an integer number of half-waves in the radio range (11 m for 27 MHz).

The length of this model is 1.8 m, which is an excellent compromise between safe and efficient use of the antenna.

The main distinguishing characteristic of the Alan X-Turbo 80 is the quality of its workmanship. Stem and mounting base are made of high quality stainless steel. Another advantage of this model is its weight. This figure is only 690 g, which can significantly reduce the load on the mount.

The power indicator declared by the manufacturer is 1 kW. Of course, other companies indicate a higher rated power, but is it worth paying attention to this indicator if 1 kW can provide an excellent communication range.

SPECIFICATIONS	VALUE
frequency range	26-28 MHz
Max input power	1700 Wt
Maximum antenna length	180 cm
Connector	3-piece

Price: 4200 rubles.

• high quality equipment;
• high-quality fasteners;
• the ability to adjust the angle of inclination;
• low SWR.

• high price.

MegaJet ML-145 MAG-160

This model is very popular among car drivers, has a relatively short length and is attached to the surface using a magnetic base. Each of these features makes it easy to dismantle equipment and put it away overnight. At the same time, the built-in coil provides a SWR of 1.2 even after the antenna has been removed and installed back.

With this model, the VSWR value primarily depends on the correct installation. Without using the foil that comes with the antenna, the communication quality will deteriorate significantly.

SPECIFICATIONS	VALUE
frequency range	27-28.5 MHz
Max input power	900 watts
Maximum antenna length	148 cm
Connector	UHF Male / PL-259

Cost: 1 900 rubles.

• high-quality fastening;
• maintaining an acceptable SWR at the edges of the CB range.

• excessive bending of the rod.

The best radio antennas for a car

Bosch Autofun PRO

This model of car antenna is especially suitable for those motorists who prefer to install such devices in places where they will be invisible to prying eyes. It can be positioned under the silkscreen to eliminate the risk of loss or damage to the device. However, it is worth noting the fact that for some cars such an antenna will not work, since its sensitivity to distance is quite high.

In the event that Bosch Autofun PRO has been installed correctly, it will be able to receive FM radio stations at a distance of no more than 70 km from the city limits, which is a chapel for the ultrasonic range.

The Bosch Autofun PRO antenna comes with all the necessary accessories, including an alcohol wipe, which is necessary to degrease the surface before gluing.

SPECIFICATIONS	VALUE
Received radio frequency range	0.145-108 MHz
Max input power	900 watts
Maximum antenna length	1.6 m
Gain	3dB

Price: 800 rubles.

• small size;
• availability of reliable double-sided tape;
• excellent signal reception.

• poor signal reception when the antenna is located under some types of silk-screen printing.

SUPRA SAF-3

The main positive characteristic of this car antenna is its widespread use in specialized stores. It can be found on the windows of many car dealerships, while its price will delight every motorist. The SUPRA SAF-3 has several “whiskers”, which are presented in the form of elastic pins with tips. This can be seen not only on car antennas, but also on signaling radio modules. This is what allows the motorist to independently install the antenna, without any difficulty.

Despite the low cost of the presented model, it has a fairly high quality of VHF / FM reception. However, scotch tape and a napkin are not included with the antenna; they will have to be purchased separately.

SPECIFICATIONS	VALUE
Received frequency range	DV / SV / KV / VHF
Supply voltage	12V ± 30%
Maximum wire length	2.5 m
Power consumption	<12 mA

Price: 320 rubles.

• low cost of goods;
• wide distribution of goods;
• hard "mustache".

• saving on equipment.

Best external GSM antennas for car

TRIAD-2696

This type of car antenna is not suitable for all car brands. The cable and mountings of this device are designed with holes in the vehicle. Installing this antenna will not work without them.

Technical characteristics of TRIADA-2696 are worthy of attention of every motorist:

• the ability to work in standard GSM-bands 900/1800 MHz;
• the ability to work in the 3G and 4G bands;
• support for 2.4 GHz Wi-fi range;
• the minimum gain for GSM is 900 (4.9 dB), the maximum for LTE (5.8 dB).

SPECIFICATIONS	VALUE
Received frequency range	GSM-900 \ 1800 MHz, 3G-2100 MHz, WiFi-2400 MHz and WiMAX-2600 MHz
Supply voltage	12V ± 30%
Maximum wire length	0.2 m
Connector	RG58 A / U, N-F

Price: 2,000 rubles.

• small size;
• wide range of work.

• stationary installation.

Antey 914

This model is made by a domestic manufacturer, has an affordable price and does an excellent job with the task in the 900/1800 MHz bands. However, the performance of the Antey 914 is degraded in other ranges. It is for this reason that experts position this model of car antennas as a device for reliable reception of a mobile network signal.

In the standard ranges, the signal strength of this model increases more than 3.5 times, which is a very good indicator. On store shelves, this antenna can be seen with different types of connectors, which allows you to choose the option that is suitable for any model of machine, without the need to purchase additional adapters.

Installing this car antenna will not cause any problems. It has a magnetic base, which is 65 mm in size, which makes it easy to install the antenna on the car roof. The manufacturer positions this model as wind-resistant, which can be called another plus.

SPECIFICATIONS	VALUE
Received frequency range	GSM 900/1800
Wind load	150 km / h
Maximum wire length	2 m
Connector	FME-F

Price: 470 rubles.

• good fastening;
• excellent gain.

• this model will be available only in the online store.

Triad 690

Many motorists, when installing car antennas, are faced with the need to complicate it. Without such manipulations, it is simply impossible to maintain its effectiveness in some cases.

This model of car antenna has a fairly wide range of functions, including:

• reception of analogue MV / UHF broadcasting;
• reception of digital television broadcasting.

However, outside the city limits, the signal weakens, the gain decreases significantly, and the noise level increases.

The amplifier that is built into this antenna is good enough. It practically does not add its own noise and has a built-in noise filter, which can be controlled by a special switch.

SPECIFICATIONS	VALUE
Received frequency range	DVB-T, DVB-T2, UHF (UHF), MV (VHF)
Supply voltage, V	12
Maximum wire length	3m
Reception range	50 km

Price: 1,000 rubles.

• easy installation;
• the presence of a noise suppression filter.

• deterioration of signal reception on 1-5 MV channels.

Modern manufacturers offer motorists a wide range of car antennas. However, their characteristics are usually not much different. It is for this reason that the question of choosing such equipment is relevant for many people, and it is simply impossible to carry it out without getting acquainted with the best models.